High school sophomore Jacob Heppe trains for 16 hours a week in gymnastics—a sport he’s pursued for 11 years. Jacob’s athletic pursuits have not hampered his ability to focus on academics. He works equally hard on his studies, and earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average for the Fall 2024 semester.
Like many homeschooling families, the Heppes do not use an accredited agency for their educational program. Jacob’s mom, Julene Heppe, started homeschooling him when he was in kindergarten. She homeschools his younger brother as well.
Though the Heppes originally chose to homeschool for religious reasons, Julene said the decision helped minimize disruptions to her sons’ education during the frequent moves required by her husband’s career in the US Air Force.
“Homeschooling has provided a lot of stability,” she said.
It has also provided the flexibility for Jacob to pursue gymnastics, which requires a major time commitment, not simply for training, but also for traveling to meets. The 15-year-old has already attended competitions in Colorado, Arizona, Texas, and Oklahoma this year. Jacob competed in the USA Gymnastics (USAG) Men’s Region 3 Championships held at the Oklahoma City Convention Center on April 3rd-6th, 2025.
USAG is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. It oversees the sport at all levels, from grassroots programs to elite competitions, including the selection and training of U.S. national teams for the Olympic Games and World Championships. Region 3 represents the Men’s Gymnastics Programs of Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
On April 4, 2025, USAG granted an Academic All-American Recognition Award to Jacob. In addition to the award serving as recognition of Jacob’s hard work as a student, his mom said, “It’s a good thing to have on a college application because it shows he can balance academics and athletics.”
Congratulations, Jacob, and keep up the good work!
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