Queens Celebrates Annual Day of Scholarship and Service

On April 15, Queens University of Charlotte held its annual Day of Scholarship and Service, a campus-wide celebration of academic inquiry and community impact. The morning sessions transformed McEwen Hall and the Sarah Belk Gambrell Center for Arts and Entertainment into a vibrant showcase of student-led discovery. Thematically organized oral presentations and poster sessions invited students, faculty, and staff to engage in a collaborative “learning experience” rather than a rigid competition. By the afternoon, the energy shifted to the Levine Center for Wellness and Recreation, which became a bustling volunteer hub where the campus community gathered to pack food kits for those in need.

This year’s research showcase consisted of 29 oral presentations, 52 posters, and 2 art exhibits and was organized by Kira McEntire, Ph.D., the newly appointed director of undergraduate research and creative work, who viewed the event as a critical bridge between the classroom and the professional world.

“Research is happening everywhere on this campus, and students and faculty are doing work that is both amazing and important,” McEntire shared. “The goal of this day is to move beyond the classroom and create a true learning experience in which our students find their voices and begin communicating their discoveries in new and dynamic ways.”

The morning also featured the work of Rogers Summer Institute scholars, a select group of students who receive $3,000 stipends to conduct high-level, intensive research alongside faculty mentors throughout the summer. Although not a true competition, the campus community did have the opportunity to vote for the “People’s Choice Award,” selecting the projects that most resonated with the audience.

Reagan Hack ’27 earned first place for “Finding our Niche: Proposing a Student-Run Gallery at Queens.” Second place was awarded to Weronika Ptaszynska ’26 for the timely exploration, “Can We Trust AI? Exploring Bias and Human Reliance in Modern Applications,” and Jenna Cockrell ’27 took third place for her research into “Perceived Power, Moral Identity, and Deviant Behavior.”

Hack’s project proposed the conversion of a space in the Gambrell Center into a permanent student-run art gallery, operated by the Queens University Arts Club (QUAC), under the department of art, design and music.

“Creating this space establishes a professional, lasting home for student artwork inside one of the most visible cultural buildings on campus,” said Hack, an interior architecture major and art history minor. “I learned that strong design is as much about advocacy and listening as it is about drawing, and that defending an idea in conversations with faculty, University Advancement, facilities, and our architect of record made me a sharper and more patient designer.”

From Inquiry to Impact

As the research sessions came to an end, the Queens community rolled up their sleeves and donned hair nets for a massive service project coordinated by a committee led by Laura French, assistant vice president of human resources, and Leah Brackett, assistant athletic director of sport administration, in support of the nonprofit Servants with a Heart (SWH).

Since 2011, SWH has been on a mission to engage families and communities in feeding the hungry, recently approaching their 32 millionth meal. While the organization often works with elementary and middle schools where participation is required, the founders noted a distinct spirit at Queens.

“What we truly appreciated about the event at Queens was that each person who participated chose to be there,” said SWH Founder Suzanne Yoh. “The impact made by the more than 400 Queens volunteers is tangible — thousands of people will receive a meal who otherwise might not have eaten that day. We hope that students, faculty, and staff realize the good they were able to do and the impact they will have as these meals are shared.”

Mikhaila Hadnagy ’27, a biochemistry major, reflected on her time volunteering at the event. “Food is a basic human necessity, yet so many live without knowing where their next meal will come from,” said Hadnagy. “It only took a small fraction of my time to help provide that security for others—an easy choice to make when the impact is so significant.”

Surpassing the Goal

The university didn’t just meet its ambitious target but exceeded it through a remarkable display of community effort. While the initial goal was set at 75,000 meals, the Royals rose to the challenge, ultimately completing 77,328 meals.

“That number is incredible to me. I didn’t realize our goal was so high, and it’s amazing to me that our small school could have such a big impact!” added Hadnagy.

The significance of this work will soon travel far beyond Charlotte. According to Yoh, these meals will be shipped overseas this May, where they will provide much-needed nutrition for those in need.

“Not to be served, but to serve”

The Day of Scholarship and Service represents all that the Queens motto stands for. In the morning, students sought the truth through research. In the afternoon, they turned that strength outward to support global neighbors in need. The event proved that at Queens, academic research and community impact are not separate pursuits, but two halves of a singular mission: to learn deeply and serve boldly.