It almost seems fitting that the year Paris (Burger) Beardslee (‘09) gets inducted into the Notre Dame Athletics Hall of Fame, her athletic legacy continues on as her niece wraps up her freshman year as a Bulldog. 

Paris excelled on the softball field throughout her career, and despite an injury her junior year, persevered in helping lead ND to the state championship in her final season as a Bulldog. 

“It is truly an honor to have been nominated and selected to be a member of the Notre Dame Athletics Hall of Fame,” Paris said. “There have been many extremely talented athletes to run the fields and courts of Notre Dame. It is an accolade I will cherish.”

When it comes to her thoughts on her alma mater, she said the word “excellence” always comes to mind. 

“In the classroom, on the fields or courts and at extracurricular activities, it was expected that you tried your hardest and strived for excellence to uphold the Notre Dame name,” she said. “Everyone who wore Notre Dame blue and white wore it proudly.”

There are several moments Paris looks back on when she thinks of her time at ND. One was making the varsity softball team during her freshman season.

“It was a huge accomplishment, and I felt like my hard work had paid off up to that point,” she said.

The other came after her knee injury, which caused Paris to miss her junior season.

“My most memorable game was the state semifinals my senior year,” she said. “We won 3-2 in a 13-inning thriller against Kirksville. It was a team win and the atmosphere was electric.”

Much like her fellow inductees, if Paris could give any advice to younger athletes, it would be to savor every minute.

“It sounds so cliché, but if I could offer any advice, it would be to enjoy every single minute of your time as a Notre Dame athlete,” she said. “It will end all too quickly, but the memories you make with your teammates and coaches will be etched in your mind forever.”

For Paris, her time as a fan is now being spent watching her niece take the field.

“It was bittersweet attending her softball games her freshman year and it brought back so many memories. I am so happy she enjoys the game that I loved so much. A part of me wished I could be out there with her on that same field and play just one more game.”

Paris now is the Assistant Director of Nursing at Chaffee Nursing Center where she has been a nurse since 2013. She and her husband, Tyler, have two sons, Max and Maverick.