Soaring Seahawk Swooping to New Nest

The iconic Soaring Seahawk sculpture located in the middle of the Wagoner Drive traffic circle is taking flight this summer to a new “nest” nearby. The university plans to move the sculpture to a larger space on the historic Hoggard Hall lawn. 

The sculpture, installed in May 2009, serves as a special backdrop for countless alumni and student photos, especially after commencement. The university is moving the Soaring Seahawk as part of roadway improvements to Wagoner Drive. Beginning the week of May 20, the campus and community should plan for limited roadway access and closures along Wagoner Drive for the project’s duration, scheduled to end prior to the beginning of the fall semester.

The project’s goals include: 

• Improving crosswalks and storm drainage
• Providing better roadway access for buses and fire trucks
• Enhancing picture takers’ safety by moving the popular photo spot away from the center of a roadway and closer to Hoggard, the first building on the UNCW campus. 

The late Irwin “Ike” Belk, a UNCW donor and business executive from Charlotte, provided funding for the Soaring Seahawk, created by local metal sculptor Dumay Gorham III.