For three successive years, Bobcat Challenge has garnered more than 2,000 donor gifts, with Bobcat Challenge 2025 rising to 2,474 donor gifts, an increase of 468 contributions over those generated last year.

That type of growth is an incredible accomplishment for the university’s student-athletes, said Nick Wormley, vice president for development and alumni affairs.

Between October 21 and October 22, Bobcat Challenge stoked the competitive spirit of Quinnipiac’s Division I teams and spirit groups as they rallied to raise funds to deepen support for their programs. By the end of the two-day effort, many beat their fundraising goals by incredibly high percentages.

Wormley said generous contributions made by Bobcat Challenge supporters provide a critical funding difference for the university’s highly competitive and talented student- athletes as they pursue exceptional goals on and off the field.

“All of these contributions are certainly helping Quinnipiac to provide the best experience for our student-athletes — on and off the field,” Wormley said.

The success of Bobcat Challenge also marks a third straight year with 100% of student-athletes participating. Their involvement in raising funds through Bobcat Challenge also provides a unique experience as they work together to create meaningful fundraising development plans and actively engage in outreach to support their programs, now and in the future.

“It’s the continued maturation of being part of a community. For our students and our student-athletes, the community sense of supporting each other and being a part of each other’s lives is very important, and not just for four years, but for a lifetime as part of Quinnipiac,” said Wormley.

During Bobcat Challenge, many Bobcat team alumni offered matches and challenges, with creative thinking often coming into play.

Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey alumna Gill Gallagher ’05, challenged five of her fellow team alumnae to make a gift highlighting their jersey number, unlocking a $1,000.09 matching gift honoring Gallagher’s No. 9 jersey.

In all, nearly 30 challenges and matches were offered by alumni, coaches, families and anonymous contributors, unlocking individual matches ranging from $1,000 up to $7,500 this year.

Closing out two days of high-energy fundraising and matches and challenges, three top teams generated the most funds to support their programs:

• Quinnipiac men’s baseball finished first, raising an astounding $129,411 to exceed its fundraising goal by 431%.

• Bobcat women’s field hockey earned second place, raising $83,986 and smashing its goal by 839%.

• Quinnipiac men’s basketball finished third raising a total of $66,110 at the buzzer, a 440% increase over goal.

On the Bobcat Challenge leaderboard for total donors to their campaign, Quinnipiac acrobatics and tumbling came out on top with 302 donors raising $34,832; followed by men’s lacrosse receiving 227 donors contributing $37,780 for the team; and women’s ice hockey gathering 177 donor gifts to raise $30,990.

In addition to giving generously to support the efforts of individual teams and spirit groups, Bobcat Challenge inspired Quinnipiac Athletics supporters to contribute an incredible $288,095 to the Athletic Director’s Fund, exceeding the fund’s goal by an astonishing 5,761%.

Quinnipiac Director of Athletics Greg Amodio said fund contributions will help to continue to elevate Quinnipiac Athletics and energize academic and athletic endeavors. The fund is dedicated to increasing mental health resources for student-athletes, upgrading facilities to include strength and conditioning and athletic training enhancements, and improving academic technology.

Amodio said the overwhelming success of Bobcat Challenge this year and every year is a team effort between Athletics and Development and Alumni Affairs.

“All of our coaches, staff and student-athletes work really hard to engage with the community, alumni, parents, families and friends to support our academic and athletic initiatives,” Amodio said. “We thank everyone for their ongoing and continued support. It’s incredibly important for us in order to remain competitive in this landscape. All the dollars go back directly to support each of our programs as they pursue championships.”