We're Getting Married!

As all VT Hokies know, Slusher Hall is nobody’s first choice during freshman dorm selection. The 12-floor dorm had no A/C, with carpet-lined walls, and occasional flooding. But it was in those grungy halls where they met in September 2013. It was a Thursday night, and the Ravens were playing their first game of the season. Mackenzie was walking through the dorm wearing her favorite Torrey Smith Ravens jersey, when she happened upon a large group watching the game, Michael seated among them. They spent their college years as the best of friends, jumping to “Enter Sandman” at every VT game, singing along at Luke Bryan concerts, and watching Quantico religiously every Sunday. They even spent every Valentine’s Day together, as friends. The two finally became official 5 years later in 2018. And the rest, as they say, is history.

After enjoying their final few months in Richmond, Michael and Mackenzie sought out fresh air in Bar Harbor Maine and Acadia National Park. In celebration of Mackenzie’s graduation from the VCU School of Dentistry, the trip was one last hoorah before leaving the east coast for residency in Indianapolis. Whilst there, they braved the rain and cold weather to explore the quiet, intimate parks. After hiking on rocky terrain, and posing for many a self-timer tripod photo, Michael and Mackenzie stumbled upon a secluded cliff overlooking the jagged coast and crashing waves. Michael, once again, positioned the camera to snap a couple of pictures. He spent extra time "adjusting" the camera and tripod (read: struggling to press the right buttons while nervously shaking). As the camera counted down, in front of the rocky coastline of Maine, Michael dropped to one knee to propose to his best friend of 8 years. And of course, she said yes! The excitement of the moment was interrupted when a gust of wind sent the camera splashing into a puddle of water. The camera and the pictures were saved, though it wouldn’t have mattered, because the memories of a lifetime were already made.