By Jessie Grattan
For the Hughes family, La Roche University is more than just a college—it's the place where lifelong memories were made, bonds were formed, and a family legacy began.
Lisa and Joe Hughes, both members of the Class of 1992, look back on their time at La Roche with great fondness. Lisa chose the University for its exceptional Graphic Arts Management program. Joe transferred to La Roche to be closer to Lisa and to experience smaller class sizes and more meaningful connections with faculty.
“At La Roche, the professors actually knew your name. That made all the difference,” Joe said.
Years later, their daughter Quinn chose to attend La Roche, continuing the family connection to the University. Her decision was followed by her fiancé, Ben Cadamore, who enrolled after Quinn committed to the women’s volleyball team. Quinn’s younger brother, Haydn, is now carrying the family torch as a current La Roche student.
“It was such a meaningful moment for us,” Lisa said. “La Roche was a special part of our lives, and when our children chose to follow in our footsteps, it felt like everything had come full circle.”
Now proud to call themselves a La Roche Legacy Family, the Hughes’ bond with the University has only deepened.
“We’ve walked the same halls, learned from some of the same professors—like Dr. Frederick Sproull—and watched our kids live in the same dorms,” Joe said. “Through Quinn, it felt like we were reliving our own college years, and with Haydn continuing the journey, that connection will only grow stronger.”
For Quinn, the connection to her parents’ alma mater added a personal layer to her college experience.
“La Roche has always held a special place in my heart because of the stories my parents shared. I came in with high hopes, but the experience surpassed anything I imagined,” she said. “This University has shaped me in such meaningful ways and helped me grow into the person I am today.”
As she steps into the next chapter, Quinn’s journey is only just beginning. “Almost immediately after graduation, my fiancé Ben and I are getting married!” she shared. “While he is in Law School at the University of Pittsburgh, I will be working full time as a Senior Patient Care Technician at UPMC Passavant. Looking ahead, I hope to continue my education by earning a degree to become either a Physician Assistant or a Nurse Practitioner.”
She added, “Knowing that La Roche set the foundation for my parents’ success has equipped both me and my fiancé for our futures and is now doing the same for my little brother. It’s truly amazing. I’m incredibly grateful for the La Roche community and excited to stay connected as an alum.”
While much has changed over the years, including the campus and even the school mascot, some things have remained timeless.
“When I was a student, La Roche was still a small college, and we were the Red Devils,” Lisa recalled. “The campus has evolved in so many ways, but it still holds that same familiar, comforting feeling of home.”
When asked to sum up La Roche in one word, the Hughes family had no hesitation. Quinn answered: Home.
“It’s more than just our alma mater—it’s a place where some of our most cherished family memories were made,” she said. “For all these reasons and more, La Roche will always feel like home to us.”