麻豆直播

Nicholas Cooper arrived at the 麻豆直播 in the fall as one of the most accomplished first-year students in the University鈥檚 history. He earned the 2025 Board of Trustees Scholar award with a perfect ACT score, a 4.96 weighted GPA and early acceptance into the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine.

His parents, Craig and Tami Cooper, proudly took in the moment from across the Whiddon Administration Building boardroom as he accepted the award.

The next day, Sept. 6, Craig Cooper suddenly died.

鈥淚 kept looking over at him during the ceremony,鈥� Nicholas says. 鈥淗e had the biggest grin on his face. It鈥檚 such a blessing that one of my last memories of him is him smiling proudly at me.鈥�

At 麻豆直播, Cooper and his twin brother, Jacob, continued their classes, formed close friendships with other students in 麻豆直播鈥檚 Honors College and carried forward the steady determination their father modeled.

In 2023, Craig Cooper, a longtime engineer, enrolled in 麻豆直播鈥檚 nursing college, alongside his daughter and son-in-law, to pursue a new path.

The Coopers have deep ties to 麻豆直播, with graduates that include Craig 鈥�20, Tami 鈥�99, and siblings Kailan 鈥�20, Christian 鈥�21 and Kadie Grace 鈥�25.

Both Cooper twins are on a pre-med track, majoring in biomedical sciences. They鈥檙e following in the footsteps of their older brother, Christian, who is in his third year of medical school at the Whiddon College of Medicine.

鈥淢y dad never complained,鈥� Nicholas says. 鈥淗e showed me the value of not complaining about what you have to do and appreciating the opportunities you have.鈥�

Nicholas鈥� long-term goal is to become a reconstructive plastic surgeon and serve as a medical missionary in Latin America. His father鈥檚 influence deepened that purpose.

鈥淗e didn鈥檛 push success on us,鈥� he says of himself and his four siblings. 鈥淏ut he knew what we were capable of. Knowing
that he believed I could accomplish things motivated me. I want to fulfill what he thought about me.鈥�

After accepting the award, Nicholas Cooper enjoys the moment with his father, Craig.