Alina

Ballard

ABOUT ME

Hey! Alina Ballard here! I am a rising senior at the Latin School of Chicago, an independent school in the city of Chicago. Not only am I a serious and dedicated student, but I am also an All-State athlete, a talented artist and enthusiastic dancer, and I am passionate about and dedicated to community service and volunteering.

ATHLETE

Awards

〰️

Awards 〰️

  • All-State (6th place), llinois High School Athletic Association – Track and Field / High Jump, (2025)

  • State Qualifier, Illinois High School Athletic Association – Track and Field/High Jump, (2023, 2024, 2025)

  • State Qualifier, Illinois High School Athletic Association– Cross Country, (2023, 2024)

  • All-Sectional, Illinois High School Athletic Association - Track and Field/High Jump (2023, 2024, 2025)

  • All-Conference, Illinois Independent School League - Track and Field/High Jump (2023, 2024, 2025)

  • Latin School of Chicago School Record Holder in Track and Field / High Jump (2023, 2024, 2025)

  • Most Improved in Track and Field (2023)

All Conference Champion

All-Sectional Champion

All-State Champion (6th Place)





Artist


Self-Portrait
Maizey Blue

Hip Hop

Modern Dance

Self-Portrait featured in “Ecco” Art Magazine

Volunteer


The Honeycomb Project

The Honeycomb Project is a non-profit organization committed to engaging, mobilizing, and inspiring children and their families to build connected communities through hands-on service on a variety of community projects. I have been on the Teen Leadership Corps of the organization since 2022 where I have lead a variety of service projects including the following:

  • St. Sabina Food Pantry (packing lunches for those with food insecurity (2021, 2022)

  • Our Lady of Angels Free Store (2023)

  • Holiday Heroes – Lurie Children’s Hospital (2023, 2024, 2024, 2025)

  • Shower with Dignity (2023, 2024)

  • Build Better Classrooms for Chicago Public Schools (2023)

  • Nourish Your Neighbors (2024)

  • Lakeview Food Pantry (2023, 2024)

  • Lend a Hand to Lurie Children’s Hospital (2023, 2024, 2025)

  • Thaddeus Lechowicz Woods Nature Preserve: Clearing Invasive Species from local forest preserves (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)

  • Foster Beach Clean Up

  • 63rd Street Beach Clean Up (2023, 2024)

The Alex Mandarino Foundation

Alex Mandarino, a family friend, was just five-years-old when he lost his life after a two-year battle with neuroblastoma. The Alex Mandarino Foundation provides critical funding for research related to the prevention, treatment, and ultimate cure of neuroblastoma and other pediatric cancers. The foundation also provides financial assistance to families with children battling cancer in Southwest Michigan. Since 2014 I, along with my family, have supported the foundation by helping sponsor and volunteering at the annual Duck, Duck 5K Run which raises money to support research for childhood cancers.

Nourishing Hope

Nourishing Hope serves residents living throughout Chicago who are experiencing food insecurity. I have helped sort and package groceries and deliver to those in need on the south, west and north sides of Chicago. In addition to home

Threads for Compassion

My mother learned to crochet from her grandmother and spent countless hours teaching me the craft. I decided to combining my newfound hobby of crocheting with my desire to make an impact in my community, I created the “Threads of Compassion” project to help those in need in Chicago by crocheting winter hats and delivering to a number of women’s and children’s shelters, refugee families, church organizations, and those experiencing homelessness. To date, I have donated over 200 hats to those in need in the Chicagoland area. You can see our creations by following me on Instagram @ threads.for.compassion or click here .

Contact Me

Email
alinaballard2@gmail.com

Phone
(312) 576-4961

Location
1919 West Nelson Street
Chicago, Illinois 60657