In October, Bobcat Challenge 2024 showcased the competitive spirit, dedication and teamwork of Quinnipiac student-athletes and their coaches with an exciting array of matches and challenges met with passionate support from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends. By the final whistle, Bobcat Challenge 2024 rocketed past its $500,000 goal by 205%, raising $1,029,493 among 2,006 donors to support the success and well-being of Bobcat student-athletes.

“The dedicated support from everyone in Bobcat Nation for our teams and over 450 student-athletes is a constant source of inspiration," said Greg Amodio, director of athletics. "This unwavering commitment allows our teams to strive for and achieve excellence both academically and athletically."

One hundred percent of Quinnipiac’s student-athletes participated in Bobcat Challenge 2024.

"Support from the Quinnipiac community means so much to our team,” said Bobcat women’s tennis student-athlete Jenna Sloan ’25. “It shows that people believe in us and want to help us succeed. Their generosity gives us access to great facilities, allows us to travel for competitions, and helps create lasting memories. These gifts allow us to perform at our best and inspire future athletes. We’re so thankful for the support and the opportunities it provides to represent Quinnipiac."

In November, the 2024 Parent and Families Challenge nearly doubled its goal of 400 donors, motivating 765 Bobcat parents and families to contribute $305,000 to support Quinnipiac student education and success.

Chief Experience Officer Tom Ellet said philanthropic support from Quinnipiac parents and families means a great deal.

“It represents a community of caring individuals who are deeply invested in student success and well-being. These generous gifts significantly enhance the student experience by funding research projects and travel grants, improving campus facilities, and supporting innovative programs.” Ellet said. “Specifically, the fund has enabled nearly one hundred students to attend conferences and present their research projects, added Adirondack chairs and firepits to the quad, and supported student programming in Living-Learning Communities as well as various student clubs and organizations. This support not only alleviates financial burdens but also enriches our educational journey, allowing us to thrive both academically and personally.”

Women’s club ice hockey member Maeve Campbell ’26 said philanthropic support from the Quinnipiac community, especially through the Parent and Families Challenge, has been vital to this club in its first year.

“This generosity has helped us cover expenses, expand opportunities for next semester, and prepare to join a league next year. Seeing the hockey community and our families come together was inspiring, and ensures we can grow our schedule, manage costs for players, and build a strong foundation for the future of Quinnipiac women’s club ice hockey,” Campbell said.

“The support my team has received from the community is overwhelmingly remarkable and something I would've never imagined or expected when I founded this team,” added women’s club ice hockey president and co-founder Gabriella Ponzo ’26. “It is the best feeling in the world to see our community support us after all the hard work we went through to start club ice hockey for women at Quinnipiac. This being our inaugural year as a team, we could not be more thankful for the gifts we received. It will help us expand and provide not only the rink access and games we play but also uniforms so we can feel like a team and represent Quinnipiac together.”

In the last year, annual giving at Quinnipiac has drawn the highest number of overall donors in 21 years and the highest undergraduate alumni donor participation rate in 10 years, including alumni from 42 different states and 13 different countries.

"As a student leader, I can say with confidence that philanthropic support from the Quinnipiac community empowers student organizations to host impactful initiatives like stocking drives for children in need and partnerships with charities such as the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. This generosity enhances community engagement and enables the Student Government Association to allocate additional resources for events,” said Derrick A. Zevola ’25, an engineering major.

Zevola is also president of the Quinnipiac Association of Minority Engineers.

“Philanthropic support also strengthens academic programs, particularly in the School of Computing and Engineering,” Zevola said. “Donations fund advanced technologies like 3D printers, robotic arms, and simulation tools, ensuring students remain competitive in an evolving industry. With a job placement rate exceeding 95.5% within six months of graduation, the impact of this support is both profound and far-reaching."