Keeping It in the District: From Student to Board of Education Candidate

“My passion for policy and social change began after the 2016 presidential election when I felt as though the politicians in office did not represent my beliefs,” said Hickman, a second-year student earning a Bachelor of Arts in Public Management, Leadership and Policy. “I wanted my friends and classmates in middle school to care more about politics and elections.” 

From that moment on, he wanted to get candidates in office who supported his beliefs and ideas. In eighth grade, Hickman began his political involvement in his community by volunteering for Danny O’Connor’s campaign in Ohio’s 2018 special election for Ohio's 12th congressional district and running for class president at his middle school. 

Growing up in Worthington, Ohio, Hickman continued his passion for community engagement and politics as he attended Worthington Schools and devoted most of his high school career to giving back to the community through leadership positions in student council, cross-country, swim and theatre. as he served as class president for three years and then student body president. 

During his senior year of high school, he grew a deeper appreciation for public service as an intern at the Ohio House of Representatives, where conducted policy research for House Minority Leader Allison Russo.

As a first-year Ohio State student — 18 years old and recently graduated from Thomas Worthington High School — Hickman said he saw an opportunity to continue his service to the community through the Worthington Board of Education.  

Hickman’s school board campaign, primarily led by recent Worthington graduates, focused on issues including mental health, student engagement and partnerships with local organizations and businesses. He also wanted to strengthen the relationship between the high school and the Delaware Area Career Center.  

Following the Worthington Education Association’s decision to endorse other candidates in the race, however, he and his team concluded in September that his chance of winning had significantly narrowed, so he withdrew, recognizing that the campaign was bigger than himself, and protecting public education in his community must be the top priority.

“While I may no longer be a candidate, our work to get student representation on the Worthington School Board is far from done,” Hickman said in a message to his supporters. “Over the coming months, I will be working tirelessly to convince the board to establish 1-2 student representative positions so that our most important stakeholders can have their voices heard.”

“When I began this campaign over a year ago, I had no idea if Worthington was ready to embrace a passionate 18-year-old with a vision,” Hickman wrote.

“Because of you, the need for additional mental health support and a stronger relationship with our trade school has been put at the top of our district leaders’ minds,” Hickman wrote. “Because of you, I will be able to reflect on this campaign from a place of immense gratitude and pride.”

A busy and engaged Ohio State student, Hickman works as a student office assistant for the Glenn College and is involved in Mount Scholars, Undergraduate Student Government, College Democrats at The Ohio State University and Students for Better Schools and Futures. 

“Using the lessons I’ve learned from this campaign and my education at the John Glenn College of Public Affairs,” Hickman wrote in his message, “I am determined to continue advocating for a government that prioritizes people over politics.”