A quartet of Hawks put pen to paper and inked their National Letters of Intent to continue their athletic and academic careers at Division I colleges on Wednesday afternoon.

Hendricken football stars Kwity Paye, Chris Hindle and Andrew Hopgood, alongside soccer standout Lucas Gesmundo, made their college choices official in front of a packed theater.

Paye, the Hawks’ All-American defense end, will be moving on to national power Michigan, while Hindle and Hopgood will continue their connection at nearby Bryant University in the fall.

Conversely, Gesmundo, who posted 11 goals and six assists on the pitch for Hendricken in the fall, will be staying in-state at the University of Rhode Island.

Hendricken president John Jackson and principal Jay Brennan both gave remarks to start the signing ceremony, and Jackson and Brennan both offered some of the same sentiments.

“They’re not just great athletes, they’re great students and fine young men,” Jackson said.

“They are the epitome of student-athletes,” Brennan told the crowd. “They’ve all excelled at their sports, but they’re also tremendous, respectful students.”

Gesmundo was the first athlete recognized, and he received praise from Hawks’ assistant soccer coach Bill Johnston, Jr., who commended the midfielder for his skill and tremendous work ethic.

“For four years, [Gesmundo] worked harder than I’ve ever seen anyone work on the athletic field for soccer,” Johnston, Jr., said.

Hendricken head football coach Keith Croft couldn’t make the ceremony, but offered words of praise for all three of his standout players via a video.

However, Croft’s father, Buddy Croft, was on hand to offer his remarks for Hindle, Hopgood and Paye.

Buddy first acknowledged the accomplishments of Hindle, who threw for 24 touchdowns en route to another championship season during the fall.

“Chris Hindle belongs in the conversation as one of the top quarterbacks to ever come through Hendricken,” Buddy Croft said.

Buddy was also excited about the opportunity that Hindle and Hopgood will have to continue playing together at Bryant.

“I’m very, very excited that they’ll be going as a package and will be able to play with each other at Bryant,” Buddy Croft said regarding the tandem that connected for 16 touchdowns during the fall.

Hopgood’s versatility caused headaches for opposing high school coaches, as he also served as a big-hitting defensive back.

Buddy noted that coaches around the state knew who they had to stop when playing the Hawks.

“Multiple coaches said in the media this year that ‘If I want to beat Hendricken, I have to stop Andrew Hopgood,” Buddy Croft said.

He concluded by recognizing Paye, who was a unique talent in terms of Rhode Island high school football.

The Under Armour All-America selection proved to upcoming football players in the state that anything is possible.

“Kwity’s living proof that Rhode Island high school football players can succeed at the highest level,” Buddy Croft said.

Paye then stepped to the podium and acknowledged past coaches and teammates, before emotionally addressing his mother. She immigrated with Kwity and his brother to South Providence after moving to Guinea from a Liberian refugee camp when Kwity was very young. Today, Paye’s mother has worked up to three jobs just to give him the opportunity to receive a quality academic and athletic experience at Hendricken.

But, for all that she’s done for him, Paye plans on paying his mother back one day.

“I do this all for her so she’ll never have to lift a finger again,” Paye said with tears in his eyes.