Take 5 with Euclid Alumni Kathy Copic

Kathy Copic graduated from Euclid High in 1995. Since then, she's made contributions to both science and education. During 10+ years working in Physics, she built experimental detectors to see rare processes and published research papers on the smallest pieces of matter that make up the world around us. She worked as a physicist at the University of Michigan, where she obtained her PhD, Columbia University, Berkeley National Lab, Fermi National Accelerator Lab outside Chicago, and CERN in Geneva, Switzerland. Kathy is now VP of Growth at the Insight Fellows program, developing a transitional education program that has helped over 3000 people change into new careers in the last six years. 

1. Where did you grow up in Euclid (or elsewhere)?

I grew up in Euclid in a bunch of different neighborhoods, close to E 200th St, E 222nd, and E 260th. 

2. Where did you go to school before Euclid High? 

I went to Glenbrook, Roosevelt, Forest Park, and Central before I attended EHS. 

3. What teacher or class do you most remember and why?

The times I enjoyed the most and learned the most in high school were working with other students and teachers to create something: the fall play with Mrs McLaughlin, the literary magazine (Eucuyo) with Mrs Tkac, the school newspaper (The Survey) with Mr Wherley and Mr Bender, and the community service that we did through Key Club with Allen Black. 

4. Did you have a favorite spot in Euclid, and what did you like about it?

I've always loved the lake and Metroparks in Euclid, whether going to Sims park with friends or family to watch the sunset, going swimming or going on a picnic, or looking up at the stars at the lake in the summer time. 

5. What, if anything, about your Euclid High experience would you do over?

I wish I had taken more classes where you learn through experience and through building things, making things, and practicing something useful, like Statistics, Computer Science, Photography, Art, a language other than Latin! I'd learn more about the different kinds of jobs in the world, what makes people successful in them, and dig in on those things. 

Thanks!