Iona hosted the 13th annual Scholars Day event on April 7. Since 2020, the event has been held virtually because of the pandemic. This was the first year that it returned in person. Students presented their research throughout the day through posters, panels and performances. Over 200 students from 20 majors participated.  

As part of Iona’s Month of Excellence, Gaels worked diligently to complete their research. Many took months or even years to present their research. Theses and group projects were given their limelight for students and professors alike to congratulate hard work.   

Various topics were discussed such as democracy backsliding, the effects of technology, sustainability and so much more. These projects were either originally part of a course or were independent collaborations with a faculty member.  

Panels were given from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the LaPenta Student Union in McGrath. Some panels included were “Iona College and Operation Smile International Collaboration,” “Psychology and Speech Language Pathology and Audiology: How Concerned are Commuters with Noise-Induced Hearing Loss?” and “Exploring American History Through Digital Humanities.”  

Posters were displayed in the Hynes Athletic Center until 4 p.m. Students were able to stop by between classes to ask their peers questions about their topics and offer feedback.  

New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson was in attendance. James P. Oates ’95, principal of Eventum Risk Advisors, LLC, gave a keynote address about the valuable lesson of what it means to be a leader. Oates, after 17 years with UBS Group formed the advisory and consulting practice and has been instrumental in the creation of the Gaels Go Further Mentoring Program.