HOW DOES IT FEEL TO TURN 10? WHAT’S CHANGED THE MOST SINCE YOU FIRST TOOK FLIGHT?
Flap-solutely amazing! It’s been a whole decade of happy dances, learning and hawkward selfies. So much has changed since I was hatched, I can barely keep my feathers straight! We’ve added new buildings, launched cool programs and upgraded tech. I’m proud to be part of this flock!
WHO DID YOU HAVE TO BEAT OUT FOR THE JOB AS AACC MASCOT?
Oh, the competition was feather-ocious! Tammy the Talon tried out, Bobby Blue Heron was fiercely competitive and Steven Seagull had an intense energy with his fishonly diet and 4 a.m. workouts.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE THINGS TO DO AT AACC?
Where do I begin? I love cheering on our Riverhawks at games. Nothing gets my wings flapping like a big win! I love hanging out with students between classes, joining campus events and dancing like everyone is watching.
HOW WAS COVID FOR YOU? WHAT DID YOU DO DURING COVID WHILE EVERYONE WAS AT HOME?
It was definitely strange flying solo and not having anyone join me on sushi runs. I tried to stay busy, though. I took some online classes, deep-cleaned the nest, binge-watched nature documentaries and learned to make sourdough like everyone else. I was soaring on cloud nine when everyone returned.
IF YOU COULD MAJOR IN ANYTHING AT AACC, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
That’s a tough one because there are so many egg-cellent options! I’ve dabbled in a little bit of everything at AACC. I took some science classes to learn more about my species (did you know riverhawks can rotate a toe to grip fish better? Talon-ted, right?) and a few art classes too. You can’t cage creativity! I guess you could say I’m more of a lifelong learner than a one major kind of bird.
LET’S GET TO A HARD-HITTING QUESTION: ARE YOU AN EARLY BIRD OR A NIGHT OWL?
Definitely an early bird! I’m usually up with the sun, wings stretched, ready to swoop into my morning classes. But don’t get me wrong, I can still shake a tail feather at a late-night dance party. Let’s just say I rise and shine.
DID YOU ALWAYS KNOW YOU WERE DESTINED TO BE THE MASCOT OF AACC?
I mean … have you seen these wings? But seriously, being the face (and feathers) of AACC isn’t just about looking good in spirit gear. It’s about lifting up our students, building community and spreading a whole lot of Riverhawk pride. I’ll always be proud to represent this nest we call AACC.
THANKS FOR 10 AWESOME YEARS, SWOOP! ONE FINAL QUESTION BEFORE YOU GO: HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THE RECENT RUMORS THAT YOU DYE YOUR FEATHERS?
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