Jackson Hileman is a senior at OHS with down syndrome, and he has found countless ways to win over the hearts of students and teachers alike – whether it is through his infectious energy, sense of humor, or kindness, he has undoubtedly become a familiar and beloved presence at OHS.
Recently, Jackson was brought into the spotlight at a momentous basketball game in February, capturing the attention of not only the OHS community but also of the news.
“I made a half-court shot, and I won a $100 gift card,” said Jackson Hileman, senior.
Basketball is not the only sport that Jackson enjoys participating in as he loves to engage in all things active.
“I like basketball, baseball, golf, and softball. I play with my friends,” J. Hileman said.
Jackson’s mom is a teacher at OHS, and has many stories to tell about Jackson. She was present when Jackson made the shot.
“I could not believe he went down there…I just thought he ran down there and was putting himself into that situation because that’s not unlike him,” said Debra Hileman, math teacher.
When the half-court shot was made, the students at OHS went ballistic, surrounding Jackson with rallying support while cheering him on.
“It was a super proud moment as a mom, and of course my husband was there too. All the students were chanting ‘one more, one more,’ so they were doing that same kind of encouragement in that moment that I have been trying to do his entire life. They were as excited as he was and it was one of those emotional, heartfelt moments,” D. Hileman said.
Another activitiy besides sports that Jackson loves is hanging out with his friends, and he gets to see them on a daily basis when he goes to school.
“[My friends and I] hang out in school and we always hug each other,” J. Hileman said.
One of the reasons people love Jackson is because he is extremely humorous and energetic, and he loves to make friends with all kinds of people.
“When I get time with him one on one, he is really funny and he loves everyone. He knows no enemies,” D. Hileman said.
When it comes to Jackson’s free time, he engages in a wide array of activities.
“My hobbies are playing Fortnite and hanging out with my friends…on the weekends, me and my dad go and play golf,” J. Hileman said.
Another activity Jackson enjoys is spending time with his family, which consists of his mom, dad, and two siblings- a sister and brother.
“His dad is his ultimate best friend, and they love to do things like mini golf, shoot hoops, and play games,” D. Hileman said.
Jackson is also an animal lover and has pets at home, which are a big part of his family as well.
“We have three pets named Chloe, Max, and Simba…they are all dogs,” J. Hileman said.
Jackson also enjoys his classes at school; his favorite class is powerlifting where he gets to build his strength with his favorite teacher, Coach Dueling.
“I like ELA, TSW (Transition from school to work), econ, weight training, dance, and math,” J. Hileman said.
Jackson is a senior here at OHS, meaning that he will be graduating in a few short weeks, and he has very specific plans for his future.
“I might go to college at Grand Canyon University…I want to be a singer/songwriter; I want to be a rapper,” J. Hileman said.
Jackson is the definition of a social butterfly, hopping from one friend’s group to another, always bringing smiles and laughter wherever he goes.
“He is a total goofball. He loves attention, and he is very much an extrovert who loves to be social,” D. Hileman said.
