Rachel (Hibner) James • Class of 2009
March 3, 2025 Update
From the halls of Heritage Christian School to the rafters of Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Rachel (Hibner) James has had quite a journey since graduating in 2009. Unsure of her career path, she pursued Public Relations at Purdue University, which led her to marketing and communications.
An internship with the Indiana Pacers and Fever, arranged through an HCS connection, sparked her passion for sports marketing. “That summer changed everything for me,” she recalls. She later returned to the Pacers, spending seven years ensuring corporate partners like Chick-fil-A and Kroger received top-tier marketing exposure. From in-game promotions to parachute drops, Rachel was at the heart of the action. Eventually, she stepped away to focus on family, but her sons still proudly share that their mom worked with professional basketball teams.
Rachel reflects on how HCS played a pivotal role in shaping her faith, giving her the spiritual grounding that would prove invaluable beyond graduation. “While you’re at HCS, it can feel like a bubble, but once you step outside, you realize what a gift it is to truly understand why you believe what you believe.”
Rachel also cherishes the time spent in chapel, a part of HCS life she encourages current students to appreciate. “It’s easy to take it for granted, but you don’t realize how special it is until you leave,” she shares. Looking back, she sees how those moments helped strengthen the faith that would carry her beyond high school. Inspired by this, she and her husband, Andrew, started a nonprofit called Bible Blessing which provides The Beginner’s Bible to children for free.
Rachel fondly remembers teachers who impacted her life—Mr. Ambrose unwittingly set her on the path to event planning with a group project, which she recently rediscovered. "I found the event planning book we turned in and had to laugh—maybe that was the first clue about where my career was headed." Mr. Booker equipped her to defend her faith, and Mr. Stroup’s birthday letters remain a treasured tradition. Mr. Burdine made fifth grade unforgettable, especially with the legendary fifth-grade basketball tournament. "We learned the game, then in true Indiana fashion, competed against the other classes—it was the highlight of the year!" She also treasures the experience of cheering for HCS teams through multiple championships, fueling her lifelong love for sports.
Rachel's journey has been filled with incredible experiences, but one of the greatest miracles in her life was the birth of her first son. At 24 weeks pregnant, she developed HELLP syndrome while on vacation, requiring an emergency delivery. Given only a 50% survival chance, Aiden spent three months in the NICU but defied the odds. Today, he’s a thriving HCS student—proof, Rachel says, of God’s faithfulness.
Rachel’s journey has taken her from sports marketing to nonprofit work, but through it all, her faith has been her foundation. Now, as a mom and ministry leader, she’s grateful for the lessons learned at HCS and the ways they continue to shape her life.
