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Marty ’95 and Kelly ’95 Castellon
Marty Castellon ’95 met Kelly (Stevenson) Castellon ’95 in 1993, and the couple married in August of 1998 after graduating from Olivet. Together, they have built a life centered on faith, commitment, and joy, raising two children, Lauren and Ryan, who both earned college degrees. Lauren and her husband Jared, welcomed a son, Leo, and becoming grandparents has been one of the greatest blessings of Marty and Kelly’s lives. Marty serves as a teacher at Livonia Clarenceville and as the head track and football coach, while Kelly is a registered nurse at Providence Hospital. They cherish time with their family, enjoy traveling, and are deeply grateful for the life they have created together.
Jim ‘11 and Jenessa ‘12 Neal
Jim and Jenessa met in Fall 2007; they were both freshmen at Olivet College.
Jenessa remembers sitting in the Kirk Center with a friend during the first week of school, just enjoying lunch, when Jim and his friend approached them. One of the first questions Jim asked was, “Do you have a boyfriend?” At the time, she did, so Jim and his friend finished lunch and then he respectfully left her alone for three years. They had many of the same friends throughout their time at Olivet, so they often ran into each other and said hello, but that was really it, since they were both dating other people.
Jim was on the wrestling team all four years, and Jenessa was on the volleyball team all four years during their time at Olivet College. The wrestling team was always the volleyball team’s biggest supporters during Jenessa’s time playing for OCVB, so that was another connection they shared, but they still never talked that much beyond the usual, “Hi, how are you?”
Senior year, right before Christmas break, Jenessa was struggling to clean snow off her car in the parking lot of Gillette. Jim lived in the same apartments and saw the struggle, so he offered to go buy her an ice scraper. Later that day, she had an ice scraper on her porch. After Christmas break, they started to talk a little more. It was good timing, considering they were both single and the timing matched up. That was the start of their story.
They now both work at The University of Olivet. Jenessa has worked there for nearly eight years in admissions and athletics and is currently the Women’s Volleyball Coach, Assistant Athletic Director, and Senior Women’s Advisor. Jim has been an assistant wrestling coach for the last nine years; his full-time job is with MDOT as an environmental scientist.
They were married on August 3, 2024. If it weren’t for Olivet and the amazing community they built there, they wouldn’t have the life they have or the amazing opportunities they have been given.
Maggie (Dunn) ’21 and Ben Serrels ’20
Maggie (Dunn) ’21 and Ben Serrels ’20 attended Olivet High School but didn’t know each other well. During their first year at Olivet College, they sometimes saw each other around campus but never had a reason to say anything other than hello. Ben worked in ITS in the Roznowski Center (the lower level of Burrage Library) and Maggie had a habit of visiting the library at the same time every day and sitting on the couches near Judy Fales’ office. One day, Ben approached Maggie and made small talk. Judy came and sat with them and helped the conversation along. After Ben left, Judy told Maggie that she and Ben would look nice together as a couple and encouraged the two to keep talking. The next day Ben sat by Maggie again and eventually asked her to the Willow Tree for coffee. Professor Kirk Hendershott-Kraetzer, Ph.D., is one of Maggie’s favorite people, and they still keep in touch today. Professor Hendershott-Kraetzer noticed Ben and Maggie and encouraged the relationship by talking about how smart Ben was. Professor Laura Barlond-Maas, who knew Ben and Maggie from their Olivet High School days, also encouraged the relationship.
The size of Olivet also was to their advantage since they regularly saw each other around campus. Ben and Maggie have been together since 2017, and she is sure they would not have gotten together if they didn’t attend Olivet College. Ben graduated with a degree in accounting and business and is currently an accountant at Auto-Owners Insurance.
Justin ’16 and Ashlynn (Grubb) ’17 Madar
Justin ’16 and Ashlynn (Grubb) ’17 Madar met in the spring of 2014 when Ashlynn transferred to Olivet College. It was love at first sight for Justin, but they didn’t start dating until fall 2014. Falling in love during college isn’t easy since dating competes with making new friends, studying and participating in sports, but the couple endured. Justin played football and Ashlynn played softball. The two dedicated athletes were named “Rookie of the Year” in their respective sports in 2015. Justin graduated in December 2016 with a degree in business administration. Ashlynn graduated in May 2016 with a degree in health science. Today, Justin is an insurance agent and Ashlynn works for the State of Michigan. The couple lives in Dewitt, Michigan, and married on August 21, 2021. They welcomed their daughter, Remi Lynn, on October 30, 2022.
Robert ’18 and Kelsey (Knight) ’19 Johnson
Robert ’18 and Kelsey (Knight) ’19 Johnson are both from Homer, Michigan. They knew each other in middle school but didn’t become friends until high school when they were on the track team. They dated on and off, and then Robert graduated in 2014 and headed to Olivet College for football. Kelsey graduated in 2015. After exploring different schools, she decided to attend Olivet College as a track team member. Both majored in business, studied abroad together and met several of their best friends while at college.
Jamie ’20 and Julia ’21 Shaffer
Jamie ’20 and Julia ’21 Shaffer first crossed paths at Olivet through Greek life. Julia was a member of Sigma Beta, and Jamie was an Adelphic. Julia played tennis while Jamie played football, and the two became friends during their years on campus. Although their relationship did not begin until after Julia graduated, everything changed when they returned for pledging in 2022. They reconnected instantly and picked up right where they left off, as if no time had passed. From that moment on, they have been together. The couple married on September 27, 2025, surrounded by family, friends, and many fellow Sigmas and Adelphics. Today, Jamie and Julia are proud parents to two beautiful daughters.
Michael '08 and Nicole '09 Durga
The Comet Cupid story for Mike ’08 and Nicole (Gregory) ‘09 Durga began before Nicole was even a Comet. Their paths crossed for the first time when Mike was a freshman and Nicole was on her overnight campus visit with two members of the Olivet softball team, Jessica Schmansky and Kim Green. When Nicole arrived in 2005 for the fall semester, her new bestie, Corie (Greene) Misko ’09, whom she had met earlier that summer at new student orientation, introduced Nicole to her cousin, Chris. Chris, who was also attending Olivet, was roommates with Mike Durga, a sophomore from their hometown. Mike and Nicole started dating about a month later. While at Olivet, Mike and Nicole were active on campus in sports, Football and Cheerleading, Greek life, Phi Alpha Pi and Soronian, and in the classroom, as math/education and biology/psychology majors. Mike proposed in the summer of 2006, and they were married in May 2009, two weeks after Nicole graduated. They reside in Grand Rapids, Michigan with their two children, Mike Jr. and MacKenzie.
Kolton '21 and Sarah '23 Epplett
Sarah met Kolton through the swim team when she was a freshman and he was a junior. They quickly became close, spending time together on and off the pool deck, and began dating in November 2019. Their first date was a late night trip to the Wendy’s in Charlotte after a swim meet, when the KC was closed and Sarah did not have a car. Sarah was a math major involved in Mathletes and Sigma Zeta, while Kolton studied Graphic Design and participated in Art Alliance. Despite their different academic paths, the swim team brought them together, and one of their favorite shared memories was the 2019 team training trip to Florida. The couple married on October 5, 2024, and welcomed their first son, Andrew, in June 2025.
Roger ’99 and Shelly (Burzycki) ’98 Phillips
Roger ’99 and Shelly (Burzycki) ’98 Phillips met in January 1996 while pledging their respective Greek houses, Adelphic Alpha Pi and Sigma Beta. They were introduced by a mutual friend, Kimberly Fry ’00, during a pledging event and quickly became friends, attending the Adelphic Formal together. That friendship continued beyond pledging and eventually grew into a relationship.
Both deeply involved in campus life, Shelly played softball at Olivet, while Roger worked as the softball team’s bookkeeper through a work study position, allowing him to travel with the team and attend every game. Shelly, in turn, traveled widely to support Roger as he played football for the Comets, making the two nearly inseparable on and off campus.
After three years together, Roger proposed to Shelly at her senior Sigma Formal, a moment shared with friends and made even more special by the surprise they managed to keep. The couple graduated from Olivet and were married on December 11, 1999, at the Olivet Congregational Church, surrounded by family and friends.
Today, Roger and Shelly reside in Michigan and both work in the insurance industry. Their son, Reece, was accepted to Northwood University on a baseball scholarship. As a family, they enjoy outdoor activities together, including snowmobiling near their cabin up north, boating at Duck Lake, and hunting and fishing in Olivet. They remain close with many friends from their college years and continue to share those connections, now extending into the next generation.
Rod ’68 and Jill ’73 (VanderTuuk) Perkins
Rod ’68 and Jill ’73 (VanderTuuk) Perkins did not officially meet while they were both students at Olivet College, though their paths crossed daily. During his senior year, Rod worked overnight as an orderly at Oaklawn Hospital and stopped at the Collegiate Center each morning for breakfast before class. Jill, a first-year student, worked in the serving line, and though Rod noticed her each day, the two never spoke. Rod graduated in 1968 and went on to graduate studies at Central Michigan University, unaware that Olivet would soon bring them together in an unexpected way.
The two finally met during a campus open house at Central Michigan, when Rod noticed a familiar face in his dorm hallway and struck up a conversation. After comparing hometowns and schools, they realized their connection to Olivet and discovered that Jill was the student Rod had seen each morning in the Collegiate Center. Determined to find her again, Rod tracked down Jill’s name using his Olivet yearbook and soon invited her on their first date. Their relationship moved quickly, and six weeks later, Rod proposed on New Year’s Eve. They were married the following August.
Jill later returned to Olivet to complete her degree, graduating in 1973 with a teaching degree while Rod worked as a school psychologist in Calhoun County. Jill spent 31 years in education, and the couple later relocated to Florida in 2004. Now married for 56 years, Rod and Jill have four children, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren, continuing a life shaped by education, service, and a connection that began at Olivet long before they officially met.
Rod said, “It continues to be an amazing journey with an amazing woman I have been blessed to find!”
Michael '16 and Braelyn (Ocwieja) May '16
Michael ’16 and Braelyn (Ocwieja) May ’16 met in the summer of 2010 at Olivet’s youth soccer camp, where players from the men’s and women’s teams helped coach to support their programs. Braelyn had recently transferred to Olivet from Siena Heights University, and Michael was a junior on the men’s soccer team. The two first connected while walking campers to the fields and talking between sessions. After remaining acquaintances through mutual friends, their friendship grew in late 2012, and they officially began dating in January 2013.
Both were heavily involved in Olivet soccer. Michael played on the men’s soccer team from 2007 to 2010, serving as captain from 2009 to 2010, earning multiple All-MIAA and All-Region honors, and finishing his career as the program’s all-time points leader. He later returned as an assistant coach from 2014 to 2019. Braelyn played on the women’s soccer team from 2010 to 2012. One of their most meaningful milestones came in April 2025, when Braelyn returned to campus for a women’s alumni soccer game, with Michael and their son in attendance, making the moment a full-circle return to where their story began.
The couple graduated from Olivet in 2016 and spent several years building their careers in Michigan. They married in August 2020 and now live in Holt, MI, where they continue to play soccer in local leagues and are raising their son, Jeremiah, born in November 2024. Braelyn works for the Michigan State Police and remains connected to Olivet through mock interviews and guest speaking in criminal justice classes, while Michael works for the State of Michigan and maintains strong ties to the Olivet soccer program.
Kyle ‘08 and Kayleigh (Hamilton) ‘09 Vanderlaan
Kyle ‘08 and Kayleigh (Hamilton) ‘09 Vanderlaan met in the fall of 2005 after their grandmothers, who sold Avon together, told them about each other. Their grandmothers remained close friends and enjoyed sharing how they set Kyle and Kayleigh up! The two officially started dating in December 2006. Kyle, who is still serving in the Army, was deployed when their relationship blossomed. All those hours of talking while he was gone is what shaped their foundation for long-lasting love. They were engaged in April 2007 when Kyle was home on leave from his deployment in Kosovo and married in August 2008. Their first child, Ford, was born in May of 2016, next came daughter Lenon, in August 2017, followed by their youngest daughter, Edith, in August 2021. Over the years the family has lived in Virginia, Michigan, and now Texas. Kayleigh graduated from the insurance program and has worked in the industry since graduation. The couple said, “We are so thankful to Olivet College for bringing us together.”
Karly (Batt) ‘07 and Kefentse Mandisa ‘06
Karly (Batt) ‘07 and Kefentse Mandisa ‘06 met on the steps of the KC in 2003. Karly was a first-year student, and Kefentse was a sophomore. Karly and her roommate were escaping the heat of Dole Hall on a hot August evening and Kefentse was finishing dinner. He started a conversation with the girls and invited them to play pool in Blair Hal – the rest is history! Karly and Kefentse enjoyed being active in many things during their years at Olivet. Kefentse was on the Olivet wrestling team and an active member of Gamma Iota Sigma. In 2015, Kefentse earned his MBA through Olivet’s insurance program. Karly was the station manager of WOCR and an RA in Dole Hall. She also worked in the student resource center and at the Congregational Church. Karly and Kefentse married in 2015 and have enjoyed many opportunities to travel and live in different places, including Kansas City, Chicago and Toledo. The two are back in Michigan now, residing in White Lake, where they enjoy their home gym, gardening, raising chickens and lots of space for their two crazy doodles to run. Kefentse works for Marsh & McLennan Agency out of Livonia, and Karly has a career in logistics and transportation.
Michael '81 and Polly '81 Bodjanac
Mike and Polly met by chance in the fall of 1978 while Polly was standing in the lunch line. Several people ahead of her, a cute guy looked up and smiled, melting Polly’s heart. It was then that she knew she needed to get to know him.
Polly was a Soronian and Mike a Phi Alpha, so they had connections through their Greek societies and the many Greek events. Mike was a member of the football team, and Polly knew nothing about the sport. Thankfully, one day in the cafeteria, a fraternity brother explained the basics to Polly using salt and pepper shakers as the offense and defense.
Polly recalls the Phi Alpha House fire of 1978, when she and Mike went into the house before the fire department arrived. Sitting on Mike’s shoulders, Polly carefully removed many of the class photos and handed them out the window to someone outside. In that moment, they helped preserve countless memories and pieces of history. Looking back though, it was quite a risky move.
Mike eventually pinned Polly in the spring of 1981 and, as was customary, was thrown into the Kedron River. They became engaged soon after and planned a summer wedding. Today, they are approaching their 45th wedding anniversary.
Doug ’89 and Louise (Newton) ’89 Cook
Doug ’89 and Louise (Newton) ’89 Cook met at the beginning of their senior year at Olivet College. They started dating after a Kappa Sig party the night before classes began. Doug was the president of Adelphic, and Louise was a Kappa Sig sweetheart. Louise has many fond memories of their time on campus together; however, one special highlight was when Doug was the first non-Kappa Sig male to attend the Kappa Sig Formal. Doug and Louise eloped to St. Lucia after college. They were married in 1994. They stay in close contact with several of their college friends and have come back to campus for homecoming festivities. Doug and Louise have one son, Aidan, and live in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Loren '19 and Brianna '20 Smalley
Brianna met Loren at Phi Alpha Pi in 2017, where he immediately told his friends he was going to marry her. While Brianna was not convinced at first, their relationship grew through study dates at the library, meals in the dining hall, and ice cream trips into town. Living next door to each other at Phi Alpha Pi and Sigma Beta made it easy to support one another at formals, athletic events, and campus activities. Even after Loren graduated in 2019 and began working at Progressive Insurance, he continued to show up for Brianna and their life at Olivet. That same year, they adopted their puppy, Bella Mae. When Brianna had to leave campus early due to COVID, missing key senior moments, Loren and his fraternity brothers were there to cheer her on when she later walked, reminding her of the strong sense of community at Olivet.
Today, Brianna and Loren regularly return to Olivet to support their Greek organizations and reconnect with friends. They now have two dogs, a cat, and their son, Branch, who is possibly a future Comet. They still work out together, take walks, and go out for ice cream, just as they did in college. Loren kept his promise when they married on June 16, 2022, and today they are building careers they love, a family, and lifelong friendships, all rooted in their Olivet experience.
Ryan '12 and Theresa '14 Underhill
Ryan and Theresa met as students at Olivet College in the most unexpected way – Theresa was in the middle of golf practice on the driving range at The Medalist with Coach Maas where Ryan cut her off with his fairway mower. Ryan quickly became her biggest supporter attending nearly all of Theresa’s tournaments and even traveling to Florida with her dad to watch Nationals. During the off-season, their weekends were spent watching Ghost Adventures and sharing Tim’s Pizza, a staple for all OC students. After graduation, Theresa moved to Ryan’s hometown of Marshall, Michigan. They got engaged in 2015, married in 2016, and now share a daughter, a son, and our dogs, Porkchop and Rocky. Olivet is where their forever began.
Kelsey '14 and Vallen '10 Campbell
Kelsey and Vallen met at Upton Gym in 2011. Vallen is an OC women’s basketball alumni and returned to campus for the alumni basketball game Kelsey’s team was hosting during homecoming. They would meet again in 2015, when Vallen began working for the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office where Kelsey was already employed. They began dating in 2016 and got married on July 06, 2019. On May 07, 2025, their son Benson was born. Vallen still works for the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office as the FOIA and Accreditation Coordinator, and Kelsey works for Calhoun County Public Defender as a Criminal Investigator. They currently reside in Battle Creek and enjoy camping, boating, watching sports, and spending time with their families.
Davon ’18 & Joanna ’21 Jackson
Joanna Jackson (Taylor) and Davon Jackson met when Joanna joined the cheer team as a freshman in 2017. They had no idea where their relationship would take them over the upcoming years. With only being together at Olivet for one year before Davon graduated, they took on the challenges of a distance relationship, moving to South Carolina together, and eventually buying a house. Davon proposed on the day they bought the house, and 2.5 years later they got married on November 2nd, 2024.
Rich '83 & Sue '83 Levitte
In the fall of 1979, on the first day of classes, Sue noticed Rich walking across campus in his Hartland varsity jacket. She was from White Lake, just a few towns away. They grew to know each other during the pledging process – Rich pledged Adelphic, and Sue pledged Sigma Beta. Their friendship grew, but it took a while for Rich to realize Sue liked him. During their junior year, they finally attended a Sigma formal together. They spent time at each other’s dorms, the library, and the racquetball courts at MacKay gym. Senior year, Sue was pinned Adelphic Sweetheart. They married in October 1985 and have two beautiful daughters.
Maurice '19 and Ashley '18 Young
Ashley (Harwood) ’18 and Maurice (Mo) ’19 Young would not have met had Ashley not transferred to Olivet in her sophomore year in the fall of 2015. During Move-In weekend, Mo was helping Ashley’s roommate move into their Gillette apartment. The two began to hang out regularly to talk, cook meals and have game nights. Because Mo was on the football team, Ashley attended all the Comet games. The two were married in March 2021 and welcomed their son, Andre, into the world in June 2021. In December 2021, they moved to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, to be closer to family.
Kyle '09 & Laura '11 Labrecque
We started to kindle unknown love for one another in the Spring of ‘08 on an ILT trip to Greece & Italy while attending Olivet College. There we would become friends; it would be some 2.5 years later before we would officially start dating. We have been on an ongoing adventure of love ever since!
Jeffrey '75 & Deborah '76 Ash
Jeffrey and Deborah’s love story began in high school band, but it truly blossomed at Olivet College. When Jeff chose OC, Deborah soon followed, and their shared love of music brought them even closer. Their time on campus was filled with harmony—both in music and in their growing relationship. Eventually, they married and started a family, building a life filled with love and melody. Today, they call Ann Arbor home, where their passion for music and each other continue to flourish, just as it did in their days at Olivet.
Bruce '18 & Savannah '22 Baker
Bruce ’18 and Savannah ’22 Baker met while working at a summer camp before Bruce’s senior year. Their friendship quickly turned into love. Savannah, on a gap year, spent time on campus while Bruce balanced cross country and track. After graduating, Bruce worked for the University and supported Savannah in her own races. They married in 2019 while Savannah was still a student. Now living in Ann Arbor, Bruce is an assistant pastor, and Savannah is a communications coordinator and full-time mom. In July 2024, they welcomed their first child and are embracing their new roles as parents with joy.
Ryan Armstrong '15 & Jessica Duell '15
Ryan Armstrong ’15 and Jessica Duell ’15 met in 2011 during their first year Olivet. Both were student-athletes and were introduced to each other by their mutual friend, Brandi Rimmer ’15. As Ryan and Jessica got to know each other they fell head over heels. Their relationship wasn’t always easy, but Ryan and Jessica managed to find each other again, and their love has stayed true and strong. After they graduated college, they both began working for the State of Michigan. They received their biggest blessing when their son, Elijah Robert Armstrong, was born, May 21, 2022.
David '80 & Kim '81 Byrens
David ’80 & Kim (Kirk) ’81 Byrens’ love story started at the music conservatory on the second floor. Kim took piano lessons from faculty member Emily Byrens, David’s mother, and he had violin lessons at the same time. One day after lessons, David challenged Kim to a game of racquetball. She took him up on it and told him he would lose! David doesn’t remember who won that fateful game, but they progressed to a Phi Alpha Pi dance after that and they were hooked!
When David invited Kim to his first fraternity party, Kim told him to call her back in a week so she could check his references. She was nervous about dating a fraternity man and was unsure about dating the son of faculty members (Kim had classes with both Dan and Emily Byrens.) Luckily, she called him back a week later and accepted his invitation!
The pair attended many Olivet functions during their courtship between November 1977 and May 1981. They could be found at Phi Alpha Pi, Sigma Beta, and various college social events. Kim was nominated Homecoming Queen her senior year in the fall of 1980. David returned to campus to be her escort at the Homecoming game.
Because of their love of music and with the help of David’s parents, David and Kim took a trip to England during their college days with the group Collegium Musicum. It was an extraordinary trip with approximately 30 members of the Olivet community. They will always cherish those memories!
After graduation, David attended medical school at the University of Michigan. He was finishing his first year there when Kim graduated from Olivet in the Spring of 1981. They were married on July 4, 1981, the only weekend David had off between classes. They honeymooned along Lake Michigan. They joke that David wanted to be sure Kim’s parents paid all of her college expenses, and she wanted to see that he could cut it in medical school before they agreed to marry!
The couple lived in Grand Rapids during David’s medical residency and then returned to Marshall, MI, where they have lived and worked since 1987. They enjoyed raising their children in a wonderful community. Their son attended Olivet College and received a degree in Insurance and Risk Management. He is now a State Farm agent in Okemos, MI. Their daughter works with them in their medical practice, and they get to enjoy seeing their grandchildren on a regular basis.
Kody ’19 & Ashley ’16 Garcia
My husband (Kody Garcia ’19) and I are both alumni of The University of Olivet (then it was Olivet College). We met at an Alpha E event. He asked for my number and hasn’t stopped talking to me since. I was an active of the house at the time, and he wanted to join. I eventually joined in 2014 and graduated in 2016. He joined 2017 and graduated 2019. We both work for DMA. He’s an auditor, I’m an analyst. We have a son, Michael, and a dog, Lolly. We’ve lived together since 2019 in Indiana. We got married in 2021. This December will be 10 years together.
Deyan '08 & Katelyn '10 Kozhuharov
Deyan ’08 & Katelyn (Harmon) ’10 Kozhuharov first met at an informal hangout at Sigma Beta. Katelyn had to leave early because she had an early class the next day. In Deyan’s memory, she “mysteriously disappeared” from the gathering. They happened to run into each other the next morning in the cafeteria and Katelyn formally introduced herself. They talked to each other on the way to class and then started hanging out afterward. Facebook was just becoming popular at this time. They would use that platform to message each other to meet around campus. Deyan is from Bulgaria, so he lived in the international student house (now the Hosford House), and that became their main hangout on campus. It became common for them to have lunch and dinner together in the cafeteria. They even took one class together (although their majors and areas of study were different.)
As they got to know each other, they realized that Deyan met Katelyn’s dad while Katelyn was still a senior in high school. Deyan had met with Katelyn’s dad about a potential internship with the insurance program. The running joke is that he must have noticed Katelyn’s picture on the wall, fell in love with this dream girl in the picture, and then couldn’t believe his luck when he found her on campus a year later!
Listen to the rest of their story and hear where life has taken them since graduation on our alumni podcast Comet Commentary (available mid-late February)!
Eddie ’10 & Emily '09 Ward'
Eddie ’10 & Emily (Brown) ’09 Ward didn’t start dating while at Olivet, as Emily was dating someone else during that time. However, they knew of each other because they graduated from the same high school (a few years apart) and they both played basketball. At college, they shared the same fitness management major, so they had some classes together. Eddie would also assist with the women’s basketball practices from time to time. Ironically, they wore the same basketball number while at Olivet. Per Emily, they shared many similarities in their life trajectory without knowing it until later. Even though they weren’t a couple then, MacKay Gymnasium was their main hangout and where many of their memories were made.
Hear the rest of their story about how they started dating and where life has taken them since on our alumni podcast Comet Commentary (available mid-late February)!
Gregory '81 & Betsy '81 Adamus
Betsy (Dee) ’81 was a music major with an English minor, and Greg ’81 was a music major with an education focus. They attended Olivet from the fall of 1977 to the spring of 1981.
One misconception about Greg & Betsy’s relationship is that everyone assumed they initially met at Olivet. However, they met for the first time in Mount Pleasant during the youth arts festival while they were still in high school. Betsy had won 
an award for best jazz flutist in Ionia, and Greg was attending for winning best jazz pianist in Detroit. The two were invited to perform as part of an ensemble during the awards presentation in Mount Pleasant. Greg’s first impression of Betsy during that performance wasn’t a positive one; little did he know that they would be married within five years of that date!
Check out their full story, including Greg’s memorable proposal, on our alumni podcast, Comet Commentary (available mid-late February)!
Matt '08 & Jennifer '08 Reinhardt
Matt and Jennifer (Olson) are both ’08 graduates with degrees in insurance and risk management. Matt played football at Olivet and is an Adelphic. Jennifer is a Soronian, and both were members of Gamma Iota Sigma. Their fathers knew each other through their business arrangements, and they encouraged Matt and Jennifer to meet each other on campus. Their first interaction didn’t go as planned! Matt’s friends were throwing a celebration around Valentine’s Day, and Matt extended an invitation to Jennifer to attend. She politely declined. His reaction wasn’t quite as polite!
They did manage to become friends after that, as they had many of the same classes, the same friends, and were involved in similar activities. Matt and Jennifer found that they were drawn to each other due to their similar personalities. Jennifer realized that her original assessment of Matt being “just another meathead football player” was incorrect.
Tune in to our alumni podcast, Comet Commentary, to hear more of their story! February episode will be available mid-late February.
Sean '14 & Aubrey '14 Alexander
Sean and Aubrey (Stockmeyer), both ’14 graduates, met at Phi Alpha Pi in January 2011 when Aubrey was pledging Soronian. Sean became an active member of Phi Alph in 2009. Both Greek houses hold special meaning for them as they would not have met had it not been for Greek Life at Olivet. Sean and Aubrey had several classes together during their time on campus. They were voted Sweethearts of their respective Greek Houses in 2013 and were pledge captain/pledge mistress together in 2014. They were able to play a part in running the pledge program together, which was a huge honor!
Sean and Aubrey graduated together in 2014. They were married on June 4, 2016, at the Olivet Congregational Church. After graduation, Sean opened his own business, S & A Painting and Maintenance, in 2019, and Aubrey has been a clinical research coordinator for MSU’s Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology. She was promoted to Director of Research in 2021. They have one son, James, who was born on May 25, 2020. They have lived locally since graduating and currently reside in Leslie, MI.
Brian '09 & Christine '10 Jaffee
Brian and Christine (Cameron) met during the summer of 2007. Brian was living on campus and wanted to throw a party to celebrate his birthday. He invited Christine to the party. Christine accepted the invite, told him she’d be there, and then didn’t show. Later that summer, they ran into each other at Olivet’s Fireman’s Festival. They laughed about the birthday RSVP and non-attendance, which led to many further laughs between the two of them.
While attending Olivet, the two were very involved in all that Olivet has to offer, including athletics (softball, track, and cross country for Christine; cross country and swimming for Brian), clubs, Greek Life, and social events. Some of their relationship highlights include being presidents of Phi Alpha Pi and Soronian, founding the Student Finance Organization, and sharing classes of Civ Studies II and a first aid ILT class. 
Brian and Christine dated during most of their time at Olivet but decided to go their separate ways after graduation. Brian went on to law school in Cincinnati, and Christine ended up in law school in Grand Rapids. They stayed in touch through shared outlines, commiserations, and celebrations of their law school experiences.
Brian and Christine reconnected when attending an Olivet alumni event. They are now happily married and live in Grand Rapids with their brilliant daughter, Sonya. They are expecting a son in April 2024.
Jim '75 & Rita '76 Wencel
Jim ’75 and Rita (Shagena) ’76 Wencel met in the Fall of 1972. Rita had met one of Jim’s classmates during Stand Up, and they had gone on a few dates when Jim indicated an interest in her. The classmate felt that Rita was more interested in Jim than she was in him, so he encouraged Jim to ask her out. Rita recalls being shy and unsure how to get to know Jim initially. She and a friend would watch him as he walked from the Adelphic House to MacKay Gymnasium, and she would wave and hope he figured out that she was interested in him! Their first date was at a basketball game. Jim remembers being unsure if the date was a success. He received his answer the next day when Rita approached him in the cafeteria and held his hand. The rest is history! Jim and Rita have been happily married for 47 years. 
They have four children (Jimmy, John, Nikki, and Holly) and have enjoyed many successes together. Check out our Comet Commentary Podcast in late February to hear the rest of their story!