Here are the stories of couples that found an education AND love at UNI.

Paul '90 and Helen Hicks '92 Wenthold

I lived next door to Ben in Bender.  Helen lived next door to Amy in Campbell.  Ben and Bob were roommates.  Amy was Bob's little sis, and started dating Ben.  Right before the beginning of the second semester in 1989, Ben and I carried a chair over to Campbell to put in Amy's room, and Helen came with Amy to open the door.  That's when Helen and I met.

Our first "date" was to watch "Oklahoma" with our group of friends in my room (412 Bender) on March 4, 1989.  Our first kiss came afterward when I walked Helen back to Campbell.

Helen was preparing that week for an Orchesis performance, and I with walked her to the old Aud every night.

The next year (my senior year) was a blast as we spent almost all our time together, and with our friends.  The Campbell dining hall was especially a lot of fun.

We got married in August of 1992, after Helen graduated.

Greg '99 and Leah '00 Smith

Greg and I met working in Hot Foods at Redeker Dining Center. Somewhere between chopping pounds of green onions and taking the trash down in the rickety old elevator, we fell in love. Our first kiss was by the Campanile in 1998. One year later, he proposed to me by the Campanile.

We received a mini-campanile as a wedding gift so we can kiss by it whenever we want!

Dave '84 and Cheryl '85 Primmer

Dave and I met the 3rd week of school in 1980. He was rooming with a fellow UNI school of music student. I met him and knew that very day that I was going to marry him. In fact, I told my roommate, Barbara Finnessey, that I had met the man I was going to marry. We got married in 1982 and will celebrate our very happy 26th wedding anniversary this May.

We spent our first 2 years of married life in the married student housing. Our enormous one bedroom apartment rented for $109 a month! We fondly remember those long walks past the industrial tech building to get to Russell Hall during those very cold Iowa winters! And, yes, we did have that kiss by the Campanile...that's why we have been together so long.

Dean Tomkins '04 and Anastasia Searcy '03

We met in late Summer of '02. Our first kiss was at the Campanile the night of Homecoming that Fall. In November 2003, after enjoying "The Nutcracker" at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, I proposed at the site of our first kiss. The Campanile will always be special to us.

Jon '00 and Jill (Lerdal) '00 Neas

Who would have thought that a gathering in Lawther Hall would end up in marriage? After meeting at a gathering we ended up dating and luckily lived next door at Hagemann and Rider for a year. Now almost nine years later, almost seven of those married, two boys and a girl on the way our UNI days are never forgotten. We will never forget all of our good times at UNI and our teacher prep program has lead us to great careers in education working again at the same great small school.

Mike '73 and Julie '75 Rokes

Mike and I met on a charter bus on the way to Stevens Point, Wisconsin for a MACURH conference--residence hall organization. He was a Rider resident and I lived in Noehren. Our kids, Jenny and Matthew, also met their spouse/fiance while working on or attending a residence hall conference. All six of us lived in the dorm all 4 years- go UNI Residence Halls! We have been married almost 33 years- may our kids do the same!

Scott '05 and Jenny (Rokes) '05 Connolly

Scott and I first met sophomore year during "Move-in-Weekend." I was on the Rider Hall move in crew and Scott was a first year Resident Assistant in Rider. I asked for assistance carrying some larger items and Scott agreed to help. Secretly, I thought he was cute and wanted an excuse to get to know him better. I got that opportunity when we had the same class that semester and became study partners.

The friendship turned to romance and we began going to athletics together, working as RA's together, and making friends together. Before we knew it our last years of college were gone and we were engaged to be married.

After we graduated we were married and currently I am in Graduate School at UNI. Scott is teaching Middle School. Our fondest memories of UNI are all of the wonderful campus events that we got to be a part of. Go Panthers!

Jenna Uthoff '07 and Matt Rokes '08

Jenna and I met while participating on a bid team for a national conference. We didn't start to date until summer 05'. The campanile holds a special place in our relationship since it was the place of our first kiss. About a year and a half later I proposed to her at the spot of our first kiss. UNI has been such a great place to us and will forever hold a special place in our hearts.

Keefe '98 and Shannon '97 Gaherty

Our love story is a little different. We had been dating long distance for 2 years when Keefe entered UNI as a Junior. I went to college 90 minutes from UNI and traveled there every week to see him. After a two and 1/2 years of traveling and $100 phone bills (no...cell phones with unlimited minutes weren't available at time) I decided to join Keefe at UNI as a transfer student. Our time at UNI was filled with laughter, fun, and friends. In '97 he proposed and in '99 we said I do. Now we are blessed with a wonderful seven year old daughter and have been married for more than 9 years!

Joe '98 and Melissa '98 Barber

It all started in Spanish class, in Lang Hall (pre-remodel days). I walked into class the first day, and there was this very attractive guy sitting next to my friend Alex. I was pretty excited, since that meant I could easily get an introduction. His name was Joe Barber, and he had the most beautiful blue eyes you've ever seen.

Turned out he knew it, too. He was a total frat boy, and liked to hum porno music during class just to annoy me. Clearly not love at first sight! But somehow we became friends, and studied at the Union together. He was a poly sci major, with big political plans and tons of charm. We had lots of fun discussions about life and love (and not so much about Spanish!). One day, I described his perfect wife to him (I don't fit any of the qualifications!).

About 6 months after we first met, we ran into each other on the Hill (of course!). We were both between relationships, and decided to go out to the OP together. Ah, the magic of the OP! He walked me back to my residence hall and kissed me. I couldn't believe it - Joe Barber? and me? But somehow it worked!

We're coming up on our 10 year anniversary this fall, and have 2 darling little boys with their daddy's charm, and my brown eyes. I'm holding out for a little girl with her daddy's eyes someday!

Connie '89 and Kevin '89 Hansen

On that fateful day in the fall of 1987, I had just moved into Bender Hall, room 421, with a guy that I had never met. On his desk was a picture of a very attractive young lady. Smooth skin the color of butterscotch. Perfectly styled jet-black hair that reminded me of that unbelievably hot Claire Huxtable – you know, Mrs. Cosby from The Cosby Show? A smile
that warmed your heart with just one look. And those eyes. Those piercing, dark brown eyes that spoke volumes without saying a single word. I thought my roommate was one lucky guy to have hooked up with someone like her.

Getting settled in, I was making my bed when Connie let herself into the room. Instead of looking like her "Glamour Shots" photo, Connie was chewing gum, wearing baggy sweats and a baseball cap. "Nice sheets," she said, referring to my totally awesome leopard-print bedding set. Startled, I actually ripped the sheets as I pulled them over the mattress!

In spite of that stellar first impression I made, we quickly became good friends. She must have been VERY impressed with me, because she spent the next couple of months trying to set me up with several of her friends. Apparently, she thought I was a pretty good catch!?!

Later that semester, she broke up with her boyfriend. Our friendship continued over the next couple of years (this is the awkward period of our relationship that Connie refers to as the "Just Friends" years).

Eventually, it dawned on me that, hey, this girl is the real deal! We were meant to be together! We married in 1991, and are the proud parents of a 14 year old son and 11 year old daughter (they are both VERY big Panther fans!)

Twenty years after that first meeting, Connie and I still call UNI and the Cedar Valley home. Today, her hair is more like the unbelievably hot Halle Berry, but her smile, her eyes and her heart are more special to me than I could have ever imagined.

Thanks to UNI for bringing us together, and thanks to Connie for making my dreams come true! Love ya, Con!

Jim '89 and Penny '87 O'Connor

It was not love at first sight, at least not for Jim. He came to UNI as a nontraditional student, after four years in the Air Force, in order to quickly finish a BA. He wanted to "get in, get it done, and get out with no distractions."

I had just begun my first year of teaching and coaching the UNI speech team, which was very successful and nationally ranked. I admit that I was a little full of myself, as a new university instructor and coach at age 22. Jim was mentioned to me by my co-coach, who met Jim in a class he was teaching. He described Jim as "a good enough speaker to make national quarterfinals right now, with no work at all." I asked to meet him in order to give him some videotapes to watch.

As Jim describes it, "she took one look at me and asked three questions: Are you single? Do you have a VCR (note that most students did not have personal VCRs in 1988)? And are you Catholic, by any chance?" Jim replied yes to all three, and I followed up with, "will you marry me?" Jim said no, with barely hidden disdain. Somehow a friendship and romance blossomed over the school year.

Jim did make several national quarters, semis and even a final, and was state champion as well. He graduated in 1989 and asked me to marry him. I replied more positively than he had, and we married in 1990. Nearly eighteen years later, we both work at UNI. In addition to sharing an employer, we share three children (Lucy, age 16, Sean age 14, and Maggie age 12), a golden retriever, and a healthy amount of debt. We will always credit UNI for bringing us together.

Justin Hossle '03 and Clint Clark '03

I showed up to Justin's dorm room during spring break 2002 with a note to Justin saying "I Love You". Justin read the note and laughed. As far as Justin knew I was straight. This was also about the time of year when theatre students were initiating up and coming students into the theatre fraternity. Justin was pretty sure this was a fraternity initiation. I pursued Justin for several more weeks confessing my love. Justin did his homework and found out I was not joking. Now Justin and I have been together for 6 years.

Steve '91 and Courtney Chabot '94 Dreyer

Steve and I met in 1990 in the Towers Dining Center. He was on the Panther baseball team, and my (Dancer 4th Floor) roommate, Carmen Phillips, knew him because she worked in the equipment room in the PEC. She introduced us. We quickly became dining room buddies and then friends. After Steve graduated from UNI in December 1991, he went off to play professional baseball. We kept in touch during the baseball seasons and each off-season, Steve returned to Cedar Falls. We started dating in May 1994, right after my graduation. We married in November 1995 and have been married for 12 years. We have a good start on our own baseball team - three sons - Jack (9), Will (6) and Nick(1). We have yet to "campanile" together. :)

Jon '89 and Brenda '92 Palmer

Jon was already attending UNI when we met. I had already decided to attend another school. We spent one semester apart before I transferred to UNI in the Spring semester of 1989. We only attended one semester together, but it was awesome! Jon and I were married in 1990, so we will celebrate our 18 year anniversary in June of this year. We both have a B.A. in Marketing from UNI. Jon's emphasis is Advertising and mine is Research. Jon has gone on to get a Master of Science in Computer Information Systems, and I am attending a satellite of the University of Colorado getting my MBA in Marketing. We live in Colorado Springs and have two children. One of our fondest memories of UNI is Campaniling.

David '91 and Stephanie '92 Grant

It's been 18 wonderful years since we first laid eyes on each other at the salad bar at UNI's Redeker dining center and we must admit it's one of our kids' favorite bedtime stories.

With three fun-loving little boys and 12 years of marriage surrounding us, we not only cherish the years we've had together since graduating from UNI, but also cherish the terrific memories and friends we gained during our UNI experience.

UNI is forever a part of our entire family and will be for years to come! Go Cats!

Eric '97 and Kelly Hoak '97

I was a lonely Freshman at UNI, a long way from my Wisconsin home and slowly making friends on the UNI Diving team.

Eric was a tall, lanky swimmer with a warm, friendly smile. As we were warming up one early fall day in the East Gym (old 5 lane pool) Eric finished his workout and walked toward the divers. I remember seeing him and fleetingly thinking..."I'll probably marry him someday", but I don't think I even said hello that day.

Over the next few months we saw each other around practice time, said the congenial hellos and would see each other from time to time on campus or at swimming events. Basically, we became teammates. I started cheering for him and he for me. We did things together as friends and finally on our sophomore trip to Fort Lauderdale, Florida (during our annual training trip) we kissed on New Year's Eve.

At the time we started dating on the UNI swim team, it was pretty taboo to date a teammate. However, I don't think Coach Hall minded because he was one of the groomsmen in our May 1999 wedding.

Nine years of marriage later, we plan to be teammates for life and enjoy watching our two children swim like...well, Panthers!

Greg '81 and Jill '81 Shireman

I opened the door at the Alpha Xi house and Jill walked through, life has never been the same. We have been married 25 years this year. When one of my best friends met Jill, he told me she was way over my head. He was right.

Clark '58 and Judy '58 McCleary

Clark and I met on a blind date our first week on campus in 1954.  Four years later we married the day we graduated, June 4, 1958.  Wow!!! -  that was a lot for one day.  Won't do that again!!!!!   This June we celebrate the big  '5 - 0' and plan to attend the 50th --May 8 - 10th in Cedar Falls.
 
Clark coached in Iowa for 8 years, ending his career at Cedar Rapids - Washington, HS, at the state tournament in the finals in Des Moines.  They totally lost that championship game after a super season!!!  He left coaching and teaching English to enter a life insurance career with the Guardian Life of NY that has continued ---no retirement, though  age 71,  this day.  His job is his hobby.  He speaks at many meetings, conventions and professional organizations and mentors young people going into sales and many who have become close friends through the years through his guidance.  Clark has been quoted and published in many insurance magazines and industry brochures.  His passions are his family and golf and his clients.  He will be spending two weeks with his son in Scotland in May, playing all the courses. 
 
I am a teacher, substitute teacher, mom, ( 3 children equals 8 grandchildren), volunteer for 37 years at Memorial City Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, TX, active in many organizations,  church and am currently writing a book.  I started a Scholarship for Health Care related students at MHMC.  As of December, 2007, 299 students have received monies amounting to $347,493 which has been donated by volunteers and interested parties, patients and others.  
 
 Disabled for several years with psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis, I have modeled for the drug, "Enbrel' in NY for doctor's brochures and have been an active lobbyist for self-injectible biological drugs.  I hope to be accepted by the speaker's bureau in April for the  Arthritis Foundation, to inspire hope to those afflicted with this devastating disease.
 
Life is good as we embrace each day with commitment to each other, wonderful memories of friends and a super education at Iowa State Teacher's College and look forward to the May reunion and sharing a hug and kiss under the Campanile.

Scott '07 and Katy '02 Lockard

Katy and I met in June of 2001 and married in March of 2006 on UNI campus at Lang Auditorium with the reception held in the Maucker ballroom.

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