Hubbard High School sophomore Cooper Vail is making a powerful impact beyond the classroom. Diagnosed with epilepsy just one year ago, Cooper was selected as Ohio’s representative for the Epilepsy Foundation of America’s Teens Speak Up (TSU) program—a national advocacy initiative that empowers teens living with epilepsy to share their stories and push for meaningful change.
This March, Cooper traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the three-day conference, where he connected with teens from across the country, participated in leadership and advocacy workshops, and joined in the National Epilepsy Walk.
The event culminated in a Capitol Hill Advocacy Day, where Cooper met with representatives from Senator Jon Husted’s Office, Representative David Joyce’s Office, and Epilepsy Foundation CEO Bernice Martin Lee. He advocated for seizure-safe schools and increased awareness of the challenges faced by those living with epilepsy.
“Epilepsy is not a rare disorder—1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy during their lifetime,” Cooper shared. “It can happen to anyone, and I want people to know they’re not alone.”
As part of his continued advocacy, Cooper must complete 100 hours of community service and hopes to organize a local epilepsy awareness walk—bringing our community together and continuing to educate others about this important cause.