In a campus field day-type event based on the popular show “Squid Game,” the UHCL Board Game Association (BGA) invited all students to come together and take part in our school’s very own “Hawk Games.”

“More Squid Games,” said Aya Almanfi, one of the participants, “I’m here for the Squid Games!”

Some students also attended the event solely as audience members, cheering on their friends and fellow students. By the last game, the gym’s crowd was the biggest it had been all evening.

There were five games total: Red Light, Green Light, Mingle, Tug of War, UHCL Trivia and, for the finalists, Musical Chairs, with rewards provided by the BGA for the podium finishers. David Garcia, first-place finisher and “Hawk Games” champion, won a $600 laptop.

“I barely win anything, so honestly this laptop is either going to go to me or my sister, or I’ll use this to advance my art career,” said Garcia.

After the event ended, we walked around and spoke to some of the students attending, getting their input about how they felt the event went.

“Super fun,” said Aidan Moon, a “Hawk Games” participant and Vice-President of the UHCL Creative Writing Club. “But I do think they should have done a dry run with the soldiers to test the games first and get all the kinks out.”

This was a sentiment was expressed by several students who felt they were unfairly eliminated due to a lack of clarity over how the rules were explained.

Barbie Martinez, marketing director for the BGA, discussed the event and how it ultimately came about.

Initially brought up in a group meeting by BGA officer Sonal Sawant in April, subsequent planning for the event took a few months before the outlining of the event began in June.

Martinez described the process as “stressful but enjoyable,” with the biggest challenge being the day of the event

Martinez thanking many people for their support of the Hawk Games, in particular her fellow officers from the BGA, the Recreation and Wellness Center, and members who played a crucial role in the event, including Dr. Randy Seevers, Mary Shelley, Matthew Perry and Jaime Richeson.

Martinez also thanked the students who came to participate in the Hawk Games, as it would not have been possible without them.