After graduating high school in 2015, Chauntel decided to leave Greeley and pursue her studies in Sport Management at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. The prospect of making new friends and being closer to the mountains brought both excitement and nervousness as she ventured away from her hometown. For Hayden, a Colorado Springs native, UCCS was also in his sights. Fueled by his love for the city and its stunning mountain views, he enrolled to study Business Administration & Entrepreneurship. He was eager to explore his academic journey in the familiar surroundings he called home. Hayden and Chauntel, both freshmen in the class of 2019 at UCCS, found themselves assigned to the same dorm building, the Aspen House, thanks to their shared interest in "Colorado Living" during the application process. In those early months, they frequently crossed paths, noticing each other but never exchanging more than passing glances. It wasn't until one day, as Hayden was walking back from the library, that he glanced behind him and spotted Chauntel a few paces away. Recognizing that they were headed in the same direction, he kindly stopped and waited for her. This small act sparked their first conversation, and they walked back to their dorm building together, only to part ways onto different floors. Upon her return to her dorm room, Chauntel found Justin Bosco, Hayden's best friend at the time, hanging out in her room. Impressed by Hayden's style, she couldn't help but express her admiration of him to Bosco. Naturally, this compliment made its way to Hayden and kept Chauntel on his radar and vice versa. A few weeks later, feeling bold, Chauntel took the initiative and slid into Hayden's DMs, bypassing the small talk and directly asking for his number. Without hesitation, Hayden willingly shared his number. This marked the start of a connection that would become the most memorable and enriching experience of their lives, growing both as individuals and together as couple.