PHOTO: UHCL letters. Photo by The Signal reporter Agueda Jimenez. — The UHCL letters, located between the Bayou and SSC Buildings. Photo by The Signal reporter Agueda Jimenez

BRIEF: ‘UHCL’ and ‘HAWKS’ letters replaced with new, permanent sculptures

By Miles Shellshear, Editor-in-Chief Last updated Oct 15, 2021 491 0

PHOTO: The new 'HAWKS' sculpture on University Drive near the Arbor building. Photo by The Signal Managing Editor of Content and Operations Troylon Griffin II. — The new ‘HAWKS’ sculpture on University Drive near the Arbor building. Photo by The Signal Managing Editor of Content and Operations Troylon Griffin II.

UPDATE 10/15/2021: The new ‘UHCL’ and ‘HAWKS’ letter sculptures were installed Friday, Oct. 15.

The ‘UHCL’ letters located in the alumni plaza and ‘HAWKS’ letters located in front of the Arbor building were removed Sept. 16. They will be replaced with permanent stone sculptures featuring lighting. Sept. 15, the Hawk Spirit and Traditions Council (HSTC) hosted an event for students to sign their names on the old ‘UHCL’ letters. A photo of the signed letters was taken to commemorate them before removal.

“Before the old letters were taken down, we took a photo of it with all the student signatures to keep a piece of the original letters,” said Quadoria Phipps, executive coordinator of HSTC and psychology major. “We thought having the students sign the letters and taking a photo of it would be the best way to show our respects to the long lasting letters.”

Although the ‘UHCL’ letters had existing electricity and lighting, the ‘HAWKS’ letters did not. UHCL Facilities, Maintenance and Construction (FMC) is currently installing electricity at the site of the ‘HAWKS’ letters. Concrete slabs for the new sculptures are already in place. Students can expect the new letters to be installed before the end of the year.

“We are very excited about the new letters coming in! It will be another icon for the present and future Hawks to appreciate when walking into campus,” said Phipps.