In their very first semester at Rutgers School of Engineering, Michael first noticed Jessica when he entered a 500-person General Chemistry class lecture hall late and needed a place to sit. He found the only open seat remaining, and it happened to be next to the one and only “Jess Engineer,” which is the name that he entered into his cell phone contacts for her when she was nice enough to text him the notes that she had taken. They then realized that they had several mutual friendships, and began to cross paths more frequently, both in academic and social realms. They began to study together for their common classes, and developed a strong relationship that ultimately never stopped growing into what it is today. Fun fact: Michael still has Jessica’s contact in his phone as “Jess Engineer” today.

After almost 6 years of dating and 8 years since that General Chemistry lecture, Michael proposed to Jessica on an unseasonably warm day at the end of January on the Gapstow Bridge in Central Park, New York City. While Jessica thought they were in Manhattan for a family birthday celebration, Michael had been planning this special day with both families for an entire month. Immediately after the proposal, Michael told Jessica that their families were waiting for them at Tavern on the Green, where they celebrated all together.