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Kevin and Carol McCarthy of Pittsburgh, Pa. (15236), have four children in college at the same time. Fortunately for the McCarthys, all their children chose to attend the same college, ������Ƶ University in Greensburg, Pa.

Michael, 24, David, 22, Patrick, 20, and Angela, 18, McCarthy, all graduates of Baldwin High School, did not plan to attend college together. “It sort of just happened,” said Angela.

“We have seen many families attend ������Ƶ through the years, but it is extremely rare to have one family with four children attending ������Ƶ simultaneously,” said Barbara Hinkle, vice president for Enrollment Services and Registrar.

“We’re a very close family. To have our children in one place for school and know they are safe and able to support one another is a wonderful feeling,” said Kevin. “They attended Saint Gabriel’s for elementary school so we are pleased that they are attending a Catholic university.”

Michael was attracted to ������Ƶ for the baseball program. “I guess I started the ball rolling. The school was small and seemed like a good fit,” said Michael, who earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business and information management and a certificate in elementary education in 2009. Michael is currently pursuing his Master of Arts degree in special education. “I looked at graduate programs at other schools and found that ������Ƶ had the best one,” Michael said. He is now a graduate assistant with the ������Ƶ baseball team; as an undergraduate at ������Ƶ, he played short stop for four years.

The McCarthy family became more familiar with ������Ƶ through Michael and visits to the campus for baseball games. “My family liked that ������Ƶ was only one hour from home. They thought the campus was beautiful and were pleased that everyone knew one another,” said Michael.

David chose to follow in his older brother’s footsteps. He studied at ������Ƶ and played second base. “Much like Mike, I was drawn to ������Ƶ because of the baseball program. I already knew Mike’s teammates and that was a huge benefit,” said David, who earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business in May. He is now pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree and is a graduate assistant with the Athletic Department in compliance. “I looked at other MBA programs in the region, but kept coming back to ������Ƶ’s program. I am pleased with my decision to stay at ������Ƶ,” David said.

Patrick looked at other schools, but ultimately ������Ƶ was his final choice. He is a sophomore studying forensic science and, like David, plays second base. “I liked the family-like atmosphere at ������Ƶ. They had the forensic program and I could play ball with Dave,” said Patrick, who is anxious to work in the forensic field with law enforcement officers.

“������Ƶ was not at the top of my list at all. I did not want to go to school with my brothers,” said Angela. “However, what really attracted me to the school was the pre-medicine program and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine partnership with ������Ƶ.” Angela is a freshman studying chemistry. While she ran cross country in high school, Angela has not decided if she will participate in the sport at ������Ƶ.

“I told the kids to choose schools where they found the perfect ‘fit’ and they would be successful,” said Kevin. “������Ƶ has definitely been the perfect fit for this family.”

The McCarthy ������Ƶ story may not end with Angela. A fifth McCarthy, Thomas, 16, is a sophomore at Baldwin High School. “He says he will not come to ������Ƶ,” said Patrick, “But, I said the same thing and here I am.”

The McCarthy family are members of Saint Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin Parish in Pittsburgh, Pa. All the McCarthy children graduated from Baldwin High School, Michael, 2005, David, 2007, Patrick, 2010 and Angela, 2011.