Coppell High School senior Color Guard member Nikole Patterson is one of 24 seniors from Drum Corps International units to earn a spot on the 2010 All-DCI Color Guard.

Ensemble members, representing 16 corps and 13 states, will perform as part of the halftime show for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio Jan. 9 at the Alamodome.

The stand-out color guard performers will complement the 97-member U.S. Army All-American Marching Band during a five-day series of rehearsals, events and performances.

“I was very surprised when I found out I had been selected as one of 24 guard members,” Patterson said. “It proved that when I try hard enough for something, I can accomplish it.

“It is an amazing feeling to be recognized for all my hard work,” she added.

CHS Color Guard Director James Thomas said, “It is a true honor to have one of our own students make the All-Drum Corps International Color Guard. To know that we have a student with that kind of talent is a true testament to the training we have here at Coppell High School.”

Patterson began marching with the DCI Corps Memphis Sound in the summer of 2008. She said Thomas helped her in getting involved with the group because he knew of her desires to pursue drum corps.

She said she loved the experience and would like to march every summer until she ages out if she can get enough sponsorships. She checked in with Memphis Sound just two days after getting out of school and then returned home about two weeks before school started back.

The group competed in many locations throughout the country including: Texas, Wisconsin, Michigan South Dakota, Ohio, Illinois and Oklahoma.

“Being a member of Memphis Sound, Nikole learned the rewards of hard work and dedication,” Thomas said. “Her dedication and talent level definitely impacted the other members (of the CHS Color Guard) to try as hard as they could to also excel in their art form.”

Patterson’s performance capability is what makes her such a good Color Guard member, Thomas said. “She has learned to perform at a higher level and to reach above her comfort level in her equipment skills.”

Patterson said she is looking forward to meeting color guard members from other corps and sharing the experience with them and learning from them.

“I am very proud to be able to represent Memphis Sound, CHS Band and Color Guard and Coppell with this incredible opportunity to be a part of this and share the same passion that I have,” she said.       

Patterson plans to be in color guard in college and right now she is considering Northwestern State University in Nachitoches, La.