A freshman Andrew stumbled into the machine shop for a concrete canoe event (a project team for the civil engineering society). The concrete canoe captain at the time introduced Andrew to some of the members, one of them being Katie. Fast forward to the next year, Katie was appointed as the new concrete canoe captain, and she decided to make Andrew her concrete mix captain and right hand man. Over the next school year Katie and Andrew worked together to develop a mix for the new canoe as well as preparing a design report and a presentation for the regional judges. Their report and presentation placed first at conference (as well as the overall canoe thanks to the rest of the team, how bout them dogs?). It was plain to see they made a pretty good team. I guess you could say Andrew floats Katie's boat, literally. And the rest is history!

Before concrete canoe conference, Andrew asked if he could take Katie on a date. For some unknown crazy reason, she said no. 'No' happens to not be in Andrew's vocabulary, but 'persistence' is. More time went on, they became closer, and Andrew asked if he could take Katie out on a date after concrete canoe conference, and she finally said yes! The weekend after conference, Katie's friends Kailey and Amber wanted to take her out for a celebratory dinner (because Tech took home the gold at the conference, HBTD). The girls road tripped to Shreveport for some crab legs at Joe's! The girls walked around the boardwalk which is an absolutely beautiful setting. Kailey and Katie admired a bridge (civil engineering things), they ooed and awed at the lights strung up across the cobblestone streets, and then they arrived at Joe's Crab Shack! The girls walked around to the front on the river side, and Andrew was standing there with a single yellow rose. He walked up to Katie and said "I'll take it from here"

After months of planning and hand designing a ring, Andrew tricked Katie into thinking he was going to Ruston to hang out with his friend who was graduating the following weekend. Andrew tricked Katie so much that he called Katie about 3 hours after telling her he had left town to let her know he was in Ruston. He also had gotten his friend, Alex, to 3 way call so it sounded like they were together in Ruston. Katie had gone to the lake to spend a weekend with her family and lake family. Katie's dad suggested they take their side-by-side, Cami, up to Hickory Nut Mountain. It had been pouring the entire time they were on the lake, there was a tornado warning, and Katie was reluctant to go. After some convincing and the rain finally holding off, the whole family, dog Tally included, hopped in Cami for the Hickory Nut ride. After moving a fallen tree in the way, they reached the top and were greeted by Andrew, his parents, and brother. Situated overlooking Lake Ouachita, Andrew asked Katie to spend the rest of her life with him, and she said yes! There was a surprise engagement party at a lake friend's houseboat where the happy couple were greeted by friends and family!