We are less than two weeks away from the 2025 Homecoming and Reunion celebrations! Alumni of all ages will flood campus with memories, laughter, and fun February 7-8. You can attend the whole weekend or curate the schedule. Here are a few ideas:
ALL IN | Royal Weekend Packages are available featuring Reunion and Homecoming events throughout the weekend. You can also mix and match events!
HOMECOMING | Bring the whole family! The Royals are well on their way to earning full DI classification, so the games will be a fantastic fan experience. Purchase a ticket to one or both of the basketball games (1 p.m. and 4 p.m.) and enjoy the Alumni Village and FanFest (2-4 p.m.) on the lawn of the Levine Center.
REUNION | Keep it simple and attend only your reunion event. Simply bypass the packages and choose your class party on the registration form. This works for the Young Alumni Party, too!
News Makers & Buzzer Beaters
ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10
Our Men’s Basketball team made a splash when #1 Nasir Mann ’26 had a noteworthy dunk over Stetson University. The Royals won 95-60. Watch the clip.
ASUN Buzzer Beater
The Women’s Basketball team triumphed over the University of North Florida with #3 Jermany Mapp ’25 making a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Check it out.
Calling All Belk Chapel Lovebirds
Former Queens President Hunter Blakely is credited with envisioning a chapel as the most beautiful building on campus, a dream realized at the 1950 dedication ceremony of Belk Chapel. The building was a gift from the associates of W.H. Belk in honor of him and his brother, Dr. John M. Belk.
Over the decades, the space has been used for church services, the annual Moravian LoveFeast, commencement and baccalaureate ceremonies, student organizations, housing for community members, and countless other events and occasions. Perhaps, though, some of the most special memories are held by those who have had the privilege of getting married in the chapel.
Belk Chapel has become a cherished space where love stories begin. From its very first year, when seven couples exchanged vows, to the hundreds of weddings that have followed, the chapel has witnessed countless “I dos.” Its location in Myers Park, combined with its timeless architecture, has made it a favorite for couples seeking a spiritual yet intimate setting.
Now, we want to celebrate the love stories that have filled Belk Chapel with joy over the years. Were you married there? If so, we’d love to keep a record of weddings, hear your story, and see the pictures! Whether you exchanged vows last year or decades ago, your memories are a part of what makes the chapel so special. We’ll even celebrate some of those memories in February for Valentine’s Day.
Share your wedding date, story, or photo, and stay connected to the future of Belk Chapel by emailing us at advancement@queens.edu.
Photo Details | Top left: Otis and Christy Louttit ’82 Crowder, Top Right: Ana Bolson ’22 and Nick ’19 Rizzieri, Bottom Left: Dre Alford ’03 and RJ Manoni , Bottom Right: Staci Benson ’92 and Jay ’92 McBride, along with 7 other Queens alumni
Not to be served, but to serve
Each year, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Queens focuses on a week of service rather than one day. The goal is to provide opportunities for meaningful service on and off campus, no matter your schedule. This year, the week began on Tuesday, January 14, with 15 volunteers hosting six unhoused neighbors for Room in the Inn in our Belk Chapel.
On Wednesday, nine volunteers supported Crisis Assistance Ministry’s “Free Store,” and in the afternoon, eight volunteers supported Second Harvest Food Bank.
On Thursday, nine volunteers assisted Nourish Up by packaging food boxes to feed 234 families for seven days. Four volunteers also provided 300 bottled waters and helped serve lunch to our unhoused neighbors at Roof Above.
Friday offered a large on-campus engagement day where volunteers were able to participate in a variety of service opportunities to support 11 local non-profits; 148 people participated.
Queens walked in the MLK Parade on Saturday morning to end the week, and 24 students attended the MLK Community Breakfast on Monday morning.
We’re proud to have staff and students who value serving our community!
Donors Making a Difference
Salvin Entrepreneurial Pitch Competition
Bob Salvin is an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award winner, an inductee into the Carolinas Entrepreneur Hall of Fame, a member of the Queens Board of Trustees, and a crucial partner for Queens’ pitch competition.
As a thank you for his investment in the future of the competition, the university has formally named it the Salvin Entrepreneurial Pitch Competition to recognize his commitment and impact.
The program offers students the chance to win $5,000 in prize money and invaluable connections. Participants will work with local entrepreneurs and experts to perfect their business ideas and pitch them to a panel of judges. We thank Bob for his generous support! Learn more on the website.
Perry Family Broadcast Studio
Supported by Brandon and Karen Perry, the Perry Family Broadcast Studio at Queens is a cutting-edge facility that is now a cornerstone of hands-on learning, particularly for students in sports communication, multimedia production, and related fields. It’s proof of the role athletics can play in enhancing a university’s academics.
The studio has quickly become an invaluable resource for students, faculty, and the Queens University Sports Network (QUSN), facilitating the production of live broadcasts for hundreds of athletic events annually. Over the past year and a half, more than 50 students have worked behind the scenes running cameras, graphics, audio, and more for 250+ events for Queens Athletics. From ESPN+ streams to YouTube showcases, the Perry Family Broadcast Studio plays a vital role in putting Queens Athletics on the national stage.
Read more about this game-changing studio and its impact on our students.
Share Your Vote
We’re launching a new video series soon featuring Queens professors. Here’s the premise: We’ll give a faculty member a mic for 2-3 minutes and ask them to tell us all about their latest passion. What are they currently researching? Are they working on a book? Did they make a really cool discovery? Have they noticed a new trend?
It will be a quick chance to learn more about the amazing professors who dedicate their time to educating Queens students. Now, here’s where you come in.
What should we call the series?
Who should we talk to first, or who are you most excited to hear from?
Send an email to advancement@queens.edu answering one or both of our questions and you’ll be entered to win some Queens gear! If your name is chosen for the series, you’ll also receive a prize. All responses must be submitted by Wednesday, February 12. The series will first premiere on social media so make sure you’re following Queens Alumni & Engagement!
QUnited Countdown Begins
Mark your calendar for Thursday, March 13, 2025, and get ready to make a difference during QUnited, our 11th annual day of giving!
Your gift to the Queens Fund is more than a donation—it’s an investment in bold ideas, life-changing scholarships, and the transformative experiences that shape our students into leaders. When we come together as a community, the impact is unstoppable. Let’s QUnite to ensure every Royal has the resources to reach their full potential.
Look for ways to get involved soon!
Alumni Spotlight | Betty Schaaff ’45
Helen Elizabeth Schaaff was a Phi Mu who graduated from Queens in 1945. She married Lt. Col. Robert Morris Rodden, USMA, and became Helen Schaaff Rodden. Today, Betty is 100 years old and lives in Fairfield, California. Her granddaughter recently connected with Queens staff and shared a little more of her story.
She shared, “She is an amazing woman that has led an incredible life all over the world, primarily with the military. So proud to be her granddaughter; her timeless advice, career military strength, passion for community and giving back, and constant love have been some of the most powerful influences in my life.”
Check out these great photos from Betty’s time at Queens! From writing to her husband to hanging out with friends, we’re glad Betty enjoyed her time at Queens and is enjoying more than 100 years of living life!
Upcoming Campus Events
Presbyterian & Pluralist Week
Presbyterian & Pluralist Week (February 10-15, 2025) offers a wonderful variety of events that capture the vibrancy of religious and spiritual diversity within the Queens community. This year, the focus is on raising student voices through opportunities to share their research around the theme of religious pluralism at Queens. There will also be guests from the community who will share their stories in a variety of artistic forms. Finally, several faculty members are incorporating the theme of religious pluralism within their varied classroom settings throughout the week.
Join Us for Queens’ Spring Schmoozapalooza Networking Nights
Vandiver Center for Career Development invites any and all alumni to join us for Schmoozapalooza this February. Interested in returning to represent your current employer and share insights and advice with students or connect with organizations you may be interested in employment opportunities with? Learn more about each industry-specific event below and register for FREE!
