Throughout his years at both Hidden Valley High School and the Burton Center for Arts and Technology, Jack Barbour has stood out as a dedicated student and a talented artist.

According to Burton Art Teacher Ms. Strum, Barbour began attending Burton as a freshman and quickly made significant progress, becoming a friendly face to many.

“Jack has a charismatic, fun energy that radiates from him and made him instantly likable to freshman classmates,” Strum said.

Barbour is a gifted artist across multiple disciplines, including poetry, photography, music and visual arts. When he’s not writing poems or sketching his next piece, he enjoys studying psychology—a subject he plans to pursue at James Madison University next year.

Barbour’s photography teacher at Hidden Valley, Mrs. Stevens, shared how she has “enjoyed watching him grow and change both in cross-country and in his art. He is so enthusiastic in all of the things he does, especially photography.”

Channeling that enthusiasm, Barbour has built a following on social media platforms by sharing his photography and art, creating a public outlet for his creative work.

In addition to his dedication to academics and the arts, Barbour is known for his strong personal connections. It’s common to see him smiling and laughing with friends in the hallways. He’s also taken the time to build relationships with teachers including Strum, Stevens, and Hidden Valley Psychology Teacher Mrs. Newbern.

Barbour leaves behind not only a legacy of kindness, but also a portfolio of award-winning artwork.

“Jack could make any place home,” Strum said. “The world will always be his oyster because he sees challenges as opportunities.”

As he heads off to James Madison University, Strum added: “Jack is just too wonderful to keep tucked away alone in an art studio. He must share himself with the world, because we could all use a little more Jack in our lives.”