A Love Like Ours

It all started freshman year in Intro to Biology at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. The very first day of classes as little freshmen in the big new world of college, they met—and instantly clicked. After an awkward Instagram DM from Chase and an out-of-the-blue ice cream invite from Marlayna later… they became fast friends, bonding over more things than they ever expected from their shared love for country music, football, and their unhealthy obsession for soda! As the months passed, they supported each other through the ups and downs that come with college and life. Somewhere in between the late-night talks, laughs, and way too many Disney movies, they realized what they had was something special. On May 7th, 2021, Chase, with some pressure from Marlayna, decided to ask the question and make it official—and neither of them have looked back since. Soon after, they met each other’s families and quickly realized these weren’t just introductions… they were the beginnings of lifelong relationships. The bond they had only grew stronger in the years that followed. One of the most meaningful moments in their journey came when Marlayna introduced Chase to her church family. What started as a visit turned into something so much more. They soon found the perfect place—Crosswinds became a second home, filled with friends who embraced and supported them in ways they never could have imagined. Their faith has drawn them even closer. Life wasn’t always easy. They faced the pain of losing loved ones and saw some family and friend dynamics shift, but through every challenge, they learned something priceless: no matter what came their way, they could handle it—together. Leaning on faith and each other became their greatest strength. Then, on May 17th, 2025—exactly 4 years and 10 days after Marlayna shockingly said yes the first time—she said yes again! And just like that, they agreed to spend the rest of their lives together.