Help Hugo bring the trophy back

Coming off a heartbreaking defeat in the semifinal round of the 2014 SUNY Mascot Madness competition, Hugo the Hawk, SUNY New Paltz mascot and 2013 Mascot Madness champion, is launching an all-out campaign to bring the trophy back to his beloved alma mater in 2015.

Hugo is sending out a call for support to all New Paltz students, who can help propel him to victory by voting in each round of the single-elimination tournament bracket. Voting will remain open until the final round concludes on April 8.

Last year a total of 44 campuses sent their mascots to participate in the competition, with more than 340,000 total visits to the voting pages and thousands more social media references. Hugo survived to the Final Four but lost to eventual champion and fellow aviator Ellsworth the Eagle of SUNY Brockport by fewer than 200 votes – less than one percentage point.

Look for Hugo around campus this spring as he hits the campaign trail. Follow him on his webpage and on Twitter @hugothehawk and share your support across social media using the tags #VoteforHugo and #MascotMadness.

Don’t forget to vote early and often! Hugo needs support each and every round to advance, and SUNY New Paltz students can cast multiple ballots, once every 48 hours beginning on March 16.