Friends for Life
Classmates demonstrate the power of authentic community across miles and years
In 2011, nine women from five different states arrived on campus to pursue their Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degrees. Admission is selective, and the program, rigorous — so most arrived feeling nervous and looking for a friendly face.
They found each other.
Three years later they graduated and went their separate ways. But relationships forged at Mary endure, underscoring the power of authentic, faith-filled community at the heart of our mission. The university emphasizes personal connection, teamwork, and mutual support for graduate and undergraduate students alike, whether online or on campus. Through all the joys and challenges of life, these women have poured themselves out in love and service for the best friends they never expected.
The Family You Choose
High-demand programs like physical therapy can feel competitive — but that wasn’t the experience at Mary. From the classroom to the gym, on mission in Central America or on a dance floor downtown, these women became more like sisters than classmates.
“Our class was pretty close,” says Bismarck, ND, resident Marley Zachmann. “But there is another level of closeness when you experience a service project in a country like Guatemala. Going on a mission trip changes hearts and bonds people together — especially staying in a very small room with fewer beds than people! That sealed the deal on our friendship.”
“Living and studying together, participating in intramural volleyball and basketball, collaborating on group projects, and sharing our faith — we genuinely wanted each other to succeed,” says Marleigh Lybeck of Devils Lake, ND. “That same support has continued, whether we’re sharing new techniques, discussing patient care, or attending continuing education courses together.”
“I went through the difficult situation of ending an engagement. Everyone reached out with support and love, and some even came to spend time with me on the day I was supposed to get married,” says Mandi Meinert of Fargo, ND. “They say you’re a product of those you surround yourself with — I am forever grateful to walk through life with these women who are faithful, resilient, selfless, and genuinely good through and through.”
Danielle “Dani” Schmaltz and her family currently live in Dickinson, ND, but after grad school, she and her husband lived in Alaska for 11 years. While there, they lost their daughter Lucy, who died in her sleep at 2-1/2 months old.
“It was tragic, unexpected, and awful,” she says. “Every single one of these girls was there for me. They called. They listened. They checked in. A few visited us in Alaska. They were not just there for me during the days or weeks following Lucy’s death; they were there for months, and now years. They asked how they could support me. My request was for something to look forward to besides sadness, grief, and anger. So ‘The Lucy Trip’ was planned: In August, we met at Flathead Lake in Montana. We cried, we laughed, we played, we talked — we even made shirts! The love was overwhelming, and my heart was full.”
Chelsea Odden returned home to Faulton, SD, following graduate school. She experienced the same community of love and support when her father unexpectedly passed away.
“Dani said it best: ‘Grief is grief.’ This group has had some really tough crosses to bear. But we have a support system when we need it,” she says. “That these women have my back, love me, and support me means more than I can explain. We all have a strong faith — UMary fostered that as well.”
“I lost my dad to cancer in 2024,” says Zachmann. “That was a hard journey for my family, but the perfectly timed gifts and notes of support helped me see light in a dark time.”
Shared Life, Shared Lessons
Carley Lebsock grew up in Spokane, WA, but now lives and works in Billings, MT. She says the group has grown even closer through their struggles than they did through their successes. Whether traveling together for clinicals, visiting a family farm, worshiping together, or asking Marleigh to serve as her sponsor when entering the Church, friendship was easy, she says.
“But my favorite memory by far is Lucy’s Trip,” says Carley. “That was when we realized we all have something truly in common: We all carry crosses.”
“It doesn’t matter the situation; when one of us is struggling, we all feel it and truly want to lift one another up,” says Kristen Schulz of Edgeley, ND. “In my case, Marleigh had already gone through the adoption process, and without her support, I’m sure I would have felt so much more alone and afraid while navigating our adoption. A few years ago, we all met in Fargo for a Shania Twain concert. The show was great, but what I remember most is sitting in our pajamas, drinking coffees and sharing stories. We cried hard, we laughed hard, and we had a great day!”
“For 14 years, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside some of the strongest, most resilient women I know,” says Williston, ND, native Amanda Erickson. “Each of us has faced our own battles — challenges with work, relationships, heartbreak, and loss; seasons of feeling stuck or unmotivated — and yet, every single one of them continues to show up with courage and perseverance!”
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