From the Lacrosse Field to the Classroom
Pitt student-athlete earns Dr. Pepper teaching scholarship
Maggie Long doesn’t do anything halfway.
The 2025–2026 captain of the Pitt Women’s Lacrosse team has held a 4.0 grade point average across five consecutive semesters, logged more than 70 hours of community service, and is already mapping out her graduate school options.
She also recently earned a highly-competitive scholarship.
Long was named an ACC/CFP Foundation Dr. Pepper Go Teach Tuition Giveaway awardee. The scholarship honors student-athletes across the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) who demonstrate a commitment to education and community engagement.
A Path Built Around Teaching, Discipline, and Excellence
Long is majoring in sociology with a Minor in Secondary Teacher Education in the School of Education. She says sociology has become an intellectual complement to her teaching ambitions in special education.
“Having that background in sociology helped me understand certain behaviors and opened my eyes to a ton of different perspectives, cultural backgrounds, and traditions,” she said.
Long picked up a lacrosse stick in second grade, drawn in by a sport popular in her hometown of Long Island, New York, and encouraged by two older brothers who played the game. Now a team captain on the Division I-level Pitt team, she credits the sport with shaping how she approaches everything.
“The discipline on the field trickles down to those same things in academics,” she said. “If I’m gonna do something, I’m gonna put my whole heart into it. It’s not worth it to do it halfway.”
That all-in philosophy has produced remarkable academic recognition: Long has been named to the IWLCA All-Academic Honor Team (2023–24), the All-ACC Academic Team (2023–24), and received the Ruth C. and Marvin S. Reidbord Scholarship.
Finding Her People in the School of Education
Long has flourished inside Pitt’s School of Education, an environment she describes as both welcoming and intellectually energizing. Visiting Assistant Professor Kaylee Wykoop is one of the professors who inspires her the most.
“She’s one of my favorite professors I’ve had here at Pitt,” Long said. “She’s just so flexible and so accommodating to our schedule and is always checking in on how we’re doing.
“ I’m in her class from 6 to 8:30 p.m., but this is probably the best part of my day because I was at lacrosse practice at 6 a.m.,” she added.
Long has also sought advice from Associate Professor of Practice Sheila Conway on her graduate school options. Conway is impressed with Long’s proactive approach.
“It has been a pleasure to advise Maggie because she is focused on her career goal of becoming a special educator and looks for opportunities to expand her background for that work,” Conway said. “I have confidence she will be a great teacher in the future.”
Long, who is set to graduate in spring 2026, is applying to Pitt’s MEd in Special Education program as well as programs at schools closer to home that would allow her to earn New York State certification. She is considering continuing playing lacrosse at the graduate level.
“I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, ever since I was little,” she said, inspired by what she calls “a long line of teachers” in her family.
Advice for students: It’s hard, but worth it
Her advice to fellow student-athletes considering an education track: “Sometimes it’s going to be hard. But stay rooted in why you wanted to get into teaching in the first place, because everything will work itself out in the end. Advocate for yourself and the career you want.
“It’s kind of a roller coaster path to get there, but I know it’s going to be worth it,” Long said.
