CHCA Eagle's Eye 2014

A Parent’s Legacy
by Cindy Coggins, CHCA Alumni Parent of Patrick Coggins ‘04 & Ellie Coggins ‘14
Sometimes God
presents us with opportunities
to serve in the
most unlikely places.
In 2001, my son Patrick
was playing football for
CHCA, and no one was
planning pre-game meals. That just didn’t sit right with me, and God
was nudging me to do something. So I began working with CHCA’s
trainer, Bill Shomaker, on the “ideal” pre-game meal. Along with
other dedicated moms who were for the most part parents of our
sons who played for an undefeated 8th grade season, we began the
fantastic journey of “mom meals.” We were an enthusiastic set of
Football Moms! And what a blessing – we saw our sons before the
games and had the fantastic opportunity to serve them as well as
pray for their safety. Hence – my marvelous journey took a unique
turn in supporting the CHCA football team.
Fast forward to the fall of 2010 when Ellie entered high school. Now
this child was not an athlete – rather, an avid musician. Ellie couldn’t
get enough of it – Lab Band, EJO, Sacred Music Concert, and of
course, Pep Band. So now, football was back in my life in a completely
different way, and I was presented with how to support the Pep
Band in order for them to encourage and support the football team?
During Ellie’s Freshman and Sophomore years, I would bring treats
and waters when possible. Then in 2012, the stadium renovation
happened in the stands and around the press box, which now offered
a patio and enabled the pep band to sit in the stands again with the
crowd and other students. As I found myself more and more involved
with Dan Grantham in organizing various needs for the instrumental
program, an idea came to me. And when I have an idea I just have
to get on with it (recall, ‘mom meals’). There God was, tugging at
me again with that still, small voice – do something to support and
encourage these kids. And that was all I needed to push forward.
That was the beginning of the patio grilling. At first, the plan was
to grill only at half time for the pep band. But God had something
bigger in mind. We soon birthed what is now known as the ‘student
patio’. For the past two football seasons, CHCA family and friends
have enjoyed the wonderful aroma of the patio grill for each entire
game, serving all CHCA students and pep band members free food
and drink. Many volunteers – all pep band parents – willingly and
joyfully served the entire student body. What a fabulous “gift” to see
the instrumental department bridging with the athletic department!
I believe bringing together the two worlds of athletics and music is
the legacy I leave the school. At CHCA, we say that we believe in the
‘whole child’ - that we are trying to develop well-rounded Christians
to enter the world with varied experiences and with an appreciation of
each person’s talents. In this one small way, I hope I have modeled that
respect for each unique student. I pray that others continue to carry on
the tradition and pour love on all of our students, celebrating all of their
talents.
Everything I have ever done over the years at CHCA - from football
to fine arts - has been grounded in verses from I Peter 4:10-11… “Each
one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully
administering God’s grace in its various forms…If anyone serves
he should do it with the strength God provides so that in all things
God may be praised through Jesus Christ To Him be the glory and
the power forever and ever. Amen”
The student patio was fully funded by the Coggins family and other
generous volunteers and donors. Now that the last Coggins child has
graduated, our prayer is that other families will work to carry on
the tradition of not only the ‘student patio’ experience, but of
legacies that celebrate our children’s gifts and carry on traditions
that will serve CHCA for the next 25 years and beyond!
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