While Thomas and Christina Figurelli of Mullica Hill, N.J., saw all three of their children attend Catholic school growing up, they likely would never have imaged they’d all choose the same Franciscan college post-high school.
But it was kismet.
“We keep returning to Alvernia because it provided our children with an excellent education along with a solid college experience," Thomas said.
It started with their eldest daughter, Maria, now 26, who earned her graduate degree in clinical counseling in 2024. Alvernia landed on her college prospects list when she searched for universities with strong occupational therapy programs. She visited several, but Alvernia’s campus just kept calling her back.
“She felt the connection with Alvernia and followed her gut,” Thomas recalled.
While she didn’t quality for the occupational therapy major program, the admissions staff was helpful in guiding her to the behavioral health major that Maria later realized was a perfect fit.
“Her professors were passionate about what they were teaching and it really made everything come to life for her,” Christina said.
Maria also liked the campus and developed great friendships. She even met her now husband in her first year of school and calls the Reading area home to this day.
“He proposed to her on Neversink Mountain at a spot that overlooked the campus,” Christina said.
Tommy, their second child to attend Alvernia, earned his undergrad degree in healthcare administration in 2024 and Master in Business Administration one year later. He was no stranger to the campus, traveling with the family to Maria’s tennis matches, being an enthusiast of the sport and playing himself during his four undergrad years and later serving as coach of the men’s tennis team while in graduate school.
As an undergrad as well as a graduate student, Tommy worked in the Student Activities Office, a role his parents said helped to keep him involved in campus happenings. The position, along with scholarships he was able to earn, helped support his tuition costs.
Now their youngest daughter, first-year student Christianna, is taking the campus by storm.
“Similar to her siblings, we toured and applied to several universities in the area," Thomas said. "Christianna wanted to study clinical counseling like her sister. We knew that Alvernia had an outstanding program since Maria was offered several jobs once she graduated. Christianna also liked Scranton University, but preferred the smaller, more intimate feeling of Alvernia. The 3+3 Clinical Counseling program was a plus.”
Christianna earned the highest scholarship, which made Alvernia more affordable for her, too.
She’s hit the ground running. She’s in the Honors Program, plays volleyball and is working to start a sign language club with a faculty sponsor. Like her brother, she’s involved with Student Activities and may add drama and singing with the campus church to her roster of extracurriculars.
“I don’t know when she sleeps,” Thomas said, laughing.
Although Christianna had been on Alvernia’s campus numerous times, being that her siblings attended the school, she’s still discovering new things through her experiences.
“She talks about how approachable and easy to talk to everyone she encounters is,” Thomas said. “She hasn’t been home yet!”
