Candidates in the Buffalo Mayoral race debate at St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute in the week leading up to election day.

The Hilbert Hawks next just got a little bit bigger.

The Hilbert athletics department and college announced that they would be adding four new sports teams: men’s track and field, women’s track and field, women’s ice hockey, and football.

For a small college like Hilbert, it’s quite a big proposition, but one that brings much excitement to the community. The school also announced that they would be building an all-turf complex that the football team would play on with the track on the outside, with the hope of it being done by fall 2023.

Perhaps the most ambitious addition is the new football program, which is set to take the field next fall. Creating a football program and having it ready for competition in a nine-month span is uncommon, but something that Hilbert plans on achieving. The man who will be leading that charger will be newly announced and inaugural head coach Jim Kubiak.

Hilbert announced that Kubiak, who is from the Western New York area went to high school right down the street at St. Francis, was announced as the school’s first ever head football coach at a press conference this week.

The new coach expressed his excitement, saying he is ready for the challenge ahead.

“Being here today reminds me of the first time I walked out that Army-Navy tunnel,” he said.

After a successful high school career Kubiak attended the United States Naval Academy, where he was a four-year letterman and three-year starter on the football team and also received the Navy achievement medal. Jim not only started there but he stills hold the all-time records in passing yards and completions. After his time at Navy, he signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted rookie in 1996 while also being on active military duty. From then on he played for the Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, and Colts again while also making trips in the arena football league all from 1998-2005.

After his playing career Kubiak has coached at numerous colleges, most notably at Division two Mansfield as their offensive coordinator. Kubiak has also been the director of the WNY Quarterbacks academy where he has worked with numerous local student athletes.

In his press conference Kubiak said  He also said how he has spent fourteen years here in WNY working and developing players in our region and how he is honored to have the opportunity to recruit students from the area. Kubiak said that when he was young he was taught, “be on time, know what you’re supposed to do, and bust your behind doing it.”

As he tries to build this program he said the foundation begins with “growth, constant improvement, hard work and execution.” Kubiak said he believes the Hawks will represent the traits of hard work and discipline. The most important thing in his presser was when he stated that the Hilbert football experience will be “fully prepared to imprint the belief that our players can achieve anything they can put their minds to.” Lastly, Kubiak was not shy of the fact that on the field work ethic and who you are on the field translates to who you are off the field.

Hilbert College students helped plant trees and shrubs at Tifft Nature Preserve as a part of Hilbert College’s Franciscan Day of Service last month.

Tifft Nature Preserve is a 264-acre nature preserve that has been dedicated to conservation and environmental education. Tifft Nature preserve was bought by the City of Buffalo for the purpose of being a landfill. It wasn’t until the community recognized and voiced the ecological importance of the site that it was turned into a nature preserve.

Shianna Patten is a senior at Hilbert who participated in the service day activity at Tifft.  “It felt good to do something to help this preserve” she said, “even if it is something as small as planting a tree or shrub”.

Both trees and shrubs were planted and are hoped to grow into the open spaces in the years to come at Tifft. This is just one of many restorative projects Tifft Nature Preserve has planned.

Alex Gill was the leader of the group that attended the nature preserve. “I really enjoyed taking time to plant some trees and shrubs at the reserve” he said. “It felt good to help out and hopefully we will be able to go back when the trees are grown to see our work”

Halloween is right around the corner and what better way to get into the spirit than to participate in spirit week? The Office of Student Involvement is hosting a fun week leading up to Halloween for all students – commuters and residents – to participate in. Each day will be filled with fun activities to show your Halloween spirit. Candy will be available at every corner for students to take as they please.

Halloween spirit week events include:

-Dressing up in your Halloween Costume for classes

– Pumpkin painting

-Halloween Horror Video Game Night

-Halloween Dance

Felix Malave, a resident and student worker for the Office of Student Involvement said he is excited for the horror video game night.

“There will be a horror game on each TV for students to be able to come in and try out whatever game interests them,” he said.

The games available to be played are Clock Tower, Silent Hill, Resident Evil, Dead by Daylight.

“We are hoping to have all PlayStation and Xbox controllers available for use, if we have limited controllers, students will have to share and take turns playing games.” Malave said.  

Malave wanted to work for student involvement because he saw a need for more student participation around campus.

“I just hope students see the work we have tried to put into the events in order for everyone to be able to come and do what interests them.” he said.

Graduate Coordinator of Campus Involvement, Jhada Hutchinson said there are a variety of activities to give everyone an opportunity to get involved.

“We will do a costume contest, food, drinks and dancing,” Hutchinson said.

Dances have always been a student favorite here at Hilbert and what is more fun than doing the Monster Mash with a bunch of friends? “For pumpkin painting we are planning on painting ceramic pumpkins with cider and donuts.” she said.

Students are encouraged to check the Hilbert Involvement Instagram for updates on programming or stop down to the Student Life Office located in Franciscan Hall.

Spirit week events:

Monday October 25^th– Dress up in your Halloween costume for classes- all day

Tuesday October 26^th– Pumpkin painting- destination and time TBD

Wednesday October 27^th– Horror video game night in the Hawkade time TBD

Thursday October 28^th– Haunted Halls event cancelation- new event TBD

Friday October 29^th– Halloween Dance location 7pm – 10pm

The Hilbert community celebrates St. Francis Week with one of the school year’s most popular events, the Blessing of the Animals.

Sarah Bauch joined the Hilbert community this summer when she came on as the graduate coordinator for campus involvement, one of several positions filled recently in the office of residence life.

Sarah graduated from Niagara University with her Bachelor’s in Business Management and is getting her Master’s in Higher Education and Student Affairs at Buffalo State College.

Even though she has only been at Hilbert for a short time, Bauch is very happy to be here, she said.

“I’m excited to be able to bridge the gaps in this area and make a lot of good connections with students here at Hilbert,” Bauch said. “I would love to see student involvement ramp up, and for more students to feel at home here.”

Bauch noticed there is a big need for student guidance and assistance within the area of Residence Life. Sarah Bauch’s office is located in Trinity Hall behind the front desk, she said.

“If a student has any room issues, key issues, roommate conflicts or mental health issues, or just want to say hi, they can come see me,” she added.

So, what do the students think of these new changes? Brandon Kottwitz, a student worker who is very involved here on campus said he thinks the new hires are doing a great job.

“I feel that the new staffing changes within the Residence Life department are allowing for new and creative ideas to be implemented within housing,” Kottwitz said. “The new staff is amazing and already well known by the resident population.”

Brandon is not only a resident here on campus, but an active part of the Residence Life team.

“For Residence Life I mainly work in the Trinity Mailroom,” he said. “When working I am tasked with obtaining student packages from the Switchboard, logging and labeling student packages in our system and making sure the correct student is getting their mail or package. Other part of that job includes doing various tasks that the Residence Life department need done.”

Students are encouraged to stop by Trinity Hall to meet the members of the Residence Life team so they can familiarize themselves with staff who are here to help answer any residential questions and to get all the news about events that are happening around campus. Bauch really wants to be able to get to know each and every student in Residence Life, she said.

“I have an open-door policy, come see me if there is anything you need, or you just want to chat.”