“We’re excited to be a part of this celebration,” said David Hall, director of recreation. “When the Inauguration Committee asked us to host a ‘RecWell Day’ as part of Dr. Hardin’s inauguration week, we realized our state-of-the-art RecWell facility and the university’s focus on well-being made it a natural fit.”

From morning to evening, more than 600 faculty, staff and students took part in RecWell Day, with the center buzzing with energy and offering something for everyone.

“When we originally found out some of President Hardin's favorite things, we noticed that one of them was being active and running,” said Kaylee Laing, associate director of recreation. “This day is a way to celebrate that side of her while also showing off what we offer. For example, we’re offering ‘Pink Pilates’ because her favorite color is pink. At Shake Smart, Chartwells is now offering a ‘Pink Cadillac Smoothie.’ We had a lot of fun weaving her favorites into the things we already provide.”

The day kicked off with the annual 1,000 Pound Club challenge in the weight room, where students tested their strength for a chance to earn a coveted spot on Quinnipiac’s 1,000/500 Club leaderboard. A total of 52 students participated, with Connor Douglas ’26 recording the highest lift at 1,425 pounds.

Down the hall in the Demonstration Kitchen, students mixed spices to create their own signature blends, choosing from favorites like Greek, pizza, apple pie and Adobo seasoning.

The focus on flavor continued with Shake Smart offering samples of the “Presidential Pink Cadillac,” one of its smoothie combinations featuring pitaya, pineapple, orange juice and vanilla protein.

Outdoors, students flocked to one of the day’s biggest draws — therapy animals. Special guest Gilbert the Party Pig and “Only Murders in the Building” star Sprinkles sparked plenty of smiles and photos, while three therapy goats joined later in the day to mingle (and munch) with students on the Mount Carmel Quad.

“I was most excited for the goat cuddles as well as the party pigs. I think both events are a great way to destress for students amidst the stress of the semester,” said Kaitlyn Miller ’25, MS ’26, area supervisor of RecWell Communications. “Students unable to attend could also follow along on the RecWell Instagram for live updates. The whole day was a great buildup to President Hardin’s Inauguration on Thursday.” 

On the climbing wall, the Top Rope Belay Clinic explained the fundamentals of belaying, mastering knots, safety devices and trust on the ropes. 

“I’m hoping that because it’s such a big week, we get some students who don’t typically come into our space, and they can see how lively our building is,” said Laing. “Even though it will be more lively than usual, on any day you can still find one or two of these things happening.”

Creativity and relaxation also played a role. On the RecWell lawn, students painted pots and planted herbs or flowers, adding a hands-on artistic flair to the day. Meanwhile, in the dance studio, Hardin’s favorite color was also the theme for Presidential Pink Pilates with Coach Tori, where participants left not only with stronger cores but also a pair of pink Pilates socks as a keepsake.

“We had several students who assisted in planning the events and even more during the day running some activities,” said Hall. “Our students have helped with graphic design, planning content and have been integral in promoting the event. And, of course, there will be many certified fitness instructors teaching classes.” 

From high-energy cardio sessions to restorative practices, the variety of offerings reflected the many ways students can engage with RecWell as a facility that showcases the shared strength of the Quinnipiac community.

“I hope students take away that it’s not just a workout facility. There’s a lot more we offer — like our demonstration kitchen and cooking events,” said Laing. “Of course you can work out, but I want them to see we are about more than lifting weights.”

For more details about upcoming events and programs, visit recwell.qu.edu.

In Focus