• Coppell Smart City Board meets at City Hall on Monday
  • Coppell hosts the Veterans Plaza Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Town Center on Tuesday
  • Coppell City Council meets at City Hall on Tuesday
  • Coppell Future Oriented Approach to Residential Development meets at City Hall on Wednesday
  • Coppell Life Safety Park hosts a First Aid & CPR-AED Class on Thursday
  • CHS hosts Gold Lunch for eligible students on Friday
  • Coppell Choir hosts its Vivace! Show at CHS Auditorium on Friday
The official student news site of Coppell High School

Coppell Student Media
The official student news site of Coppell High School

Coppell Student Media
The official student news site of Coppell High School

Coppell Student Media
Hiral Patel

Hiral Patel, Staff Writer

Hiral Patel is a senior and second-year staff writer for The Sidekick. She joined the program for her love of writing and quickly learned journalism allows her to tell important stories that happen in real time.

When she’s not reading, you can find Hiral joking with her friends, snacking on mint Oreos or overplaying her favorite songs.

You can contact her at [email protected]

All content by Hiral Patel
Former Coppell City Council member Cliff Long received banana pudding for his services on Tuesday at the Coppell Town Center. Coppell Mayor Wes Mays declares November as Cliff Long Appreciation Month at the City Council meeting.

Councils proclaims November as Cliff Long Appreciation Month, discussed Planned Development 322

Hiral Patel, Staff Writer
November 13, 2025
Meet the CHS9 HOSA Executive Board

Meet the CHS9 HOSA Executive Board

Neev Chickermane, Hiral Patel, Yoshita Sanivarpu, and Yug Talukdar
October 27, 2025
Meet the CHS9 Student Council Executive Board

Meet the CHS9 Student Council Executive Board

Ayaan Haque, Prisha Hooda, Hiral Patel, Tanvi Ravella, Riya Suresh, Yug Talukdar, and Hamza Zakir
October 27, 2025
Silver Stars Whitley Hoerman and Charlie Ramsey play a mummy wrap game on Oct.16 in the CHS9 large gym. CHS9’s first pep rally brought together students and staff to showcase school spirit.

First pep rally wraps freshman with school spirit

Hiral Patel, Staff Writer
October 23, 2025
Coppell High School American Sign Language teacher Dez Garner communicates with her students with sign language due to her being deaf. Dez’s ability to communicate with her students allows for the opportunities of learning new methods of communication. Photo by Vidya Praveen

Signing to success: Garner bridging the gap between the Deaf, hearing world

Hiral Patel, Staff Writer
October 22, 2025
Coppell freshman cross country runner Finleigh Sanders-Burke runs on Sept. 26 at the Greiner Family Cross Country Course in Stillwater, Okla. The Coppell girls team placed 16th overall and the boys team placed ninth overall. Photo courtesy of Devin Ewing.

Challenging course brings close finishes

Hiral Patel, Staff Writer
October 3, 2025

A guide to getting your license

Sanghika Pallela and Hiral Patel
October 1, 2025
CHS9 geometry teacher James Behlen is The Sidekick’s Volume 37 No. 1 Teacher of the Issue. Behlen’s caring nature makes an impact on students and staff.

CHS9 Faculty of the Issue: Behlen’s impact reaching students, teachers

Hiral Patel, Staff Writer
September 25, 2025
Coppell High School seniors Satyam Sood and Gabriel Wang stand in front of the Coppell Chamber of Commerce. ReachEquilibria is a youth-led mental health nonprofit dedicated to spreading mental health awareness and services. Photo illustration by Dayami Granados and Hiral Patel.

[Photo] ReachEquilibria turning grief into growth

Sanghika Pallela, Staff Writer
September 19, 2025
The Coppell High School 2025-26 homecoming court and nominees wave to the student body on Thursday in CHS Arena. Thursday’s dress up theme was Hawaiian day. Photo by Gia Ajani

Hawaiian vibes, school spirit on display at annual homecoming pep rally

Hiral Patel, Staff Writer
September 12, 2025
Texas Senate Bill 13 increases community oversight of permissible library books, potentially leading to the restriction of books with objectionable topics. The Sidekick staff writer Hiral Patel thinks that this law reduces the perspectives of authors sharing their experiences, ultimately shielding the truth. Photo illustration by Riya Suresh and Prisha Hooda.

“It’s a dangerous precedent”: Restricting reading isolates, silences

Hiral Patel, Staff Writer
September 11, 2025
Coppell High School Academic Decathlon coach Tim Dixon addresses the class. Academic Decathlon is a multidisciplinary competition that thousands of high school students compete in every year, with topics ranging from history, literature, art, science, mathematics, economics and music.

Academic Decathlon’s legacy coming to a close

Hiral Patel, Staff Writer
May 15, 2025
Sending off The Sidekick's seniors

Sending off The Sidekick’s seniors

Gia Ajani, Vidya Praveen, Naseeha Masood, Hamza Zakir, Leila Holmes-Yllescas, Rachel Chio, Prathi Tamara Sathish Kumar, Naila Ali, Hannah Vipin, Aarnav Yarlagadda, Eirene Park, Elizabeth De Santiago, Kirsten Schnock, Raima Awan, Pranavi Ramineni, Sohalia Reddy, Riya Prasad, Emmalee Jittasupo, Jay Vernekar, Prisha Hooda, Marli Field, Karthika Dayanand, Hiral Patel, Kevin Gunnampalli, Aashi Panchal, and Safiya Azam
May 9, 2025
The Sidekick staff writer Hiral Patel expresses her appreciation for staff photographer Sohana Singh’s inspiring work ethic and kindness. Senior send-off is a series of recognitions for graduating Sidekick seniors. Photo by Eirene Park.

Senior Send-off: The embodiment of hard work, diligence

Hiral Patel, Staff Writer
May 9, 2025
The Sidekick staff writer Raima Awan expresses how her brother, sports editor Namir Awan, has impacted her throughout her life and during their time together in The Sidekick. Senior Send-off is a series of recognitions for graduating Sidekick seniors.

[Photo] Senior Send-off: The best brother

Raima Awan, Staff Writer
May 9, 2025
The Sidekick staff photographer Eirene Park appreciates staff photographer Maddy Park for her diligence as a well-rounded journalist and her notable contributions to the program. Senior send-off is a series of recognitions for graduating Sidekick seniors. Photo by Hiral Patel.

[Photo] Senior Send-off: My multi-talented last name twin

Eirene Park, Staff Photographer
May 9, 2025
Students often tend to lack motivation to stay productive in the last nine weeks of the school year. Staff writer Hiral Patel details the importance of staying motivated throughout the entire year. Graphic by Ahana Roy

Locking in as end of year approaching not excuse to slack off

Hiral Patel, Staff Writer
April 15, 2025

On the Record: Juniors discuss the ups, downs of VEX Robotics

Hiral Patel and Sabah Uddin
April 14, 2025
Coppell ISD Board of Trustees Secretary Jobby Mathew and President David Caviness discuss the 2025-26 school-year boundary proposal at Vonita White Administration Building on Feb. 3. The board emphasizes the district’s core values during times of crisis and difficult decision making.

[Photo] Leading through crisis: Board of Trustees balancing community needs, financial responsibilities

Neha Nathwani, Staff Writer
March 14, 2025
Coppell High School juniors Yug Sharma and Vignesh Somasundaram test their robot in preparation for the Region 5 High School Robotics State Championship in the Engineering Lab on Feb. 26. VEX Robotics Competition integrates STEM and soft skills needed for life beyond high school. Photo by Hiral Patel.

Programming for success: VEX Robotics whirring soft skills into students

Hiral Patel, Staff Writer
March 13, 2025
Coppell High School Tiny Threads Crochet Club senior president Arya Adhikary, sophomore secretary Sahasra Veerapaneni and sophomore vice president Diya Gandhi sell crochet items in the Commons on Feb. 13. The Tiny Threads club teaches members how to crochet and create items to donate to those in need. Photo by Hiral Patel

[Photo] Tiny Threads crafting tight-knit bonds through crochet

Meghana Linga, Staff Photographer
March 3, 2025
Coppell ISD Board of Trustees Secretary Jobby Mathew and President David Caviness discuss the 2025-26 school-year boundary proposal. The CISD Board of Trustees held a workshop at Vonita White Administration Building on Monday. Photo by Hiral Patel.

Trustees approve new boundaries for the 2025-26 school year

Hiral Patel, Staff Writer
February 5, 2025

Jain exemplifying taekwondo excellence (with video)

Hiral Patel, Staff Writer
January 29, 2025
The Sidekick staff members collect toys for children ages 3-4 in room D115. Coppell High School Student Council held a toy drive with the Coppell Lions Club to provide children in need with toys for the holiday season. Photo by Anika Upadhyayula

Building community by giving back through annual student council toy drive

Hiral Patel, Staff Writer
December 16, 2024
Gender stereotypes often result in unfair standards between girls when compared to boys. The Sidekick staff writer Hiral Patel thinks women of all ages should not be restricted by traditional expectations. Graphic by Zainab Mohammed

Ladies, you deserve more; Raise your standards

Hiral Patel, Staff Writer
December 5, 2024
Low self-confidence causes people to lose the experience of trying new things as they often don't step out of their comfort zone. The Sidekick staff writer Hiral Patel shares her own struggle with self-confidence and how she has overcome it by fighting her inner voice. Graphic by Safiya Azam.

Pursuit of knowledge: Finding courage to break my barriers

Hiral Patel, Staff Writer
November 12, 2024
Barre3 owner Kiki Thorn stands in front of her Coppell studio on Oct. 17. Thorn incorporates mindfulness into her fitness routines, helping clients balance physical exercise with mental well-being. Photo by Moukthika Palli

Thorn incorporating mindfulness in exercise

Hiral Patel, Staff Writer
October 18, 2024
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