Wedding Party
Jonathan Bartlett
Best Man
Jon’s not just my best man, he’s been a constant in my life since I was a clueless doolie trying to survive fencing. From those early days, he’s been both a friend and a mentor, guiding me through the struggles of the Academy, joining me on adventures from Colorado Springs to Mexico, and standing by me even when he left the Air Force, helping me find my own path forward. Jon was the only one who noticed I was struggling on the fencing team. His quiet acts of compassion made that first year so much easier. While I was busy pretending I knew what I was doing, he was the one offering advice and helping fix my broken gear and never hesitating to set me straight when my expectations went off track. From the fencing strip to Florida beaches, ski slopes, and deep into Mexico, literally, we’ve racked up more memories than I can count. On one trip, we went deep sea fishing, caught a pile of fish, and then caught Montezuma’s Revenge from a sketchy bag of peanuts. I’ll never forget him on the toilet, throwing up, while I laughed, until it hit me and I started begging for my turn. But it wasn’t all disaster tourism. We dove reefs, visited Chichén Itzá, and made a pact to see the rest of the Seven Wonders together. That’s the thing about Jon—he shows up, lives fully, and somehow makes even the worst nights into stories worth telling. He’s the kind of friend who’s always just been there. No effort, no drama, just steady loyalty. Having him here today means more than I can say.
Kate Hess
Maid of Honor
I met Kate in July 2022 when we started medical school together. At first, we didn’t cross paths much since we were in different small groups—but one awful test second semester brought us together over drinks and solidified a lifelong bond. Since then, Kate has been a constant in my life. She’s the ultimate hype-woman, always pushing me (in the best way) out of my comfort zone. On top of being an incredible friend, she’s also insanely smart and is applying for anesthesiology residency this fall. I’m so lucky to have her by my side on this day and every day.
Brian McCormick
Groomsman
From bunkmates at NWP to next-door neighbors in UPT, Brian’s been more like a brother than a friend. We’ve shared books, games, and enough absurd adventures to fill a novel, like the time we took the hard way to the top of Eagles Peak bushwhacking our way for no other reason than “why not?” At NWP, he introduced me to the Percy Jackson books, and we’d have our own little book club between classes. I recall sharing video games, swapping tips and tricks while the rest of the school, were out causing different kind of chaos. Even when life had us miles apart, Brian felt close. On my lowest day, after job drop, he banged on my door until I answered, then dragged me out and made me laugh until my sides hurt. This impacted me greatly because while everyone else was out celebrating he was there checking in on me. That’s just who he is, the guy who’ll drive across two states to check in, or sneak into my UPT roommate’s room just to irritate him on workdays (which always brought us joy, even if Liam wasn’t thrilled). Nobody can make me laugh harder than Brian, and his jokes are just as infectious. Now he’s a new dad, crushing it already, and I can only hope our kids become as good of friends as we’ve been. I never guessed the guy I shared a bunk with seven years ago would be standing next to me on the biggest day of my life, but here we are, and I couldn’t be happier to have his support. We’ve got a lifetime subscription to adventures ahead, and I still owe you that cruise!
Faith Manickam
Bridesmaid
I met Faith in May 2024, right as we were starting our M3 clinical year. She had just transferred from the KC campus to finish the last two years of med school in Wichita. During orientation, we bonded instantly while riding from hospital to hospital—especially when we discovered that Step 1 had our resting heart rates permanently above 100 bpm. Stress sisters for life. Since then, we’ve gone through every rotation together. She’s been by my side through brutal trauma shifts, Josh’s mini-deployments, and 70+ hour work weeks. I honestly can’t remember what life was like before Faith—she fits into it so perfectly. On top of being an incredible friend, she’s also incredibly smart and will be applying to OB/GYN residency this fall. I couldn’t be more excited to have her standing by my side!
Ben Shu
Groomsman
Ben and I trauma-bonded at ESET over slapjack and chaos, kicking off one of the most meaningful friendships of my life. By junior and senior year, we were basically glued at the hip, even while he was battling mechanical engineering like it was the final boss of college. No matter how busy or beaten down he got, Ben always made time for the boys. He’s the only other skier in the group, and the only man I know who can vanish on a mountain in Canada and still find his way back to the bar. From skiing trips to Thanksgiving hangs, to the Grand Canyon, Vegas, Florida, and beyond, we’ve racked up more stories than I can count. Goofy, loyal, and ridiculously supportive, his heart has always been bigger than his schedule. Even while deployed in the middle of all our “fun,” he still found ways to stay connected. My family is your family, Ben, and we can’t wait to see you when wedding time comes, life just wouldn’t be the same without you.
Averie Ashley
Bridesmaid
I met Averie after transferring to Newman to finish my undergrad. Coming out of COVID restrictions, I didn’t know a single person—but then we got paired as lab partners in Organic Chemistry, and everything changed. From that class on, we were inseparable: taking the same courses, working in the same genetics lab, and eventually becoming roommates. I truly don’t think I could’ve survived my time at Newman—or M1—without her. I even got her into football (she’s a Chiefs fan now, of course!). Averie is a strong, brilliant M3 doing her clerkships in Colorado and planning to pursue neurology. I’m beyond proud to call her my friend and honored to have her as a bridesmaid!
John Evalle
Groomsman
John Evalle might have stolen Brian as a bunkmate at USAFA, but I couldn’t even be mad, he quickly became a brother of my own. We’ve touched sand in three countries, nearly lost our way swimming in the Mediterranean, and somehow convinced the Air Force to trust us with a $55 million plane on what felt like a joyride. We deployed together, leaned on each other when things got rough, and laughed through even the worst days thanks to his goofy, contagious laugh. John and his amazing wife, Michelle, have shaped my life and relationship more than they know. From the wisdom they’ve shared, to the dinners Michelle made for Maddie while I was deployed, acts that fed more than just the body, they’ve shown me what love and friendship look like. As their time in Kansas comes to an end, I’m grateful for every adventure we’ve had and every one still to come, on the ground or in the air. John’s not just a groomsman, he’s family.
Madelyn Kessen
Bridesmaid
Maddie and I go way back—we’ve been best friends since August 2016. She’s the OG bestie, almost a decade strong. After I transferred from Bucklin to DCHS, my older brother, Luke, introduced me to his best friend’s girlfriend... who just so happened to be Maddie Kathleen—yep, same name, middle name and all! From that moment on, we were attached at the hip. Our teachers even had to call us Maddie 1 and Maddie 2 to tell us apart. Some of my favorite memories with Mads are the two of us scream-singing songs in the car without a care in the world. If I ever got arrested, Maddie would absolutely be the first person I’d call to bail me out. She’s been there for every high and low in my life, and I’ll be forever grateful. She’s now married to my brother's best friend and is doing amazing things as a teacher at Dodge City Middle School. I couldn’t imagine this day without her!
Nick Walker
Honorary Groomsman
Nick Walker isn’t officially in the wedding party, but let’s be honest, he might as well be. Brian vouched for him junior year, and somehow that was enough for me. Since then, it’s been one ridiculous memory after another, from rescuing cars in a blizzard to winning an ice fishing tournament we had no business entering. He even helped my little brother Wilson catch his first fish, which instantly earned him family status. We definitely annoyed our AOC with how often we begged for off-base passes just to hit up Ivy’s Chinese, pretty sure I gained five pounds off that alone, while Nick somehow stayed jacked. I’ll never forget him diving into what looked like a deep snowbank that turned out to be maybe an inch deep… that one had to hurt. When he broke both his wrists, he called me into his room, not for help, but to scatter chicken nuggets on his table so he could eat like a feral raccoon. I felt bad and offered to feed him, but his pride was almost as strong as his mustache (which I’m still a little jealous of). Nick’s been a motivator, a gym buddy, and one of the most uplifting people I know. He’s supported me through big wins, tough losses, and everything in between, and I think it’s about time we win another fishing tournament together!
Zeb Wilson-Hargraves
Honorary Groomsman
Zeb and I have packed in plenty of adventures, from our years-long D&D campaign (my first as a DM) to scuba diving in Florida, cruising in his Jeep to the store, and “mini golf dinner dates” our wives should probably be jealous of. He’s a board game enthusiast on the verge of pro status, though we still have to watch out, Brian and Nick can stump us if we’re not careful. He once shared his passion project with me, something I know he’s poured countless hours into, even while working on his master’s. That’s just who he is: open, genuine, and all around amazing. Distance has never been an issue; I’ll always pick up his calls, day or night. I’m proud to have him here with me today.
