"If you don't like something or you want to see something improved, you have to get involved," he said. "That only comes with your participation."

Sensing that many of the university’s African-American students had lost interest and faith in the BSU, Pickett first ran for the top office to follow his year as vice president. The BSU serves as an umbrella organization seeking to organize, promote and uplift the African-American experience at UK. Over the past year, Pickett increased participation in BSU events by inviting everyone he met to meetings. What had been a handful of members in attendance, regularly turned into more than 50 people. He also worked with the Student Activities Board, African-American Student Affairs and other campus groups to organize campus programs. He even helped to organize UK's first Apollo Show, a talent showcase he said he hopes BSU can sponsor every year.

"I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of participation we got at many of our programs," he said. "Better attendance at our meetings really enabled us to do a lot more than in the past."

His success in creating new programs and getting more students involved inspired Pickett to run for his second year in office. He said he hopes this year will continue to build up BSU and see more cooperation between campus organizations to meet the needs of students. Organizing various events is important, he said, because those events give UK's African-American students an outlet for creativity and teach the campus at-large about the black culture. The work also prepares Pickett for the road ahead.

"I enjoy the role of leadership, and the BSU prepares me for future roles of leadership in my community," he said. "

Part of his leadership role in BSU is to serve as a representative of UK's African-American students to the administration, faculty, staff and other students. He often finds himself being called upon as a campus leader, working with student groups to effect change and passing concerns to administrators.

"It is important for African-American students to have a voice on our campus," he said. "BSU allows me to be that voice for the campus. I can share our opinions, interests and beliefs."

By encouraging participation in BSU events and being a voice for African-American students, Pickett also hopes to help achieve a university-wide goal – an increase in diversity.

"The only way we are going to reach a comfortable level of diversity is through participation. All students have to participate," he said. "We all have a natural tendency to stay in our comfort zones. We need to get out of those corners and get involved together."