Favorite memories spark reminiscing

Seniors: you’ve made it. You’ve survived your last finals week and your last meal at Campion Dining Hall. You’ve made it through papers, quizzes and late night study sessions. You finally know how to navigate Barbelin Hall (we hope) and can make it to your class in Merion Hall with time to spare for some Einstein Bagels in the morning.

Over the past four years, the university has been lucky to watch this senior class grow and become an accomplished group of people ready to take on any challenge after graduation. We will be so sad to see you go, but we know how much you each will accomplish with whatever path you pursue. You have all the skills you need to succeed, and we all have the utmost faith in your abilities.

We hope that you’ve built up your reservoir of great memories since you’ve arrived on Hawk Hill, and we definitely have quite a few.

Class of 2019, you should look forward to the amazing days ahead of you, but never forget to take a moment and reminisce about  all of the amazing places you’ve been, people you’ve met and things you’ve done.

Here are a few of our favorite memories on the Hawk Staff that will hopefully spark some thoughtful reminiscing on your years at St. Joe’s.

My favorite memory on The Hawk Staff was…

…Watching field hockey win and celebrate the Atlantic 10 Championship on Ellen Ryan Field.

–Sam Britt, Assistant Sports Editor

…The first time I sat in my classes and heard people talking about the stories in The Hawk. It was a moment worth remembering not out of pride, but out of encouragement that the work I was a part of was prompting thoughtful and informed everyday conversations.

–Erin Breen, News Editor

…Hitting a wall of tired at 2 a.m. during production nights and telling the worst jokes ever but still thinking they were the funniest things in the world.

–Devin Yingling, Assistant Opinions Editor

…Spending Monday nights in The Hawk office. Being a source of information for our community as well as spending time with my friends has been more than I can ask for.

–Alex Hargrave, Lifestyle Editor

…My favorite memory on The Hawk was a Q&A session with the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting during the Associate Collegiate Press conference in Louisville last year. I loved getting to see the purpose that drives journalists and the impact that investigative reporting has. It made me realize that I want that kind of fulfillment out of my job, too.

–Annie Clark, Editorial Page Editor

…Traveling to South Africa as a foreign correspondent for The Hawk.

–Natalie Drum, Assistant Lifestyle Editor

…Being a part of the Hawk staff while we covered the racial bias incident and the events that occurred following it, like the forum and the sit-in. I’m proud to be part of a staff that was able to show the community how the incident, and previous incidents, have been mishandled.

–Kaila Mundell-Hill, Copy Editor

…Being a part of the Confronting Racism series, having the chance to research our history and coming together as a staff to brainstorm story ideas and collaborate on a thoughtful and impactful four-part series.

–Emily Graham, Copy Chief

…Covering Phil Martelli’s firing, especially while getting the chance to sit down with him a few days after the fact. The nonstop work and experiences throughout that week stand out as memories that I will not soon forget.

–Nick Karpinski, Sports Editor

…Laughing and cracking jokes with everyone on staff. In the quiet moments when we were just talking and laughing waiting to get prints back, those intermediary moments were the best moments.

–Dominique Joe, Opinions Editor

…Covering the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame induction. I was able to be in the presence of some of the best athletes in Philadelphia history and also some of the best writers in the city.

–Ryan Mulligan, Assistant Sports Editor

…Being able to cover breaking news events over course of the semester. I love reporting on events as they are happening, and I got to co-write amazing articles with wonderful people.

–Cara Smith, Assistant Lifestyle Editor

….My favorite thing about working on The Hawk this past year (aside from getting to know such a wonderful group of people) was having the opportunity to report from Mexico. It was such a humbling experience and one that I would not have had without the support of the newspaper staff and advisors.

–Paige Santiago, Copy Editor

….Capturing the emotions at the student counter-protest and seeing how the community could come together to fight hate. 

–Mitchell Shields, Photo Editor

…Getting to meet so many interesting people during my research for stories. You never truly expect what you will get when you walk in for an interview, and that’s a lesson I’ll never forget.

–Alex Mark, Assistant News Editor

…Watching people pick up copies of the paper each Wednesday and talking about it with their friends in passing. After four years and St. Joe’s and two on The Hawk, I’m happy to have been a part of something so special.

–Kelly Smith, Creative Director

…Walking around campus, seeing people reading The Hawk and knowing we all had a part in creating it. It’s awesome when your work is getting attention and starting conversations.

–Angela DiMarco, Assistant Social Media Manager

…My favorite memory on The Hawk was live tweeting and witnessing first hand student activism on campus. A specific moment that impacted me was conducting live social media posts during the silent sit-in at McShain Residence Center outside of the Board of Trustees meeting last semester where students were protesting the university’s response to racism on campus.

–Erin Castellano, Social Media Manager

…Earlier this month a protest and subsequent counter-protest from students broke out on City Avenue. I was lying in bed when I heard the news, and I ran to campus. The adrenaline rush of breaking news will never get old. That story was the perfect way to end my Hawk career. Doing what I love most, with dedicated colleagues by my side.

–Ana Faguy, Editor in Chief

…Putting together the commencement issue for The Hawk for the seniors to reminisce about their four years on Hawk Hill and see all the support they have after graduating. Congrats to everyone on your accomplishments, Class of 2019. You will be missed.

–Charley Rekstis, Managing Editor

              -The Hawk Staff