Evan and Aria met in August 2021 at Lee University, where they were both on the cross country team. Just a week or two into college, Evan slid into Aria’s DMs with the now-famous message: “You were really cooking them hills today.” A few weeks later, they went on their first date. While Evan knew pretty quickly that he had feelings for Aria, it took her a little more time to realize. But on August 15th, 2022, they officially began dating, and their relationship grew stronger every day. During the spring semester of their junior year, Evan began chemotherapy, and it was in that challenging season that their love and commitment to one another deepened even more. It was then that Evan decided he wanted to buy a ring. He bought a ring that November and waited for just the right moment. On April 27th, 2025, he took Aria to Red Clay State Park for what she thought was a casual picnic. Instead, she found candles, her favorite flowers, and a handwritten note Evan had written in that spot a week prior. He got down on one knee—and she said yes! Now, they’re soaking up the joy of engagement and counting down the days until they say “I do