It was the second semester of Freshman year at Bellarmine for Ashley and Stephen. While Ashley had spent the first semester balancing volleyball and school, Stephen and his roommate, Mike, had made a group of friends from Indy. As Ashley and her teammates began exploring campus life after Fall season and discovered this wonderful group of friends, our friend groups became one, and that's how our story begins. Ashley and Stephen even discovered that they would be refereeing intramural sports together through a work study program, so they were spending more and more time together. After a group date to the Spaghetti Factory, and a night watching movies with friends, Stephen walked Ashley back to her dorm and asked her to be his girlfriend. She, of course, said YES and they've been inseparable ever since. Even when Stephen was living an hour away in Henry County, he would always come to visit Ashley in Louisville on the weekends. Stephen would attend all of Ashley's home games, and Ashley would enjoy watching Stephen develop a love for the game when he joined the Men's club volleyball team. Some of their favorite activities were going to watch Mike play baseball in between classes, cooking together, visiting Sandy's pet shop, glamping with Stephen's family, and finding new hiking spots. Today, they love going to Bats games, watching British Baking Show to get new ideas for kitchen recipes, discussing when they will get their own camper, playing in sand and grass volleyball tournaments together, and planning for the future! They look forward to celebrating with their loved ones on April 22nd, 2022!

“Keeping the engagement a secret wasn't the biggest challenge I had to face. I had the ring for three months hidden away so Ashley wouldn't find it. She kept wondering when it was going to happen since the only stipulation was to not propose on a holiday. We had been invited to a painting party at our friends house and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to ask the biggest question I ever have in my life. The problem was I needed an excuse to ask for her parents’ blessing. So I told her that my grandfather needed help with the Christmas lights, as his Christmas lights can be seen from space, to go see Ashley's parents and ask for their blessing. They couldn't have been more welcoming, and delighted that I was going to marry their daughter. I spilled all the details of when I was going to do it. The day of the painting party arrived and Ashley was in painting clothes, and I asked her to change. That threw her guard up, and she knew something was going on. We successfully made it to the painting party and everyone was painting Christmas themed art on their canvases, except myself because I was constantly thinking of what I was going to say when the time came. Everyone started taking pictures of their paintings in groups. Once Ashley and I had our picture taken, I began to say what I had practiced in my head, but it seemed no words came out. I was shaking from being nervous and everyones cameras and eyes were on us. I was able to muster out the words, "Will you marry me," and without hesitation, she said yes. I was relieved as I gave her the biggest hug as we celebrated with cupcakes and congratulations from our families.