Ballard Christian: Jack Hyche

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By Natalie Salvatore Photos Contributed By Jack Hyche

Jack Hyche, a Louisville, Kentucky native, is one of Ballard Christian School’s four high school seniors graduating this spring.

Ballard, located at 1415 Moores Mill Road in Auburn, is one of this community’s many excellent schools offering a K-12 education.

Hyche and his family moved to Alabama when he was five years old, allowing him to spend the majority of his childhood in the state he will graduate in.

For the past six years, Hyche has been homeschooled through Ballard. The school’s motto, “Jesus, Team, Me” has been something that has propelled him throughout his education.

“Their motto reminds me still today that Jesus needs to be first in my life, then I am to think of others before myself, and then trust knowing the Lord will take care of me,” Hyche said.

When the senior first joined Ballard, he immersed himself in the extracurricular opportunities the school has to offer. While there, Hyche has played on the junior varsity basketball team and was a water boy for the varsity football team. He has also participated in the Jewels Fair for speech and photography.

While in high school, Jack has also played basketball for Grace Christian during his senior year, was a community volunteer for the Columbus Ballet, as well as a member of the Voices of the Valley Choir and the Alabama Baptist One Voice Choir.

Jack is all about sports, music, podcasts and the outdoors. His high school endeavors have allowed him to explore his interests while giving him experience in these fields before taking his next steps after high school.

“Fond memories that I have from Ballard is the connection and friends I have made over the past few years that started on the football field and playing basketball,” Hyche said. “My favorite memories will always be with my basketball team and practicing on the bus for away games, having fun and being with them.” As Hyche is a homeschooled student through Ballard, he said that when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he was not affected as much as most students were. He was accustomed to virtual class and working through his schoolwork online despite the expected difficulties. “It was hard, though, not knowing if we would still be able to come together as a basketball team to have our practices and games,” he said. “During the pandemic, I missed seeing my team and my coaching mentors, but thankfully, we were able to come together for my last season of basketball.” Hyche plans to continue the momentum and is attending Southern Union State Community College on a full technical scholarship for welding after high school. He will continue his education here in Opelika for the next two years to complete the certification required. Hyche said he is very excited about this opportunity and is grateful to not only his family but also to Ballard for helping him reach his goals.

One person in particular at Ballard that helped shape Jack is Regina Christian, the school’s academic administrator.

“I am also very thankful for Mrs. Regina at Ballard, who has guided me through my classes and for always being a positive encouragement for me,” Hyche said.

Hyche had her support, as well as everyone’s at Ballard, when he walked the stage and earned his diploma on May 28.

Dear Beauregard High School Class of 2021,

Noah Webster is credited with compiling his dictionary in 1828, a compendium of some 70,000 words. I have read that approximately 4,000 words are added to our language each year. That total has probably been surpassed with all of the “goings-on” this year.

Our ‘new normal’ has contributed its own vocabulary — COVID-19; COVID positive; COVID quarantine; social distancing; and virtual, blended and traditional instruction, to name just a few.

With the opening of the new Beauregard High School in September, we christened our campus with unique names, as well — the FX Building, the Hornet Gymnasium, the Career Center, Academic Blue, Academic Gold, and Academic Red, the HIVE, the Hall of Hornets, the VESPA and the Hungry Hive. Not since the class of 1973 has a Beauregard High School class experienced as many changes on campus.

Of course, those changes have not been without challenges. This pandemic has definitely presented its share of challenges and setbacks, but what we have accomplished over the course of this school year is remarkable.

Specifically, we started class on campus on Sept. 14, a month later than what was planned; we opened a new campus to students who knew not where to go; we transitioned to a four-by-four block schedule from an eight-period schedule; we have offered three methods of instruction (traditional, blended and virtual); we have successfully hosted all of our scheduled athletic events, albeit amidst numerous restrictions; we have enjoyed the sound of music and drama in our new choral room and auditorium; and we have striven daily to be Hornet Health Heroes (wear your mask, practice social distancing, wash your hands and stay safe). This graduating class has met each change and each challenge with dignity and with the resolve to persevere.

Our mission at Beauregard High School is to prepare you for life after high school. We push you through course after course, and test after test. I sincerely hope that you will always remember, through all that your young life has experienced — a natural disaster in 2019 and this pandemic — that the adventurous spirit of our Hornets is not just to endure, not just to survive, but to thrive. We are extremely proud of you for reaching this milestone in your life and for the perseverance you have displayed along the way.

As for Noah Webster, I am certain that neither he nor I, could adequately use words to define the sincere feelings of appreciation and gratitude I have for all who have kept Beauregard High School abuzz in 2020-2021 and for making this graduation a reality!

Sincerely, Richard L. Brown, Jr. Principal