A Showcase of Academic Excellence at Iona University’s 15th Annual Scholars Day
This year’s event set a record with nearly 140 projects on display, showcasing the depth of student research across multiple disciplines
New Rochelle, N.Y. — In celebration of academic excellence and distinction at Iona University, this year’s 15th annual Iona Scholars Day showcased nearly 140 student projects ranging from chemistry, speech pathology and nursing to political science, education and a wide range of topics in between.
“To all our students, I hope you feel incredibly proud of your accomplishments,” said Iona University President Seamus Carey, Ph.D. “The work on display is a testament to your academic focus, curiosity and commitment to expanding your horizons. You’ve pushed the boundaries of what it means to Learn Outside the Lines. Along the way, you’ve also deepened your understanding of the world, forged new friendships and acquired new skills, all of which will continue to serve you well and distinguish you on the path of life.”
From poster presentations and panel discussions to art, music, dance and theater productions, the annual event is a celebration of student success and faculty-mentored research. This year, Iona Scholars Day also featured presentations from more than 50 Honors Scholars and over 25 McNair Scholars and National Science Foundation Scholars.
“The passion and intellectual curiosity showcased at Iona Scholars Day is always inspiring,” said Dr. Sunghee Lee, Board of Trustees endowed chemistry professor. “It is a privilege to witness the next generation of scholars taking shape.”
Attendees also enjoyed an insightful conversation between distinguished alumna Monique Jean ’00, executive director Morgan Stanley wealth management legal, and student anchor Alexandra Encarnacion ’26. Jean shared her career journey and valuable advice to current students. You can watch the full discussion on YouTube.
Imparting her wisdom onto the current student body, Jean concluded her talk with these key takeaways: “As you move forward, be accountable, work really hard, build relationships and breathe.”
Celebrating Student Success
For her culminating project, Gabriella Riccio ’24, a nursing major in the Honors Program, conducted a survey among 33 qualified nurses. Focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic, her research uncovered a concerning trend: a significant increase in medication errors coinciding with a notable decline in nurses' mental health.
Prior to the pandemic, she found, 65 percent of nurses reported no medication errors, whereas afterward, only 48 percent reported the same. At the same time, mental health decreased. The study, though small in scale, underscores the urgent need for further research, which Riccio hopes to continue and one day get published.
“It was hard, but overall, it definitely helped push me as a student,” Riccio said, reflecting on the experience. "As a future nurse, it benefits me because it makes me want to be a better nurse and change the field as much as I can. If we can take this research and work on providing better care for our nurses, then those medical errors will decrease and patient outcomes will be much better. I'm so grateful that I had this opportunity to present.”
Meanwhile, Johanna Piedra Mogrovejo ’24, a marketing and economics double major, investigated whether the packaging color of protein powder influences consumer purchasing decisions. Through a survey targeting college students, she found that consumers generally do not prioritize packaging color when selecting supplements.
Presenting at Iona Scholars Day, she said the research experience provided valuable insights into conducting surveys, analyzing data and writing academic papers.
Additionally, she added, the practical experiences gained in the classroom, such as presentations and interactions with brands, contributed to feeling prepared for the next steps in her career.
“It’s been an amazing experience,” said Piedra Mogrovejo, of Danbury, Conn. “I learned a lot. I also gained a lot of real-world experience and I feel really prepared. For example, whenever I do an interview for an internship, they ask for a lot of sample projects or ask what I’ve done in class and if I’m comfortable presenting. It’s always, oh yes, of course, I’ve done all of this. So that’s helped me a lot.”
Learn more about Iona Scholars Day here.
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona is widely recognized in prestigious rankings, including The Princeton Review’s 2024 national list of “The Best 389 Colleges” and The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse’s “2024 Best Colleges in America,” which ranked Iona at #66 in the nation overall and #8 in the nation among Catholic schools. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just six percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2023.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with NewYork-Presbyterian. Connecting to its Irish heritage, the University also recently announced it is expanding abroad with a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.