Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile features Shawn Hickey and Melissa (Bell) Hickey. Both are from the GHS class of 1996.
Shawn and Melissa have come back to Galesburg and have had such a positive impact on not only our schools but on our community. Both of them have been teachers and coaches, investing in the youth of Galesburg.
I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I did!!
Sports/Activities at GHS
Shawn- Football, Baseball, CARE, FCA, G Club
Melissa- Track (freshman year), Swim team, Baseball manager, FCA, Student Council, CARE Club, Triple G
Favorite Teachers/Classes at GHS
Shawn- Mike Baxter for Civics and US History
Melissa- Mrs. Stewart and Mr. Devore for American Studies, Spanish with Senora McQuiggen and Senorita Pennington, Driver’s Ed (with my future father-in-law)
Best Memories Growing Up in Galesburg/ Attending GHS
Shawn- Growing up in Galesburg meant Railroad Days, Stearman fly in, the Register-Mail and local coverage of athletes. Understanding that Galesburg was a blue-collar train community built on hard work and dedication to the city. Going to GHS had the same values of commitment and dedication to our city.
Melissa- Some of the best memories growing up in Galesburg and going to GHS-I moved to Galesburg in sixth grade and I remember everyone being so welcoming. We played a lot of pitch in high school, cruised the strip, and enjoyed hanging out with friends playing whiffle ball, flag football, having bonfires, and going to the movies.
Education After GHS
Shawn- After GHS I went to Monmouth College to play baseball and get a degree in education.
Melissa- Graduated from Monmouth college with a Bachelor’s in 2000, Masters degree in 2003 from St. Xavier University, another Masters degree in 2025 from Bradley University.
Career
Shawn- After graduating from Monmouth College I was hired by District #205 to be an educator at Churchill Junior High. After teaching one year, I moved to the high school…where I have been for the past 25 years.
Melissa- Elementary Education teacher (mostly 2nd grade at Steele) for 21 years and then most recently I am the School Counselor at Steele Elementary.
Right out of college, I was the assistant swim and dive coach for about eight years at GHS under awesome coaches Ray VanHootegem and John Willy. I sure got lucky working with both of them!
Today
Shawn- Today, my wife and I have a college graduate, Riley, from the University of Illinois. A current 2026 graduate, Drew from Galesburg High School and a current sophomore, Grady. We enjoy watching Drew and Grady start as middle infielders on the baseball team while Riley is a GHS substitute. My wife and I are completing our 26th year of working in the district.
Melissa- Mainly cheering our kids on in whatever they are interested in and helping Shawn with football activities. It’s also the first time in 33 years that I haven’t been working at the pool or taking summer classes so I’m looking forward to enjoying a little down time this summer!
First Date
Shawn- Our first date was watching the movie Schindler’s List our sophomore year in high school. What can I say? I was a historian at an early age and was drawn to the WWII theme.
Melissa- We first met when we were Sweetheart Swirl attendants our sophomore year of high school. Then he asked me to go to a movie (Schindler’s List) 🤣
Editor’s Note- It must have been love from the start for Melissa to go on. Second date after going to Schindler’s List on the first date.
Your Dad (Mick Hickey) is definitely old school. What are Mickisms that impact you?
Shawn- “Pat them on the back, kick them in the rear.” I use this with coaching football because I want my coaches balanced between criticism and complimenting.
“You can’t coach effort.” Athletes either work hard or they don’t. There is an easy way to distinguish between them.
“They have friends. Students need role models.” This rings true with any student because so many need positive male role models in their lives.
Being Coach’s Wife and Parent of Athletes- Which role is tougher?
Melissa- Both can be tough. It’s hard to hear the criticism of Shawn and how the team is doing when I see the countless hours that he puts into trying to build the program.
I would think that it’s harder to be the parent of an athlete though because it’s really hard to hear or see people be unkind to kids. Kids are trying to do their best and don’t go out to compete and then purposely make mistakes. They need to be given opportunities to improve and learn.
It’s also been tricky at times when you’re the parent of two athletes in the same sport at the same time and one has a good game and the other maybe struggled. They learn through those challenges, but you just want kids to be able to go and have fun, enjoy time with their teammates, grow in their sport, and learn to be good teammates along the way.
Coaching can be hard when lots of people have opinions and can hide behind a screen to tell you all the things they think you’re doing wrong. Being the parent of an athlete can be hard too. We just need to remember they are kids and they are navigating life too!
Advice to Today’s Students / Athletes
Shawn- My advice to any student athlete is to play multiple sports. There are coaches who ask you to quit other sports or play only their sport. Those coaches are selfish and don’t have your best interest in mind. You need to avoid those coaches and just be you.
Melissa- Have fun, work hard, make the most of your high school years, enjoy making memories! Join as many activities and teams as you can because you don’t get these years back. You’ll learn life lessons from each coach and activity leader that you have. We’ve got some really great students and athletes at GHS!!
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