Camille and Allison initially met at the Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA) conference in Jacksonville, FL (February 2019) where they both attended the Newcomer’s Session. Allison was standing in the back and Camille was seated a few tables over. Through the crowd Allison saw that Camille’s nametag said Arkansas Tech University, which is where Allison completed her master’s degree in 2008. At the end of the session Allison introduced herself to Camille. Camille completed her undergraduate degree at Arkansas Tech in 2017 and had one semester remaining to complete her graduate degree in the same program Allison completed. Allison offered to help Camille with her first job search, however Allison neglected to share her contact information! Camille remembered that Allison worked at Indiana State University so Camille googled Allison’s info, then sent an email. Emails turned into text messages, texts turned into phone calls, and phone calls turned into video chats. Camille began her job in August and those conversations became less about work and more personal. By January we started dating, then we were engaged on Thanksgiving.

Being together almost a year, Camille and Allison wanted to take some photos. We wanted the photos at Arkansas Tech, the place that brought us together. The best weekend for our schedules was Thanksgiving. Our wonderful friend, Eva, was available and met us on campus. We took several photos around campus and eventually said our goodbyes. Camille had been acting strangely all week. Allison kept asking what was wrong and Camille always replied that it was nothing. Camille needed to show Allison “The Spot” on campus, which was the state of Arkansas in concrete, painted green, with a white T in the middle. When Camille said “The Spot”, that was Eva’s clue the question would be popped. Allison drove them over while Eva drove another way around and hid behind a building to catch the photos. Allison was walking (completely clueless!) around pointing at buildings and walking down memory lane. Camille called Allison back and, while at a complete loss for words, kept telling Allison she really loved her, to which Allison agreed the same. Suddenly Camille dropped to one knee and asked Allison to marry her. Allison said “of course” and Camille slipped the ring on her finger, then promptly collapsed to the ground out of sheer exhaustion and the let down of anxiety she felt all week. Allison almost ruined the surprise while they were taking photos. Allison rested her hand on Camille’s back pocket, which is where Camille had the ring box. Allison was incessantly asking what was in the pocket and Camille froze out of panic. Eva eventually got Allison’s attention again and the photo shoot continued.