The Online Reflector

By JP Sinclair
STAFF WRITER

A student usually goes to college to get a degree and graduate. But then something unexpected happens. He or she falls in love. An event called Graduates of the Heart celebrated just that on Saturday, Feb. 24 at the University of Indianapolis.

“There are a lot of bonds for the couples here [at the event] and the university, and it’s a chance for them to come back and remember their love for one another and their alma mater,” said Monica Woods, director of alumni relations.

According to Woods, more than 1,200 alumni of UIndy have found love while they achieved their degrees. The alumni have 1,334 collective years of marriage among them.

Graduates of the Heart started in 2001 when Woods looked at the alumni database and found a large number of alumni who were married, more than at most colleges.

“It seemed natural to do something during Valentine’s Day to bring the couples back to campus,” Woods said. “The theatre department [was having] dinner theatre [the same night], and we asked if they would accommodate us, and they obliged.”

The theatre department was running the dinner theatre production “Red Herring.”

Alumni arrived, received their tickets and had the opportunity to have their pictures taken in front of a backdrop provided by the theatre. Next, they were able to go inside the theatre, where special tables were provided for them. Each table had a box of chocolates for each person and a photo frame for each couple to frame their picture. Before the play started, Brian Martin, class of ‘88 and president of the alumni association, welcomed all the alumni and recognized their return to campus for the event.

Most of the couples started dating while they were in school, and most got engaged close to graduation or right after college.

The youngest couple, Travis and Amanda Owens, enjoyed being able to come back and celebrate their love at the event.

They met in August of 1999 as freshmen and dated through college. They became engaged in 2003 when Travis graduated and moved off-campus, and Amanda went home to finish her doctorate. This was their second year participating in the event.

“It’s special to me to come back and celebrate [this] event while coming back to finish my graduate degree,” Travis said.

Brian and Lisa Ross also shared their love at the event.
They met on campus at an event in their residence hall.
The fall of Lisa’s senior year was a year after Brian graduated, and then they became engaged.

This was their fourth year attending the event.

“I think it’s pretty cool to come back and see how campus has changed and how some things are the same. Or to look at the students and see how we [alums] used to be,” Brian said.

The oldest couple of the event celebrated more than 65 years together.

So the next time a single student goes to a campus-sponsored event, he or she should look up and around, because a future soulmate may be right on campus. Maybe one day they too will be able to commemorate their love at Graduates of the Heart.