When Francesca Beighley, Jillian Durst, and Alyssa Schofield crossed the stage at Carlow鈥檚 2025 Commencement, it wasn鈥檛 just a celebration of academic achievement鈥攊t was the latest chapter in a friendship that began more than a decade earlier on the little league softball fields of Plum Borough.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been close since elementary school,鈥� said Francesca. 鈥淥ur dads coached us, we played every season together, and we were always at each other鈥檚 houses. We just kind of stuck.鈥�
The trio played on the same teams through middle and high school. Even then, they couldn鈥檛 have predicted they鈥檇 end up attending the same university鈥攍et alone graduating together, each entering a different branch of the medical field. What brought them all to Carlow was a combination of scholarship opportunity, a welcoming team culture, and a shared desire to pursue healthcare.
“It was smaller鈥攂ut it didn鈥檛 feel small鈥�
鈥淚 originally didn鈥檛 even plan to go to Carlow,鈥� Alyssa admitted. 鈥淏ut I went on a tour and something just clicked. It was smaller, yes鈥攂ut it didn鈥檛 feel small. Everyone knew your name. That kind of environment is exactly what I needed.鈥�
Francesca completed her BSN in nursing and recently passed her NCLEX. She鈥檚 now preparing to start work in the cardiothoracic ICU at Forbes Hospital in Monroeville. Jillian, who earned her bachelor鈥檚 in biology at Carlow, is currently completing her master鈥檚 in cardiovascular perfusion鈥攁 highly specialized program offered at only a few universities nationwide. Alyssa, who began as a pre-nursing student, pivoted into respiratory therapy after discovering her interest in a more fast-paced, cross-unit hospital role. She鈥檚 now studying for her board exams and exploring opportunities at both UPMC Presbyterian and UPMC Children鈥檚.
Despite their different majors, they leaned on one another throughout college鈥攁cademically, athletically, and emotionally. 鈥淐arlow made it possible to do both鈥攑ursue a challenging medical degree and ,鈥� Jillian said. 鈥淲e had clinicals, labs, exams鈥攁nd we also had team practices and long bus rides to games. But the professors were flexible, the coach understood, and we always had each other.鈥�
鈥淵ou鈥檒l crush it鈥�
That support was a lifeline in a challenging environment and their bond made a difference. 鈥淲e鈥檇 see each other in passing and be like, 鈥榊ou鈥檝e got this test鈥攜ou鈥檒l crush it.鈥� Or we鈥檇 be studying on the team bus thanks to the Wi-Fi,鈥� said Francesca.
Some of their most meaningful memories came from Carlow鈥檚 annual spring break trip to Florida for softball training. 鈥淲e always dreamed about something like that as kids,鈥� Francesca said. 鈥淕etting to do it together, in a beach house, with our parents there鈥攊t was surreal.鈥�
Every year, the team rents a large beach house, giving players a chance to truly bond. 鈥淭hat week made us feel like a real team,鈥� said Jillian. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 just about the games鈥攊t was about building trust, making memories, and enjoying this rare chance to live, play, and study side by side.鈥�
The three credit Coach Glenn Zinsmeister for being a constant advocate鈥攗nderstanding when clinicals conflicted with games, stepping in when students needed academic flexibility, and creating a team culture where student-athletes could thrive without sacrificing their goals. 鈥淗e cared more about us as people than just as players,鈥� Alyssa said. 鈥淎nd so did our professors.鈥�
Eventually, both Alyssa and Jillian stepped back from the team due to the growing demands of their programs. But even then, the connection never broke. 鈥淓ven when I wasn鈥檛 playing anymore, I still felt like part of the team,鈥� Alyssa said. 鈥淣obody made me feel bad about it. They just cared about me. That鈥檚 what makes Carlow different.鈥�
鈥淵ou just have to want it鈥�
Their advice to future students? Don鈥檛 underestimate the power of community. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e worried about balancing a sport and a medical career鈥攄on鈥檛 be,鈥� said Jillian. 鈥淐arlow has the support in place to help you do both. You just have to want it.鈥�
鈥淎nd take a tour,鈥� Alyssa added. 鈥淥nce you see the campus and meet the people, it all feels different.鈥�
Now entering the next phase of their professional lives, Francesca, Jillian, and Alyssa know they鈥檒l continue to lean on each other as colleagues, as friends, and as Celtics鈥攑art of the Carlow Community.
鈥淚t definitely wasn鈥檛 always easy,鈥� Francesca said. 鈥淏ut we made it work. That鈥檚 what we鈥檝e always done.鈥�