CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Queens Athletics launched Investing In Champions today, an annual giving campaign designed to elevate the student-athlete experience. For men's lacrosse, it's about securing the resources that let the program pursue excellence. And if 200 people support the program, a fan will make a $10,000 gift to the program.
"Being a student-athlete here at Queens has helped me grow tremendously as a man," says Dylan Behnke '27. "From learning how to manage living by myself for the first time, to learning that I am capable of so much more than what my mind or body tells me. When I look at my freshman year self, it is almost unrecognizable. My work ethic and determination has always been there, similar to every other D1 athlete, however learning how to maximize that determination has grown so much while at Queens."
Behnke's reflections demonstrate a culture focused on character and hard work, just as Head Coach Nikolas Colpitts strives to cultivate in his team.
The impact of the program on the players, families, and community that surrounds it shows up in how generosity shapes it — alumni contributed $10,000 toward new uniforms in 2023, parents often donate team meals, and an anonymous donor gave $450,000 to fund locker room renovations.
That's the kind of support Men's Lacrosse is asking donors to build on during Investing In Champions. The team's $125,000 goal is strategically set to maximize the experience for each athlete, to provide the best equipment, to fuel the players' before and after each game, and to build the kind of athletes who become leaders.
Donor support is critical to taking men's lacrosse to the next level; check out this year's challenges and progress toward the goal on the team giving page and take advantage of Royals Club benefits today.
Investing In Champions is October 2-9, 2026. Unlock Royals Club benefits for gifts of $100 or more. For questions or information on issuing your own challenge, please reach out to Danielle Evans-Clan, director of athletics advancement, at evanscland@queens.edu.
