Marketing major Isabella DeAvalia had a wish list when she was looking at colleges and universities over four years ago. The top three items? Small Catholic campus, big-city location, and the flexibility to study abroad and play soccer. At The Catholic University of America, she found it all — and more.
Isabella immediately felt at home on the women’s soccer team. As an avid life-long player, Isabella “felt a family connection” within the team. “The girls are super-welcoming and open and kind.”
This supportive environment is no doubt a reason for the team’s snowballing success in the NCAA Division III competition. “I think every year we’ve gotten better since I was a freshman. Then my sophomore year, we were in the semifinals of the conference. Last year, we made the finals of the conference. So the goal this year is to win it all!”
Beyond her success on Catholic’s soccer team, Isabella has scored another goal – traveling abroad. In 2023, during her sophomore year, the team visited Austria and Germany. “I’ve played soccer for most of my life and I’ve never had an experience like that,” she said.
In the next two months, Isabella looks forward to graduation and more wins with the women’s soccer team. While this time is often filled with uncertainty for, she feels her experience at the University has prepared her well for her next steps.
That’s thanks in large part to an educational experience at The Busch School of Business, where the classroom meets real life.
“I think a really important way the university has helped me prepare for my career is by giving us real-life scenarios in the classroom, whether it be case studies or simulations, or if we have a speaker come speak to us about their career and what their career path has looked like,” she said.
Isabella is currently weighing opportunities in sales, marketing, or finance, while considering if she wants to start her career journey on the East coast, back home in Arizona, or even abroad. Wherever she goes, Isabella is confident in her future.
“I have faith that Catholic University is setting me up for success no matter what path I take,” said Isabella.
