Photography by Steve Buchanan
Evelyn Murphy learned the family business from the ground up. Her father Brian started an online bakery, and Murphy has learned every facet of the business working in his company since her freshman year at Saints Peter & Paul High School.
Among her main duties has been running the social media channels of the company. Watching the business grow has made her want to have one of her own. Murphy, now a senior and a three-sport standout athlete, wants to be a businesswoman and the company she wants to start will have something to do with food. To prepare, she’s interested in majoring in economics.
“We cook and bake and have so much fun doing it,” Murphy says of the family business. “I want to share that with people. I want to teach others to navigate their kitchen to reap the fun, healthy, wholesome benefits that homemade meals can offer, all in a convenient and budget-friendly process.”
Her first business idea involves designing an energy snack for athletes, which will contribute to their performance. The second idea focuses on helping people cook and prepare healthy wholesome food, much like her father’s company.
“I want to be an entrepreneur like my parents,” explains Murphy, an Easton resident. Considering how hard she works at her academics—she carries a 4.83 weighted grade-point average—she will probably thrive as a business owner.
Murphy also serves as president of her school’s student government association, tutors classmates, and mentors new students and transfers. Her objective is to help them to acclimate to Saints Peter & Paul. She also plays lacrosse, basketball, and field hockey while serving as a team co-captain for each.
“She does it all and does it well,” Saints Peter & Paul Field Hockey Coach Debbie McQuaid says. “She’s smart, she’s athletic, and a leader. It doesn’t get any better than her. She is really good with time management because she is involved in everything.”
Murphy’s favorite and best sport is lacrosse. She said she’s been recruited by about 30 schools, starting in September of 2021. The top recruiters include Amherst College, American University, and the University of Oregon. She even received a scholarship offer from UMBC.
But she says, “Those schools for lacrosse weren’t the right fit for me as a student and athlete for various reasons.” Murphy puts academics over athletes. She’s applied to the University of Virginia, the University of Southern California, Penn State, and Dartmouth University.
“I can see the schools I applied to being a very good fit for four years,” Murphy says.
The 17-year-old Murphy could walk on for lacrosse or field hockey for the schools that now are on her list. “I’d like to play lacrosse or field hockey,” she says. “I am naturally fast so I would consider track and field as well.” McQuaid adds, “She is the fastest girl I have ever coached, and I have coached for more than 25 years.”
The 5-foot-4 Murphy started for years on the varsity field hockey team and made Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference (ESIAC) honors three years in a row. The Maryland State Field Hockey Association named her to its first team as a senior.
She was great at lacrosse as well. Murphy started at midfield for four years and earned ESIAC First-Team honors three times.
“Her lacrosse I.Q and athleticism separates her from other players,” Saints Peter & Paul Girls’ Lacrosse Coach Alison Beyer says.
Beyer wasn’t kidding. Murphy was also an All-Conference pick in basketball.
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