At a time when stress levels are high on campuses, Hilbert College found a unique way to uplift its community. The West Herr Atrium was filled with excitement and a sense of community as students gathered for the “Stuff-a-Creature” event, a simple yet impactful activity that emphasizes the importance of bonding with your peers.

The event was straightforward in its approach but effective in its impact, it involved students stuffing their own plush creatures, dressing them in Hilbert College merch, and most importantly, bonding with fellow attendees. The simplicity of creating stuffed animals became a backdrop for something much more significant – building a stronger sense of campus community.

Ethan, a junior studying psychology, shared his experience: “I didn’t really come in with any first impressions, as I had never heard of this event being held before. So, I came just to find out what the experience would be like.” His favorite part? “I like the stuffing because there are a lot of things you can do with it. While stuffing, you learn the best way to use the foam, and who doesn’t like stuffed animals,” he added.

When asked about the broader impact of such events, Ethan reflected on the communal aspect, saying, “I think events like these bring the total joy of the campus up. Some people are super stressed with classes and their daily lives. I think it can help relieve a lot of stress because it gives a feeling of community.”

Behind the scenes, the organizers worked to ensure a great experience. Alexis, a sophomore in the forensic science program and one of the event’s organizers, explained, “The Stuff-a-Creature event is all about fun and stress relief. The goal with these events is to create a welcoming and stress-free environment.” Unlike most other events, this one didn’t face many challenges. “It was one of the more simple and easy events to set up,” she admitted.

Regarding its recurrence, Alexis said, “This event is typically done once per year, but it’s not always scheduled at the same time. The experience is unique, there are different things every time you come. But the theme is mostly what changes between events.” This shows that the core value of bringing people together in a joyful, stress-free setting can be done again and again while still remaining impactful. The “Stuff-a-Creature” event shows that student involvement doesn’t always need elaborate setups or extravagant plans. Sometimes, the joy lies in the simplicity of coming together and spending a little time with your fellow classmates. It’s the small yet thoughtful events like these that strengthen our close-knit and supportive community here at Hilbert College.

A small group of people of about ten from Hilbert spent some time at the Jewish Family Services campus helping clean and refurnish the rooms for future families, from 9:30 to noon. The campus, which was 20 minutes away from Hilbert, is open every weekday from eight am to five pm. When cleaning the rooms, the students and site leader vacuumed, wiped the windows down and removed any garbage, and re-furnished the rooms with new bedding or chairs. The group of ten people broke into three groups and did two or three rooms on the main floor and then another two-three rooms.

Rachel Wozniak said Day of Service is an important event because we are helping our community in the best way possible: giving back. “Franciscan Day of Caring is a special day in the Hilbert academic calendar… allows us the opportunity to set aside our needs and focus on the priorities of the community.”

The planning of it typically starts immediately after the annual Day of Caring is completed, Wozniak adds on that the planning is done “roughly three to four months in advance. Wozniak said the shirts we wore on that day with the Mother Collete quote of “In all things, charity”, is the best way to explain Day of Caring.

“The back of our shirt this year sums up the day perfectly with the Mother Colette quote: In all things, charity’”. Day of Caring involves many organizations in the Western New York Community, one of the organizations being Jewish Family Services located in Buffalo.

Jewish Family Services on the Weinburg Campus is a newly associated partner for Weinburg Campus, as the original owners of the buildings on Weinburg campus was for seniors, the owners realized there were more rooms available than anticipated, so they partnered with Jewish Family services to welcome new refugees to the Western New York Area. Jewish Family Services are also known as a resettlement place. Dascha Valuyskaya, who is an employee, explained how the services works:“Our resettlement, are people who fall under the refugee status, so those who are overseas, go through an immigration process and get accepted through the refugee status,” Valuyskaya said. “They come here, and we find them apartments, we clean them, we furnish the apartments… We will stay with them for about 3 months; make sure they settle in, which sounds like a long time but it’s not especially when you’re in a new country”.

Valuyskaya, who works specifically with the community engagement program on Weinburg campus, said she helps new families in Buffalo get comfortable with their new surroundings, and introduces them to local stores.

“We connect with people who still need help, she said “We will set them up with volunteers, English tutoring, circles of care, in which volunteers stay with the family for six months”. While finding a local grocery store may be easy for us, it’s not as easy for those who are new to the country. Valuyskaya emphasized the importance of getting the families comfortable with their area:

“Showing them libraries, go to the parks, where you can get groceries, clothes,” she said.

In addition to familiarizing the new community members to their area, Jewish Family Services also helps with legal documents, Valuyskaya said. “We also provide other services like case management; we will sign them up for government benefits…we will enroll kids into school”.

Manager of the Jewish Family Services Matt Stewart discussed another program they do, which is case management.

“Adding onto the community care program, we do case management”. Case management is a legal document for the government. 

While most are probably wondering how long the actual process is to get into the system of a new country, Valuyskaya explained the differences between a refugee and an asylum seeker as well.

“The average wait time for an individual in a refugee camp to process their claim and fly into a new country is twenty years…for asylum seekers it’s hard to track cause we can’t really track how long ago they left their country so we track from the moment they hit the border but it can still be years” Valuyskaya said. “[While] they’re in that process of obtaining asylum, they aren’t legally eligible to obtain any benefits, to work, that’s why shelters are essential to have a place to stay”.

Another program, manager Stewart discussed was the holocaust survivor program. “Our holocaust survivor program has around 75 here in the region,” Stewart said.  “The youngest is 79, and the oldest will be 115 in November. We also have a couple turning 115, 116. So, we’ve got some longevity in the program”.  Additionally, Stewart said the survivors in the program continue to get asked to tell their stories of the Holocaust.

When Valuyskaya and Stewart were asked about how important it is to keep getting volunteers throughout, they discussed the housing prices as a challenge for anyone.

“We appreciate it, this little campus we have here has kind of be our little saving grace as you know the housing prices really sucks,” Valuyskaya said. “It’s hard for anyone to find affordable decent housing so this has been our little safe haven at least for people who are single, a couple and they could stay here with leases starting at three months, not huge commitments prolong it as long as they need.”

Hilbert’s site leader at Jewish Family Services, Kera – Bush Turner, said if she had to encourage people to volunteer she would say that everyone has gotten help at least once in their lives, and helped someone else’s life to make a difference. “I believe that almost everyone has had a moment in their lives where they received help from someone,” Bush Turner said. “It’s that idea of “paying it forward” that can make such a difference in someone’s day or even life”.

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This past Saturday, September 30^th, the Hilbert Hawks Football team took on Endicott College at Frontier Highschool. It was a tough loss for the Hawks, but still a memorable game. Along with-it being Alumni Weekend, Frontier Highschool’s prom king and queen made a reappearance.

Hawks’ wide receiver number 84, Brian Sylvia, got to play on his home field. Slyvia attended Frontier where he played for the football team. His senior season was cut short when he injured his leg during the homecoming game. Sylvia broke his fibula that game but was able to recover and play in playoffs at the Bills Stadium.

Brian’s number one supporter, Emily Weise was also in attendance at the game. She loves supporting Brian, and as she states, “I’ll go anywhere he goes. “Being able to beat Hamburg, Frontier’s biggest rival, was one of Emily’s favorite high school football game memories. She also enjoyed watching Brian play at the Bills Stadium senior year. 

Playing on his own home field, Brian stated, “it was fun to play where I left off in high school.” Being a fan back at her home field, Emily felt “very weird”, and she thought she’d never be back.

In the future Brian sees himself coming back as a mentor to other high school football players. Last year Brian had the opportunity to help coach a few practices with the Frontier football team. He hopes to continue and put to use his passion for football and be a coach in the future.

These prom king and queen, class of 2022 graduates were able to make a special memory this weekend. Neither were expecting to return back to their home field anytime soon. Nor were they expecting to have the opportunity to play and cheer, just like their days in high school.

For the last two years of Hilbert softball, the team has not had very good seasons. This year the coaches along with the players are hoping to start over beginning with the fall season.

Softball is not normally a fall sport but just like every sport they get to have a preseason. John Hall has been the head coach of Hilbert Softball for eight years. Every year Coach John Hall recruits different girls from all over the country. 

            After talking with Coach Hall about this season, Hall said that he is, “very excited” about this season. “I think we got a great team and we’re going to do some good things,” he said.

            Hall thinks that the Hilbert Hawk Softball team has a chance to win this year being as the girls have better attitudes and they have enough pitchers, whereas the last couple of years the team did not have very many pitchers.

 “I can see us making the playoffs this year.” Hall said. “Our pitching was what hurt us last year now we’re ready to go so,… we have a shot at the playoffs.”

            The girls on the team have better communication and are able to broadcast that ability into the games. Along with the fact that everyone knows their position and knows how to do what they need to do when they are on the field.

“The attitudes, the quality of the people we have, and everybody here can do a job so, I think it’s going to be great.”

            With the new additions to the team and the chemistry between teammates the team is looking forward to this new season. With just a week till the preseason, the team is working hard to improve what they can before their actual season in the spring, starting with a week in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

            Leandra Cruz, a four-year senior on the softball team, said that the difference in this year and previous seasons is huge because there has been many positive changes to the team. She said she is “more confident and ready for the upcoming season than in the previous years.”

Cruz says this mostly because she has worked to improve her skills and so has the team as a whole, along with the additions to the team including coaches. 

One thing that caused most of our problems in prior seasons according to Cruz was the “lack of chemistry between the players… I don’t see this issue this year and I believe the chemistry and environment overall seems better.”

With the team being able to get along better this year the team and coaches are hoping for a better overall season.

Hamburg, N.Y- Sport Industry Management (SIM) students are creating a flag football tournament as part of a service-learning project to help raise money for their Super Bowl trip this upcoming February. Come down to Hilbert Colleges practice football field behind Hafner Recreation Center on November 4 from 10am to 3pm to have a day filled with football, fun and prizes.

The S.I.M Flag Football Tournament will be a 5v.5 game, costing each player $25 to join. While the event will be held on November 4, the registration closes Saturday, October 21. T-shirts with the tournament’s logo will be given to all who participate, and lunch will also be provided. The winning team will get a prize basket containing items such as gift cards, novelties and other prizes. This event will also include a raffle for a chance to win a Buffalo Bills jersey.

Gather your friends, run some practice routes, and support your fellow students. This tournament is not only aimed to help raise money for a great opportunity, but to have fun and create a positive environment for everyone involved.

 For registration, click the link provided below or scan the QR code on the posters spread all throughout the Hilbert College Campus. We hope to see you there!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdnBO18QJO7bLbHsWK2nLJtudStLuIIGCvXzEdMGSDkGx_C7Q/viewform?usp=sf_link

Tim Seil was hired as Hilbert’s Athletic Director in December of 2021. He has described his time at Hilbert as “outstanding”. 

Before coming to Hilbert Tim worked as the Assistant Director of Athletic facilities at Canisius College. He also teaches at the college in the Kinesiology and Sports management programs 

“I’ve learned a lot. As you mentioned, this is my first AD job,” he said. “Kara Reabum and Rob deGrandpre have done a really good job of helping me navigate certain problems and questions.” 

 Hilbert’s campus size had a role to play in making the job easier, Seil said, noting how everything is in reasonable distance and what an advantage it is being able to know everyone. 

“I’m able to walk across campus in two minutes to go have a conversation with somebody,” Seil said. “It’s a lot better to have this conversation face to face rather than over e-mail, right? So those types of things have been great you don’t get lost in the shuffle here you feel like I pretty much know everybody on campus including the professors.” 

“I think it’s something that still kind of keeps me connected to actually engaging with the students on a different level than I would normally do on a daily basis.” 

When the decision came to leave his previous job at Canisus to come to Hilbert one of the driving factors was having his family in the right position along with being in a position to succeed, Seil said. 

“I knew that I wanted to be in athletics long term,” he said.”But I also wanted to be in the right position for my family and I knew that I wanted a position close to home. I saw (college president) Dr. (Michael) Brophy’s vision and I was like ok I think I can succeed here.” 

A big part of Brophy’s vision for the athletic department was the start of three new sports programs to Hilbert: football, track and field and women’s ice hockey.

Seil said how proud he is of the sports being implemented successfully under his tenure. 

“I’m proud of the fact that we started those three new sports and added over 120 new student athletes,” he said. “Being able to give more opportunities to students and helping grow enrollment here at Hilbert’s been important. The next thing I want to accomplish is getting a field and track.” 

Football, being one of the more eye-catching additions of the three new sports, came under a lot of attention and scrutiny from within the college community. Hilbert Football went winless in the regular in its inaugural season, with the majority of the losses coming by large margins, but did have two wins in exhibition matches against junior varsity teams. And head coach Jim Kubiak left at the end of the season.

Seil said struggles are to be expected when implementing brand new programs. 

“We struggled in year one,” Seil said. “Anytime you add any sports program it takes time to develop, you need established people, athletes, and culture. I know that it can be done but it’s going to take time.”

“Last year we were a younger team, the two JV teams we did play St. John Fisher and Brockport we beat them, so I know that it can be done, it is just going to take time.” 

Seil also applauded the job that new Head Football Coach Ted Egger has done so far this season in leading the program 

“I think Coach Egger and his staff have done a really good job getting these athletes prepared, having structure so they can succeed,” Seil said. 

The annual Kangaro Encounter event was held at Hilbert College on September 21st, 2023.

During the event, inside a temporarily fenced area the student body and faculty of Hilbert College had the chance to engage several kangaroos varying in age, color, and size. Between 11:00am and 3:00pm, the entire campus was able to engage with this animal along with several others as well in a very proactive way, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

HAMBURG, N.Y. – Hilbert women’s soccer started their AMCC campaign with a decisive 5-2 win over Carlow this afternoon. Five first half goals, including a Chloe Champagne hat trick, propelled the Hawks over the Celtics.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Gabrielle Avallone got the Hawks on the board just over a minute into the contest. The ball found her at the top of the box, and she made no mistake putting the ball into the top corner of the net. The goals kept coming for the Hawks as Champagne only needed 4:32 to complete her hat trick. Her first goal came after Avallone played her through on goal and she calmly placed the ball in the bottom of the net just before the seven-minute mark. Less than two minutes later, Champagne found herself uncovered on the back post where she finished a tap-in after a perfect pass from Grace Zabawa. Just under three minutes after that tally, Champagne made it a 4-0 game with a shot over the Carlow goalkeeper for her third of the game.

Despite the scoreline, the Celtics never gave up in this one, forcing three straight saves from Hilbert goalkeeper, Jordan Brown after the Hawks’ flurry of goals. Just before the half, it would be Carlow’s turn to add to the scoreboard. Two goals in 15 seconds cut the Hawks’ lead in half just two minutes before the break. However, Zabawa would find herself through on goal after some impressive dribbling. She made no mistake and restored the Hawks lead back to three.

The second half of this one was a defensive battle, led by the goalkeepers, with neither team finding the back of the net. This wouldn’t be for a lack of effort, as Brown made five second half saves to keep her team ahead. Her counterpart in the Celtics goal, Lyndsey Szekely, made eight second half saves of her own in an effort to keep Carlow in the game.

GAME NOTES

• Champagne buried three first-half goals.
• Avallone and Zabawa each tallied a goal and an assist.
• Brown made eight saves in the winning effort.
• Evin Stauffer fired five shots on net.
• Isabelle Hilbert saw her first collegiate action in the win.

UP NEXT

The Hawks will look to build off their victory as they head to SUNY Brockport for a matchup with the 7-1 Golden Eagles on Monday. The game is set to kickoff at 2 PM on their new turf.