Hawk Pride Shines During Hawktober!

Hawktober Weekend started strong with the 40th and 50(ish) Reunion Dinner, with President Lawrence P. Ward in attendance. Afterwards, the Pub returned to Gengras Student Union, as students, parents, and alumni gathered for performances by recording artists from UHart's student record label, Redtail Records. More than 30 alumni attended the celebrations, which continued into Saturday morning with the reunion brunch.

One of the highlights of the weekend was the raising of the first-ever Student Government Association flag, designed by Kaleb Cole '26. Congratulating the newest SGA senators, President Ward said, "You need to be the light we all want to see-to do your part, to use your unique skills and talents, and certainly to use your UHart education to be changemakers and difference makers. It is my hope, it is my prayer, that you continue to be the light for someone who needs it."

On Saturday afternoon, Hawktoberfest took over Alumni Plaza, featuring music, snacks, a photo booth, and carnival games. Meanwhile, at Tailgate Village, folks gathered to cheer on the volleyball, men's and women's soccer, and field hockey teams, with food trucks and stadium snacks. That led into the the Hartford Hawks softball team's signature fundraising event, the Home Run Derby, with more than 100 participants.

Sunday kicked off bright and early with a longstanding Hawktober tradition: the Hartford Track & Field 5K, with nearly 150 lacing up their sneakers to take part.

Closing out the eventful weekend was the annual Jazz Brunch, as Latanya Farrell M'97, M'98 performed for a sold-out crowd in GSU Café. She had a somewhat unusual guest vocalist: the mayor of Bloomfield, Tony Harrington '77 P'11, who joined her for part of her set.

And all weekend long, students, alumni, and parents were able to check out exhibits in Joseloff and Slipe Galleries, catch the mainstage performance of Thornton Wilder's The Skin of our Teeth in Millard Auditorium, browse the Alumni Art Marketplace, and much, much more.

It was a weekend of unforgettable memories as we celebrated all the reasons we're proud to be Hawks!