2026 Sammy C. Hawks Revealed
Photo: Jeff Janowski/UNCW
UNCW’s legendary Seahawk mascot has been a campus staple since 1947, when the university was still known as Wilmington College. 79 years later, Sammy C. Hawk continues to evolve, brought to life by a plethora students who have taken on the role.
“There is a lot of responsibility that goes into being Sammy,” said one Sammy C. Hawk. “To represent UNCW and the Wilmington community as Sammy is such an honor.”
Sammy’s history began when a five-member student council was tasked with creating a mascot and selecting school colors for Wilmington College’s athletic teams. The Seahawk was chosen due to the popularity of a football team at a U.S. Navy preflight school — the Iowa Pre-FlightSeahawks — and the school’s proximity to the beach.
The Seahawk mascot was not given a name until 2004, when students participated in a campus-wide contest to submit and select a name for the bird. Finalists included “Slammin’ Sammy the Seahawk,” “Caesar the Seahawk” and “Breezer”. Ultimately, UNCW alumna Kristin Jorgensen submitted the name “Sammy C. Hawk” and won the competition with more than 100 votes.
Throughout Sammy’s evolution, each student who has taken on the Sammy role has carried a sense of responsibility, joy and community. After going through a Sammy “boot camp” to ensure the mascot represents UNCW well, each student can add a unique spin to the character, shaping Sammy’s personality in their own way.
“Each Sammy has a little bit of their own touch on the ‘Sammy way’ mannerisms,” one graduating Sammy said. “I had the most fun and got the best reaction from the crowd when I was just myself — while it was a very exaggerated version of me, I tried to be as authentic as possible.”
The Sammy C. Hawk students share a strong sense of connection behind the scenes. “All Sammies look after each other,” said one Sammy.
One of the most meaningful moments tied to the role comes at graduation, when graduating Sammies are finally able to reveal their identities to their peers.
“This reveal is something all Sammies look forward to,” said another Sammy. “The biggest tradition is earning the privilege to walk across the stage wearing the Sammy feet.”
In step with tradition at the 2026 spring Commencement Ceremonies, graduating mascots Reece Braswell and Skylar Spencer wore their yellow Sammy feet well as they marched into Trask Coliseum for the final time as undergraduates, donning their caps and gowns instead of their mascot costumes for their big reveal. Learn more about their Sammy C. Hawk experiences:
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