Nicole & Apollo
Wedding Party
Kelly Goodman
Maid of Honor
Kelly will always be Nicole’s oldest friend. Nicole met her sister in 1992 and was immediately impressed with her full head of hair. Nicole quickly learned that there are many reasons to be impressed with Kelly, including her uncanny puzzle skills, engineer’s fascination with how the world works, and sweet nature. Countless hours were spent with Nicole hovering behind Kelly as she conquered Age of Empires and Nancy Drew, creating stories about fantastical happenings around their house and playing badminton. Nicole is excited to go on more hiking trips with Kelly and have a Ticket to Ride rematch. Nicole will win this time.
Kasie Wong
Bridesmaid
Kasie and Nicole became friends in the 5th grade and after many hours at the mall and talking on the phone about boys, school, and everything in between, they were best friends. They loved analyzing the world and taking way too many selfies. Their epic phone calls kept them connected even when Kasie moved away for college. Kasie returned to Texas in 2012 and they started exploring Austin (many of the recommended spots on this site were trailblazed by Kasie and Nicole!), plus a side trip or two to London and Paris. Nicole is thankful to have a friend with an amazing repository of knowledge on almost every topic, shares her love of food and travel, and always reminds her that she is one week older.
Stephanie Salinas Garcia
Bridesmaid
As the two interns and the youngest people working in TPWD’s Communications Division, Stephanie and Nicole were destined to become best friends. They were pushed together during a Division retreat and assigned to promote Caprock Canyon State Park’s Bison Days. Their friendship’s first test was a 10-hour drive together to the Texas Panhandle. Nicole may have almost driven them off a cliff and Stephanie may have hooked Nicole on World of Warcraft, but they survived and an amazing friendship started. Nicole is always excited to talk to Stephanie thanks to her positivity, contagious laugh, and their many shared obsessions. They’ve celebrated 30th birthdays, weddings, and just fun times and are excited for many more!
Andrea Ulrich
Bridesmaid
Andrea and Nicole have been best friends since they were 7. Kid Nicole and Andrea knew how to have fun -- they played video games, chased after ice cream trucks, and danced in the Snow White & 7 Fitness Dwarves (and yes, the footage still exists.) In the 5th grade, Nicole made the dramatic move to a new elementary school and they saw each other less often. Thankfully, Nicole moved to the D.C. in 2016 and they were reunited! Over the past 3 years, they’ve traveled, made their annual Renaissance Festival and Shenandoah trips, protested, debated world politics and social issues. Nicole loves being around Andrea’s contagious enthusiasm and compassionate activism, as well as benefiting from her amazing ability to organize fun activities.
Esteban Desantiago
Bridesman
Once upon a time, Nicole wanted to be a journalist and enrolled in the University of Texas’ Journalism program. After a semester, she quickly moved on to other passions but the one thing that stuck was an amazing friendship with Esteban. They met in their Freshman Interest Group and started exploring Austin, watching ice skating competitions, discovering music, and competing in fashion shows. A few years after college, they became roommates in a townhouse in Austin. After Apollo, Esteban will always be Nicole’s favorite roommate with his great advice, love of gossip, and sense of humor. They’re both looking forward to many new adventures in the years ahead!
Robert Fares
Best Bro
Apollo met Robert in college, after a fortuitous meeting at Subway led to them sharing a hirsute (yes, Robert, that is a GRE word) apartment for 2 years, including "the summer." Robert was so taken with Apollo that he followed Apollo to grad school in Austin and then to his postdoc in DC.
Chris Hannah
Kindergarten Bro
Chris is Apollo’s oldest friend. They met in kindergarten, where they could often be found digging a hole to China or reenacting the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Apollo is glad that the adventures of Lord Kelvin and Chrissy Poo have continued into adulthood.
Joseph Campbell
Curmudgeon Bro
Apollo met Joseph in high school, where they both played saxophone. Joseph taught Apollo that students from the rival middle school (Annie Camp, home of the whirlwimps) are people too. Curmudgeonly on the outside, Joseph on the inside has a soul like his saxophone tone – smooth and sultry.
Dan Cornforth
Bacteria Bro
Apollo met Dan in grad school. He first encountered Dan at a microbiology meeting in Miami, and years later Dan joined Apollo’s lab as a postdoc. Apollo appreciates how much Dan enriched his grad school experience, both scientifically and socially. DOOOD MAHN.
Athena Stacy
Sis Bro
Apollo looks up to Athena only figuratively because she is small. So, one of his greatest life achievements will forever be making it to the National Spelling Bee after she did not. It’s ok – most of us would accidentally fall into a crevasse too after seeing Medeusa.