Brady Hecker: excelling in the classroom, the field, the track and the pool

Central High School senior Brady Hecker has had an impressive high school career – he’s an All-District and All-Region football star, Eagle Scout, and Massanutten Regional Governor’s School student, and he will have a year’s worth of college completed by the time he graduates.

In addition to his high school diploma, Hecker will also receive his uniform certificate of general studies, meaning he has completed one year of college credits. He earned those credits both at Central and the governor’s school through Laurel Ridge’s dual-enrollment program.

Calculus has been Hecker’s favorite college-level class.

“We do a lot of fun projects at the governor’s school,” he said. “Everybody said it was a great way to get a jump start on college and said they had a lot of fun there.”

Brady Hecker is also a member of Central’s track team.

In addition to academics and his football career, Hecker has also participated in swimming and track. Plus, he is involved in Central’s Interact and sports medicine clubs, as well as the National Honor Society. In November, he was featured on WHSV-3 as the Charlie Obaugh Auto Group Student Athlete of the Week.

Hecker said he would “absolutely” recommend dual enrollment to other high school students.

“It helps a lot with getting ahead on college and, hopefully, introduces you to that college experience,” he explained.

Hecker is planning to attend either the University of Virginia or Virginia Tech in the fall to study architecture. He said he has long been interested in the field.

“I would always look at houses and think, ‘those look very cool,’ and, I always liked math,” Hecker said.

And, earning those college credits while still in high school added up to some substantial savings.

“I’m pretty sure all my credits will transfer, which will save a lot of money,” he said. “Just having a whole year done, I’m sure that’s going to save at least $10,000 or $20,000.”