Quinnipiac University Students ‘Spike Away Stigma’

Press release

HAMDEN, Conn. – Quinnipiac University students gathered on the Bobcat Way lawn on Friday for a Spikeball tournament with a deeper purpose: to build community, raise awareness and “spike” the stigma surrounding mental health.

The event, titled “Spike Away Stigma,” was hosted by The Pizza Project, a student-led mental health initiative founded at Quinnipiac by Riley Renke, a sophomore advertising major.
“This is our first fundraising event,” Renke said. “I came up with the name ‘Spike Away Stigma’ and thought, ‘why not?’ It’s catchy and it gets people thinking and talking. Even if it's just a few students, that’s still a few more people engaged in the conversation.”
The Pizza Project brings people together over free pizza and honest, judgment-free conversations about mental health. Events are casual, with an emphasis on connection over formality—making it easier for students to open up and support one another.
At the heart of the initiative is Renke, who founded the university’s chapter in honor of his late father, Steve, a beloved New Jersey pizza shop owner remembered for his warmth and generosity. Steve Renke died by suicide in 2018, and Riley and his family have since made it their mission to make a difference.
“Spike Away Stigma is more than a tournament,” Renke said. “It’s a way to get students outside, talking and building support systems in an environment that feels safe and welcoming.”
Twelve teams registered for the tournament, with proceeds from the $10 entry fee and limited-edition T-shirts benefiting the JED Foundation, a national nonprofit that supports mental health access on college campuses.
“Helping others helps me,” said Renke. “This is something deeply personal. I lost my dad, Steve, to suicide. He was the heart of our community back home. He owned a pizzeria and made everyone feel welcome. That’s what I’m trying to recreate here.”
The Pizza Project was first launched by Renke’s sister, Braden, in 2020 at Franklin & Marshall College, later continuing at George Washington University. Now at Quinnipiac, Riley Renke is reshaping the initiative with a focus on men’s mental health—a topic he said is too often overlooked.
“There’s a huge disparity in how men experience and talk about mental health,” he said. “Men are significantly more likely to die by suicide, yet we’re still taught to stay quiet, to tough it out. I want to challenge that.”
The event, situated in the heart of campus during the final week of classes, was designed to maximize visibility and spark conversation.
“It’s the best location,” Renke noted. “Everyone passes by here. Even if they’re not playing, they’re seeing it, hearing the music and asking what it’s about.”
While he wasn’t playing in the tournament himself, Renke stayed busy overseeing logistics, shirt sales and the prize table—first-place winners received a new Spikeball set, while second and third places were awarded Pizza Project gear and a Bluetooth speaker.
Gavin Arabian, a sophomore entrepreneurship major and co-founder of a clothing brand called Perspectives, designed the Pizza Project T-shirts sold during the event. Arabian said Perspectives isn’t marketed strictly as a mental health brand, but its mission inherently touches on it.
“Especially for men, mental health isn’t something that’s always talked about,” Arabian says. “Hearing other people’s stories can be powerful—it can remind you you’re not alone.” Through design and dialogue, Perspectives aims to break the silence, normalize conversations around struggle, and inspire people to see things from new angles.
The Pizza Project plans to continue its work in the fall with ongoing events, including “Men’s Mental Health Mondays,” an initiative developed in collaboration with the university’s Interfraternity Council.
“There’s been a lot of support from the Quinnipiac community,” Renke added. “This has really turned into something special. I’ve met so many people through this and I’m grateful for the momentum we’re building.”