It’s a thing that you only see in the movies, but for Matthew Hawkins ’26, the “tragic” moment occurred with a car speeding down the road alongside him. Heading to his bus stop one early morning in November, the ground was spotted with rain puddles from the night before.
Unexpectedly, as Hawkins danced and sang down the road, a wall of water erupted from the car driving by beside him, and “freaking drenched” him.
He couldn’t help but laugh. “I laughed to myself because you only see it in the movies,” said Hawkins.
But that’s just the attitude that Hawkins embraces. “I was mid-devotion,” Hawkins explained, a time when, “I would listen to whatever worship music. I would pray, I would yell, I would dance and just really spend time with Jesus on my walk. And so when the water hit me, I was already like I was already dripping with the Spirit… And so the water didn’t fade.”
That attitude has brought Hawkins the reputation of someone you “hear before you see” as described by Barry Hassett ’26.
Singing down the street wasn’t always the person Hawkins was, however.
He first learned the art of performing, then found his love for singing, and it soon became a fundamental pillar of his spiritual and personal life.
Hawkins grew up moving around often, jumping from between various San Francisco Bay Area suburbs until eventually landing in Phoenix. Through this, the source of stability was always his family and their faith.
“Church was a grounding space,” said Hawkins, citing how he was born into the lifestyle. “I’m a pastor’s kid and a grand pastor’s… I basically liked watching them do everything and being alongside them, which fostered a deep rooted commitment to faith.”
This commitment was the foundation of his love for singing. Beginning his singing journey in the church at age three, Hawkins slowly developed his love for it.
“Between three and 10, I didn’t want to sing, but that wasn’t an option… I started to love it though, when I turned 10,” Hawkins said.
Continuing in his love for music, when he came to Brophy singing was one of the first places where he found community. “I went to Dr. Murphy. I was like, bro, I can’t read music, but I’m really good,” Hawkins said.
Dr. Teresa Murphy, choir teacher, described that interaction with Hawkins. “A couple days into school he just showed up at my door here and he was like, ‘where can I learn to sing opera?’,” said Dr. Murphy.
That ambition carried throughout his Brophy career. Hawkins took initiative to help build the Loyola Student Choir, Worship nights, a bible study group, and a caroling group to visit retirement homes during the holidays.
Dr. Murphy reflected on what she’ll miss about Hawkins. “I’ll miss his initiative, right? Like it’s been so wonderful just to know there’s always a student like one step ahead and like starting his own stuff that I don’t even have to light the fire,” said Dr. Murphy.
Mason Fees ’26, a friend and peer to Hawkins, shared similar sentiments, “Matthew was swamped for most of his time because he had so many things that he wanted to do,” said Fees..
Over his time at Brophy, Hawkins grew, not just in his singing but in confidence, too. He admittedly came to Brophy as a “nerd” who was “super awkward and weird,” yet after seeing the impacts former students had made, Hawkins decided to take advantage of the opportunities Brophy presented him.
He became involved in the Black Student Union, Modern Medicine Club, and the student council, building relationships throughout. His confidence expanded after a performance at The Mass of the Holy Spirit freshman year when he had a solo. “I cooked in front of everybody else and they were like, ‘Oh my gosh, dude, you’re like good at singing,’” said Hawkins.
That confidence formed in his work began to create the infectious personality Hawkins embodies. Fees described him as “magnanimous”, saying “he is passionate about a ton of things. But then he also just succeeds in it as well because really he’s just been willing to put in the work and sacrifice for the people he cares about to make those things happen.”
“I think Matthew is a really good example of what Brophy can look like if you really take advantage of every opportunity you can,” said Fees, sharing how their time together has allowed him to grow, “He’s been a huge positive impact in my relationship with Christ.”
Hawkins uses his gifts to share his faith. “Music is a way for me to communicate with God and for him to communicate with me,” said Hawkins.
“Matthew has a clear vision and is continuing to get a clearer vision of every gift that he has is given to him by God, right? And he wants to give it back to God,” Dr. Murphy said.
That clear vision was made particularly clear the day he showed up to first period student council dripping wet from a rogue puddle, unable to control his smile. Hawkins’ life, based in faith, allows him to use his gifts for the community he has built, inspiring his peers throughout his Brophy career.
