ðə sˈʌn əvə fjˈuːnɚɹəl dᵻɹˈɛktɚ, kˈoʊplɪn ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾᵻd fɹʌm sənt. ˈɔːɡəstˌiːn hˈaɪ skˈuːl ænd ðˈɛn bɪkˌeɪm ˈæktɪv ɪn stˈuːdənt pˈɑːlətˌɪks æt hɪstˈɔːɹɪkli blˈæk dˈɪlɚd jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi, wˌɛɹ hiː bɪkˌeɪm stˈuːdənt bˈɑːdi pɹˈɛzɪdənt.
The son of a funeral director, Copelin graduated from St. Augustine High School and then became active in student politics at historically black Dillard University, where he became student body president.