For parents Kim and Dominick Passanante, Quinnipiac has become more than a second home for the Passanante family. It’s a university that’s won their confidence and their hearts.

The Rhode Island family’s Quinnipiac legacy began with their oldest son, Joe Passanante ’20, followed by his sister, Samantha Passanante ’21, JD ’24, then their brother Dominick Passanante ’23, MBA ’24 and now Nick Passanante ’30, who plans to study finance.

Joe broke Bobcat ground for the family with his decision to join Quinnipiac School of Computing & Engineering. Joe enrolled during the school’s first year of official inception, 2016, as the school gained Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) certification.

“Quinnipiac had just become ABET certified for the engineering program, and we took the chance because we loved the school and we were really excited for him,” said Kim.

As parents, the Passanantes are first-generation college graduates.

“When we went to college, we went to community college first, and then we went to a four-year school and we commuted,” said Kim. “When we took Joe to Admitted Students Day, they broke us into groups and brought us to that beautiful auditorium in the School of Engineering. My husband looked at me and whispered, ‘He’s going here!’ There was such a sense of pride, and that’s just continued. He’s so proud to give his kids the gift of going to Quinnipiac and the feel of going to Quinnipiac. It’s a beautiful thing.”

As the family’s first Bobcat, Joe set the pace for getting involved to get the most out of the Quinnipiac experience. He was an engineering living-learning community resident assistant for three years. At his school, Joe served as an Introduction to Engineering Peer Fellow. As part of his Bobcat journey, Joe was the community outreach chair for Quinnipiac’s huge day of annual community service, The Big Event.

“Joe really made the most of his time, and he was very successful at Quinnipiac,” said his mom.

After earning his bachelor’s degree in software engineering with a minor in business, Joe was hired by Amazon as a software development engineer. Today, he’s a senior software engineer for strategic initiatives for Amazon and lives in Seattle, Washington.

Kim notes Joe — and the entire Passanante family — has Samantha to thank for finding a great academic home at Quinnipiac.

“Even though she’s a year behind Joe, she heard about Quinnipiac and wanted to go first. That’s why, when we were looking at schools for Joe, we took him to see it,” said Kim.

At Quinnipiac, Samantha earned a bachelor’s degree in law and society from the College of Arts and Sciences, followed by her Juris Doctor, summa cum laude, from Quinnipiac University School of Law. At Quinnipiac Law, Samantha took on a dynamic leadership role as editor-in-chief of the Quinnipiac Law Review. She also received multiple academic and leadership awards.

“She was a resident assistant for two years in undergrad, and then she was very active in the law program. Now, she’s two years out of law school and doing very well,” said Kim.

Samantha is now an associate with Jackson Lewis P.C. in Hartford, Connecticut, where she’s a member of the firm's litigation practice group.

The Passanante’s third Bobcat, Dominick, leveraged his academic journey by earning an accelerated dual degree (3+1), combining a bachelor’s degree in finance and business analytics with a master’s in business administration.

“Quinnipiac was just a great Bobcat experience for Dominick, too,” Kim said. “He was a resident assistant for two years and he also worked at Shake Smart, so he would get together with [Chief Experience Officer] Tom Ellett.”

Students collaborate with Ellett, faculty and staff to operate the Recreation and Wellness Center’s Shake Smart, one of Quinnipiac’s student-run dining options. Dominick, who joined Pratt & Whitney in 2024, is now a project management analyst in the rotational commercial engines development program.

Now, it’s Nick’s turn to experience Quinnipiac as a finance major. As a new resident of The Grove, Quinnipiac’s unique living-learning experience, Nick is already following in the footsteps of his siblings by getting involved beyond the classroom. For his first Bobcat experience, Nick recently spent two days on the Mount Carmel Campus at his Class of 2030 Orientation session.

“One of the things that he was surprised about was that everyone there was so nice; and he had a great group. He actually texted his Orientation leaders when he got back to thank them for the wonderful experience that he had, and they responded to him immediately,” Kim said. “It’s a just a great culture, and as a mom, it makes me feel good to know that my kids are in good hands when I send them out the door.”

As they enter their first decade of experience as members of the Quinnipiac family, the Passanantes are thrilled to be returning to campus as their fourth Bobcat enters the den.

“Quinnipiac is 100 percent a second home for our family,” said Kim. “It’s beautiful. I don’t have to worry. I told Nick, ‘You have had three siblings go through Quinnipiac and they’ve had wonderful experiences — all different — and yours is even going to be different, because look how much the campus has changed.”

The Passanante family is also grateful for Quinnipiac’s commitment to student success.

“All three of my kids have been very successful, and obviously I know it’s their hard work; but it also the support and the education that Quinnipiac has given them, so we’re very grateful,” said Kim.

Knowing Quinnipiac’s administration, faculty and staff truly care about her kids is especially heartwarming, she said.

“I see it every time I come to campus, and it was just reinforced again at Orientation. They’re there year after year after year,” said Kim. “It’s not just the administration that’s giving the speeches — it’s the lady who’s working in the food service area who is making special sandwiches for my son when he comes in. It’s the janitor that is taking care of the dorm rooms who is kind to the kids and looking out for them. It comes from the security guard sitting in the parking lot who is so sweet and kind every time you come through. It’s just kindness.”