From Swig to the Chapel

Kyra Hammer ’19 and Vinny Sicat ’19 met as freshmen in Swig residence hall. Now they’re married.

Kyra Hammer ’19 and Vinny Sicat ’19
Constructed in 1965, the 12-story Swig residence
hall has surely been the setting for many meet-cutes, including that of Kyra Hammer ’19 and Vinny Sicat ’19. Photo courtesy the couple.

Kyra Hammer ’19 and Vinny Sicat ’19 met on the 10th floor of Swig Hall and have been inseparable ever since. In September 2024, surrounded by family and friends, including fellow Santa Clara alumni, Kyra and Vinny exchanged vows at Villa Montalvo in Saratoga, Calif., marking the next chapter in their nearly decade-long journey together.

Their story began during their first year at Santa Clara University. Kyra, a member of the Delta Gamma sorority, invited Vinny, a student-athlete, to her formal. “We were just friends at first, but after hanging out more, we started dating in the spring of our freshman year,” Kyra shares.

For Vinny, it was Kyra’s warmth and humor that stood out. “She was quiet and observant at first, but once I got to know her, I realized she had a great sense of humor and a contagious laugh,” he says.

As for knowing they were meant to be, both Kyra and Vinny had moments of clarity. Kyra knew Vinny was “the one” because, as she puts it, ”when I wasn’t with him, I wanted to be; I never second-guessed myself when I was with him.”

Vinny felt the same way, recalling that he would always “turn right out of the [Swig] elevator just to bump into her.”

Their relationship, now 10 years in the making, has only deepened.

“Marriage feels like a fun new journey we’re discovering together,” says Kyra. Both have learned to cherish the small moments, from spontaneous dancing in the grocery store aisle to supporting each other through life’s ups and downs.

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