Hebron High School Hall of Fame

Hebron High School

by April Cunningham

Hebron High School, which officially opened its doors in 1999, is thrilled to announce its inaugural Hall of Fame class. This first class celebrates distinguished former Hawks, both students, and staff, who represent the heart and pride of Hebron as well as left an indelible impression on the school. These Hawks

were nominated and then selected by a committee of Hebron teachers and community members.
The inductees, who were announced March 14,
are as follows:

Jesse Iwuji, Class of 2005:

A former football and track standout, Iwuji also excelled in the classroom and was a leader on campus while at Hebron. His academic and athletic accomplishments earned him a coveted spot at the US Naval Academy, where he continued playing the two sports. Upon graduation, Iwuji served two Arabian Gulf deployments.

Today, Iwuji is a NASCAR driver, the first US Naval Officer, and US Naval Academy graduate to compete in NASCAR. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Iwuji, who is committed to serving others and always ready to lend a hand, once saved a family of four before their disabled vehicle burst into flames. When he’s not racing, Iwuji finds time to return home to LISD to make appearances in the community.

Samuel Freeman, Class of 2005:

Goal-oriented and a person of integrity are how those closest to Freeman describe him. Freeman, who again attended Lewisville ISD schools from kindergarten until he graduated from Hebron, was a star baseball player during his time as a Hawk. Continuing his baseball career on a full athletic scholarship to North Central Texas College, Freeman was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals after his sophomore year. Opting to continue his education, Freeman went on to attend Marshall University and the University of Kansas.

In 2008, Freeman was once again drafted by the Cardinals, officially making his MLB debut in 2012. Today, Freeman still plays professional baseball and often makes the time to connect with LISD students to offer words of encouragement.

Jake Jackson, Class of 2004:

The first-ever Hawk to bring home an athletic state championship, Jackson was a star wrestler for the Hawks, only losing one match during his high school wrestling career. Jackson was also a star on the football field as a three-year starter before being sidelined from sports his senior year due to injury.


Off the field, Jackson, known for his character and passion, was voted as Homecoming King and named Mr. HHS. Jackson continued his athletic career at the University of Oklahoma, wrestling for the Sooners before graduating in 2009. After a brief stint in energy management, Jackson started his career in education back home in LISD. Today, Jackson is a wrestling coach in Frisco ISD and was inducted into the Texas High School Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Honor in 2020. He is married with three children and often serves on mission trips.

Dr. Kaela Parnell, Class of 2006:

Gifted in the classroom and on the court, Parnell graduated in the top 10 percent of her class and was a star on Hebron’s volleyball team. Parnell was a member of the National Honor Society, played basketball, and ran track for four years. She received an academic scholarship and was recruited to play volleyball at Hardin-Simmons University, where she continued to excel academically and athletically. After graduating from HSU, Parnell went on to attend medical school at the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center. She completed her general surgery residency at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas followed by a surgery fellowship at Dartmouth- Hitchcock Medical Center.

In 2020, she was inducted into the Hardin-Simmons University Hall of Fame. Today, Parnell is completing a second fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic. Driven and compassionate, Parnell is known for her servant’s heart and is committed to serving the community.

Hugh Jones, Former Principal:

As the first principal of Hebron High School, Jones set a high bar for the campus from the beginning, wanting to see students and staff succeed. He was instrumental in the creation of many traditions Hawks still enjoy and helped build the culture of excellence Hebron is known for today.

Rachel Forester, Former Choral Director:

Under Forester’s direction, Hebron quickly became one of the area’s premier choral programs, consistently performing at esteemed conferences and earning numerous accolades. She is described as an incredible and passionate educator who loves all that being a Hawk entails.

Jeffrey Willard, Former English Teacher:

Inspirational. Dedicated. Engaging. Extraordinary. These are only a few of the many words to describe Willard, who was Hebron 9th Grade Campus’s first- ever Teacher of the Year. Willard passed away in summer 2020, but his legacy and the impact he had on students’ lives will live on forever.

Every fall, Lewisville High School and Marcus High School induct a select number of former students and staff into the schools’ respective Hall of Fames. Flower Mound High School has announced and inducted its inaugural class in April 2021. Stay tuned for the next edition of the alumni newsletter to meet the Jaguars’ inductees.

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