Walking back into the halls of St. Edward High School feels like a full-circle moment for Jessica (Hart) Horner, Class of 2003. Once a three-sport athlete and proud Green Wave, Mrs. Horner is now back on campus, this time as the school’s new business manager. 

After graduating from St. Edward, Mrs. Horner went on to study sports management in college. She began her career working for a park district, planning community and sports events. Later, she became interested in the business side of things and took on a role in accounting and procurement, where she managed budgets, worked with vendors, and made sure everything ran smoothly. 

“I’m still learning,” Mrs. Horner said with a laugh. “Nothing is too challenging, though. I have a great mentor helping me, and it is going well. There is just always more to learn.”  

During her time as a student at St. Edward, Mrs. Horner played cross country, basketball, and softball. She remembers playing basketball for Coach Dawson, starting at JV as a freshman and moving up to varsity as a sophomore. “Those years taught me a lot about teamwork and dedication,” she said. “And I made friends who are still in my life today.” Being a part of the sports at St. Edward brought her forever friends and community. 

Her favorite part about being a student at St. Edward was the close-knit community. “You really make friends for life here,” she said. “Everyone supports each other – teachers, coaches, and classmates. It is something special.” 

Now, she is happy to be part of that same community again, but from a new perspective. “It’s fun being back at the old school,” she said. “I will walk down the hallway and remember where my locker was or something funny that happened. It is like being back in time.” 

Mrs. Horner is also excited about bringing back some of St. Edward’s old traditions. “Yes, Johnny Green Wave should come back!” she said enthusiastically. “We should totally fundraise to bring it back, and I know the faculty would support it.” 

She still remembers the energy that filled the stands during games. “Basketball and football games were always packed,” she said. “I used to paint my face green and cheer like crazy! There were so much pride and excitement.” 

From cheering in the stands to helping the school run smoothly behind the scenes, Mrs. Horner’s story is one coming home. She is proud to once again be part of the St. Edward family, proving that once you are part of the Green Wave, you always are.