Jack Hefty added another accolade to his already remarkable resume as he was named one of just four male athletes statewide to receive the prestigious WIAA Scholar-Athlete Award in Division 2. The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA), in partnership with the WE Energies Foundation and the Wisconsin Public Service Foundation, annually honors 32 seniors—16 boys and 16 girls—who exemplify excellence both in the classroom and in athletics.
This year, 806 seniors were nominated by 415 high schools across Wisconsin. From that impressive pool, four boys and four girls were selected from each of the four divisions based on a combination of athletic performance and academic achievement. WIAA Executive Director Stephanie Hauser highlighted the caliber of the honorees: "Each of these outstanding student-athletes has excelled in academics and athletics. Twenty-one of this year’s 32 Scholar-Athlete finalists have maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA."
Jack Hefty, a senior at Whitewater High School, boasts a flawless 4.0 GPA and an exceptional track and cross country resume. He is a back-to-back state champion in the 1600-meter run, having broken the school record in each of his victories as a sophomore and junior. In his final cross country season, he capped off his high school career with an individual state title and another school record, leading the Whippets to consecutive sectional championships.
In his award essay, Jack reflected on the impact of running on his personal growth: “The dedication and perseverance I've developed through running have shaped who I am. The challenges, setbacks, and victories have all taught me that success comes from consistent effort and a belief in pushing past limits.”
Jack becomes just the sixth student-athlete in Whitewater High School history to earn this distinction. Previous winners include Amy Cooper (1997), Carissa Converse (1997), Amber Converse (2000), Brett Harms (2014), and Sarah Schumacher (2015).
He plans to study chemistry and continue his athletic career in cross country and track and field at the United States Naval Academy.
Jack and the other recipients will be honored during an awards ceremony on Sunday, May 4, at SentryWorld in Stevens Point.
For more information on the WIAA Scholar-Athlete program and to read biographies of the 2025 winners, visit the Scholar-Athlete homepage.