University of Denver Spring 2026

ALUMNI STORIES

be surprised if there’s a veteran today who has not lost somebody in some capacity, whether that’s to combat or suicide or health complications.” The grueling event is just the thing to guarantee turnout. “If you want veterans to show up, you either have to feed them, give them beer, or make them sweat,” Hickey says with a laugh. He organized the event in 2018, and it has continued annually ever since. Even as Hickey built a community around him, he still felt out of place in class, keeping quiet to respect the opinions of others and avoid missteps. Some professors, however, recognized the value veterans bring and would draw out their perspectives for the benefit of all students. In a sociology class called Guns and Society, one professor recognized that Hickey had deployed a weapon in a context his peers hadn’t experienced and used that to push the class to think about the issue from multiple angles. “You were left to your own devices to come up with your own opinion, which I really appreciated,” recalls Hickey. These days, Hickey finds himself in places he never imagined he would be. He co-owns Rocky Mountain Flex Fitness with a fellow DU alum, Chris Lane (BA ’08, MLS ’12). A neighborhood fitness center, it’s “the kind of place where everybody knows your name,” says Hickey. He’s also vice president of the Marine Corps Memorial Foundation, which is working to expand the 1974 United States Marine Corps Memorial in Golden, Colorado. The expansion includes adding walkways that represent

Hickey deployed to Afghanistan in 2011, followed by assignments in Italy, Africa, and Norway.

board of the Veterans Leadership Network, supporting alumni engagement and veteran-focused initiatives. Hickey says the public often puts veterans into a box—something his own story challenges. Today, DU’s veteran community more strongly reflects the kind of support he once sought. With the backing of staff, faculty, and friends—and a drive to strengthen the community around him—he has turned his own experience into a mission to connect and empower others. “Just know that there are people out there on your team,” Hickey says, encouraging current and future veteran students to be curious, ask questions, and seek help. “I’m on your team.”

four aspects of being a Marine—service, valor, home, and reflection. As if that’s not enough, Hickey is also pursuing an MBA at Santa Clara University while serving as program coordinator for DU’s Office of Veterans and Military Resources. He assists Vine in managing work-study programs and organizing events, including the annual Military Ball, the Hero Games, and networking activities with General George Casey (MA ’80). He also serves on the leadership

Hickey (second from right) helps organize DU’s annual Hero Games, hosted by the Student Veterans Association.

57

UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | SPRING 2026