Empowering the Quinnipiac family to translate values into action, the annual student-run Big Event is the university’s largest day of community service. As a force multiplier, this year’s Big Event translated into over 4,500 hours of volunteer support.

Established in 2010 at Quinnipiac and part of a national program rolled out at universities across the nation, the Big Event provides local organizations with the muscle and momentum needed to reclaim and refresh vital sites and spaces anchoring the area’s communities.

Quinnipiac 2026 Big Event director Eliza Cho ’27, MS ‘28 said this year’s local effort on April 11 made an awesome impact, thanks to the volunteer spirit and service of students, graduate students, faculty, staff and alumni who fanned out to assist.

“Quinnipiac is out there helping at 48 different locations today,” said Cho. “I feel like we put a lot of effort into this event, and it’s just a great way for students to give back to the communities. Everybody really tries their hardest to help out at these sites and locations.”

In Hamden, New Haven, North Haven and beyond, the Big Event was significantly powered by Bobcats representing 60 different Quinnipiac clubs, teams and organizations, Cho said. 
Quinnipiac Club Softball gathered a roster of 25 team members to dig in with the Hamden Land Conservation Trust (HLCT) at its Jepp Brook Preserve habitat restoration project.

Trading their bats and gloves for shovels, rakes and garden gloves, the team helped clear ecologically harmful plants along a popular segment of the New Haven & Northampton Canal Greenway Trail.

“What we need is a lot of hands, and that’s what we’re getting today,” said HLCT President Gail Cameron. “It’s a tremendous help. We have workdays with six or eight volunteers throughout the summer, but when you have this many, we can really make a difference.”

Pitching in to help out at Big Event sites, Quinnipiac President Marie Hardin shared her appreciation for every Bobcat’s commitment to community involvement on April 11.

“This is our home; we’re part of this community, so I’m really excited to see the involvement today.” Hardin said. “Community service is important not only for us as a university, but for us as individuals. It’s important to understand we each have a part in making this community better, and the Big Event is a wonderful symbol of that.”

Quinnipiac Club Softball Vice President Arleen McKiernan ’27 said the Big Event is a great opportunity for the team to come together off the field and contribute to their community.

“Getting involved with the Big Event helps us to connect with one another in a different setting and also give back to the community,” said McKiernan. “We really look forward to helping out every year. Last year, we were at Bethany Historical Society, and this year we’re helping out the land trust. So the different settings have made it unique each time and it’s definitely a great experience, regardless of where we get to help out.”

Taking part in the Big Event for the first time was a great experience for Bobcat club softball player Zoe Cosmopoulos ’29.

“I think it’s really cool, because I know that a lot of different clubs are doing it; and it’s just a really good opportunity to volunteer and get involved in our community and help out locally,” Cosmopoulos said.

Team member Sophie Rutstein ’26 also loves to help out in her community. As president of Quinnipiac student service organization Handprints for Sunshine, Rutstein was proud to note her fellow members were making a difference as helping hands at another Big Event site on April 11. Rutstein is also an area volunteer with The Purr Project, a North Haven organization that gives a second chance to cats through feline rehabilitation and feline adoption.

As Rutstein pulled up the roots of invasive Mugwort alongside her teammates in the HLCT meadow, the Boston, Massachusetts native said participating in the Big Event each year has been a highlight of her Quinnipiac journey.

“I live in the city, so it’s a fantastic opportunity to get out into nature and help in the community. I really enjoy it,” Rutstein said. “I love being outside, so helping out like this over the last four years has been amazing.”

All Big Event volunteers started their day early at Quinnipiac’s Big Event launch site on the Mount Carmel Campus. Big Event student organizers handed out assignments, Big Event T-shirts and all of the tools Bobcats needed to make a meaningful difference at work sites.

“It feels nice to know that people still care about something,” said Rutstein. “I feel now it’s difficult with social media – you’re always getting information that you might just see and move on from. Today is different, because you’re taking action. And when you’re out here, it feels incredible. You wouldn’t want to do anything else.”

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