12 Things Only Hilltoppers Know
Virtual visits, webinars and Instagram can tell you a lot about a university. But every college has campus secrets only its students know. We've rounded up some of our favorite study spots, traditions, and unique features, all located on the hilltop.
Skylines and Selfies
1. The best view of the Austin skyline is from the steps of Main Building.
2. Thanks to Lady Bird Johnson, the hilltop is a bluebonnet oasis come springtime. If you want to take some photos or bask in the beauty of the Texas State Flower, visit the bottom of the hill near the Main Building. The field between Fleck Hall and Congress Avenue has the most flowers, and later in the season, you can capture the bluebonnets and the skyline in one shot!
Global and Green
3. St. Edward’s University and Travis County co-manage the Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve. This is Austin’s first nature preserve, founded in 1976, that protects 227 acres of the Texas Hill Country located right off of Capital of Texas Highway and only 10 miles from the hilltop. On weekends, Hilltoppers can hike the trails for free!
4. The John Brooks Williams Natural Sciences Center is home to two transgenic rooftop greenhouses for studying plant growth. The hydroponic farm stands between John Brooks Williams North and South grow all kinds of herbs and greens.
5. Enjoy the Hilltopper community at garden socials by lending a helping hand to the Campus Community Garden, which was created and is maintained by the student organization Students for Sustainability. The garden is also a stop on the annual Roots and Wings Festival, a series that celebrates Austin’s urban forest ecosystem.
6. Gather some friends by the disc golf course on the hilltop. In 2023, Student Affairs teamed up with University Operations Systems Manager Don “Fish” Vansandt, a “Pro 50” disc golf player, to bring the nine-hole course around the Maryhill and Hilltopper Heights apartments to life. Students can visit RecWell for access to the course.
7. Take a step off campus and walk through the Blunn Creek Nature Preserve right behind campus. The 40-acre preserve features a stream along the trails and a volcano overlook!
Traditions, Big and Small
8. At Hillfest, the giant carnival at the start of school, you can meet the goat mascot of St. Edward’s. We’re not talking about Topper, played by a cheerful Hilltopper, but an actual goat. She lives on a farm nearby, her name is Kelly, and she’s the great-granddaughter of the original goat mascot, Pax.
9. The red doors of the Main Building are a great photo op during a campus visit. They’re also part of the Legacy Walk, a university tradition. After the Medallion Ceremony at the start of your freshman year, you’ll walk with your class up the stairs, through the doors, and into the heart of campus to mark your entrance into the St. Edward’s community. At the end of your senior year, you and your class will walk out the red doors and onto the front lawn.
Study Spots, Snacks and De-stressors
10. Reflect in the All-Faiths Claire Kolodzey Memorial Garden next to the chapel and focus next door in Campus Ministry's quiet, cozy lounge.
11. Read a book or get some work done under the shade of Sorin Oak, a 250-300-year-old tree. It’s also said that the wifi near Sorin Oak is pretty strong. As a Tree Campus, the hilltop is home to three trees named Austin Tree of the Year: Sorin Oak, St. Joseph Hill Twisted Tree, and the Common Ground Oak.
12. Far beyond a traditional library, the Munday Library gives Hilltoppers an edge with spaces built for creativity, collaboration and next-level academic work. Its lounge is stocked with games, magazines and puzzles, while bright, quiet and collaborative study areas provide the perfect environment for focus and innovation. Seeking more creativity? JBWN also houses the Makerspace, where students can design and create 3D projects, buttons, vinyl decals, t-shirts and more.
BONUS: Recharge with a nap! Visit the Recreation and Wellness Center at the RAC and rest for 20 minutes in one of the nap pods. You can even get comfortable with a blanket, pillow, and relaxing lighting.
Next Steps
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