On January 20, the first day of the 2026 spring semester, students stopped in to refuel or catch up with friends as the café’s student management team proudly unveiled the new name, logo and signage for the brand they helped to develop.

School of Business students and café student managers Ryan Fraser ’27, MS ’28, Veronica Snyder ’26, MBA ’27, Maeve Campbell ‘26, MBA ’27, and Ari Portnoe ’27, MBA ’28, worked with Quinnipiac’s Integrated Marketing & Communications Creative Services team, Chartwells Management, Quinnipiac Chief Experience Officer Tom Ellett and School of Business Dean Holly Raider to develop and finalize the café’s brand identity.

Dean Raider said Waking Giant Café is a powerful example of how the School of Business integrates business education with real-world impact.

“The student managers of Waking Giant Cafe are actively involved in decisions about the menu, branding, and operations. This gives them a level of ownership that builds accountability, teamwork, and resilience. It is truly transformative,” Dean Raider said. “The Waking Giant Cafe isn’t just a place to grab a meal or drink, it is a student-powered enterprise that strengthens campus life, advances our academic mission, and demonstrate one of the many ways Quinnipiac students don’t just learn about business; they run one.”

Snyder, who is studying finance and human resource management, said the collaborative branding project involved meetings to discuss a number of different visions and ideas before landing on Waking Giant Café.

“We came up with Waking Giant Café because we really wanted to pull in Sleeping Giant and how everyone on campus can connect with that,” said Snyder. “It’s kind of fun too; because with our coffee, you’re waking up, which is kind of the opposite of Sleeping Giant.”

The logo design builds on the concept using warm tones of golden morning light shining over the gentle green hills of Sleeping Giant. In the shadow of the Giant, silhouettes of evergreen trees and the Arnold Bernhard Library clock tower peek above the café’s boldly lettered name.

Fraser, who is studying marketing, said working alongside student managers and professional team members on the branding project has been a rewarding experience.
“I’ve been able to see the full scope of the project and its development over time,” Fraser said.

Waking Giant Café is the university’s third student-run dining initiative, building on the success of Shake Smart inside RecWell and On the Rocks Pub and Grill on the York Hill Campus, Ellett said.

“These initiatives showcase the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of our students, who lead everything from start-up planning to naming the venue. This hands-on experience provides a true sense of ownership in shaping the Quinnipiac dining experience,” Ellett said.

Ellett said these student-managed operations are much more than just places to eat—they are living classrooms.

“They give students the opportunity to develop leadership, managerial, and customer service skills in real-world settings. By taking on responsibilities such as staffing, budgeting, and marketing, our student managers gain invaluable experience that complements their academic learning and prepares them for future careers,” said Ellett.

Each venture is fueled by creativity and passion and supports Quinnipiac’s commitment to experiential learning and empowering students to make a lasting impact on campus life, Ellett said.

Campbell said the unique opportunity to join the café’s inaugural student management team this academic year has been invaluable.

“Since it’s the café’s first year, I’ve been able to be part of its development from the start. As student managers, we get to give input on things like menu items, the layout, and planning, scheduling, and helping the Quinnipiac marketing team with branding the café,” said Campbell. “It’s been really exciting, and I’m looking forward to next semester. As the café grows, we’re taking on more responsibilities and getting even more hands-on experience.”

Fraser said he was also excited to be a part of the inaugural café leadership team.

“I am extremely proud that I played a part in designing the name and logo. The café is already extremely popular with students, and I hope that it stays an attraction for the new School of Business,” Fraser said, adding, “I’m excited about the spring semester as we will now be able to implement and observe concepts from our courses.”

Snyder said the experience resonates with many classroom concepts.

“We learn how to be good managers and how to manage projects. Last semester, we did a training program, so I was able to connect with that,” said Snyder. “I also recently took on the human resources major, and I feel like that’s a lot of what I’m applying here – how to manage people, how to communicate properly and professionally.”

Working as a student manager has given Portnoe, a marketing major, another way to be involved in the campus community beyond his work as a Peer Counselor and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity member. He’s found the work touches on many business management aspects that build on the school’s core business curriculum as well as more advanced marketing classes. It’s a combination Portnoe feels will benefit in him when entering the job market.

“It gives me hands-on experience and is great to relate to different job descriptions,” said Portnoe.

In addition to the important opportunities the work presents for its student managers, Dean Raider said she’s been heartened to see the café attracting students, faculty and staff from across the campus community.

"The café has quickly become a destination that draws people from across campus,” Dean Raider said. “Our faculty, alumni, and donors are also thrilled to see students gaining hands-on experience that gives them a competitive edge. For me, personally, the cafe is an important point of connection and an opportunity for mentorship. Along with Quinnipiac CXO Tom Ellet and leaders from our campus dining partner, Chartwells, we mentor the student managers about the business as well as about their academics and careers."

Located in the lobby of the School of Business on the South Quad, Waking Giant Café is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday. Lines move quickly as customers queue up to order and pay at two mobile kiosks, helping the café team to minimize waiting and maximize efficiency.

Waking Giant Café serves up a variety of coffees including Starbucks products, Starbucks refreshers and Teavana handcrafted teas. Breakfast options include overnight oats, create-your-own breakfast sandwiches and the café’s signature Pig & Fig (prosciutto, arugula, fried eggs, fig jam and goat cheese on brioche). Lunch features create-your-own cheese melts from a variety of breads, proteins, cheeses, sauces, spreads and add-ins as well as the café’s signature short rib sandwich and kale and classic garden salads. Waking Giant Café also offers a great selection of baked goods (bagels, muffins and more), grab-and-go energy bars, fresh fruit and to-go fruit combinations such as mixed berry cups.

Friends Daylin Martinez ’28, a criminal justice major, Melanie Sampedro ’28, a biology major, and Matthew Miller ’28, who is studying accounting and law, are café regulars
who like to visit at least twice a week. On the first day of the new semester, they joined the lunch crowd quickly filling the newly named café.

“I like the community part about it,” said Miller. “It’s also easy access and has seating that’s more spaced out than some other places. I didn’t know the new name got added until I sat down and looked up to see it – but I do like it.”

“I think it definitely draws everyone in from all around campus, and the name definitely relates to that – it’s perfect,” Sampedro said. “I also really like the options of food they have here. I feel like they’re definitely different from our regular café, so it’s nice to have that variety of food that you can choose from.”

“The food is really good!” Martinez said. “I’m not vegan, but I really like the vegan offerings they have here.”

School of Business students Jocelyn Lopez ’27 and Alexa Lunn ’27 took a break from their business analytics and computer information systems studies to enjoy lunch together at Waking Giant Café on January 20.

“I love that it’s a nice space to come and order something to eat while you hang out with your friends and study,” said Lunn. “I think the name is great, because it’s connected to Sleeping Giant.”

“I love the convenience,” added Lopez. “It’s right by our business classes, so you don’t have to go all the way to the dining hall. It’s just a really cool place to chill and get something quick to eat or drink.”

In Focus