HawkFest, an annual weekend event that invites alumni and families to campus, signifies the beginning of college careers for the Class of 2023, but also the beginning of the end of the Class of 2020’s journey at Hawk Hill.

Beth Hagovksy, director of Student Leadership and Activities, said there is pressure to make everyone feel welcome at St. Joe’s first public event of the school year.

“We’re trying to provide a time and a place where families can come to campus and be with their students,” Hagovsky said. “It’s not your home, but we want it to feel like your home.”

Over the course of the weekend, St. Joe’s welcomed back alumni and held undergraduate and alumni athletic events, the Kinney 5K and a picnic on Curran Field. Throughout the picnic, families and alumni were able to enjoy live music and activities such as Stuff-A-Hawk and Quizzo.

While first-year students have three more HawkFests to look forward to, for seniors this year’s HawkFest is their last. Nathan King ’20, music director of Hawkapella, said he was excited for his group’s performance, but there was also the “bittersweet” realization that this is his last HawkFest.

“It’s crazy that time has passed so quickly,” King said. “I know that everyone says that, but it’s so true that you blink your eyes and it all goes by.”

Having attended HawkFest all four years, King said he has seen it change from going to Curran Field, to Villiger Lawn and back to Curran Field.

“I think it says a lot about our school and how much it values not only the community of students here but also their families and the people who have allowed them to be here,” King said.

Rob Young ’20 has attended HawkFest twice, his first and his senior years. Looking back on both experiences, Young said he noticed the stark differences between the two.

“When I was there my first year it was kind of awkward,” Young said. “I didn’t know anybody because it was so early in being at school. This year was the opposite. A lot of my friends were there so my parents were meeting my friends and their parents.”

Young also realized that not only is this his last year at St. Joe’s, this is also the last year his family can visit him while he’s in college. He said HawkFest was a time for his parents to cherish and enjoy as well.

“Knowing that this is the last year, I definitely put in the effort to make sure I was at it and have a special time with my parents,” Young said.

Amanda Haggerty ’20 also only attended her first and senior years. She said knowing this HawkFest was her last added a bittersweet element to her senior year.

“Hawk Hill has been my life,” Haggerty said. “I call it my second home. It’s gonna be hard knowing that I’m not going to be on Hawk Hill and be able to see my friends every day.”

Haggerty spent her last HawkFest with her family, something else she realized she will no longer be able to do after graduation.

“I want to make sure we just have that last family outing at Hawk Hill,” Haggerty said. “This year compared to freshman year was just more sentimental knowing that I won’t be here next year.”

HawkFest allowed for people like Young to think about his time at St. Joe’s as well. While his time at Hawk Hill is almost up, Young said he feels that shouldn’t mean letting his senior year pass by.

“There’s just so much here that I’ve done since I started that coming in I had no idea I would be a part of,” Young said. “I’ve met so many great people that I know I’m gonna be friends with for life. The last year is something people should take advantage of and I’m definitely trying to.”

Kylie Williams ’23 and Kaitlyn Patterson ’20 contributed to this story.