Preston first spotted Cora across the Black Box Theatre at DMACC's Ankeny Campus. They were both there to audition for the spring plays. He didn't talk to her the night of auditions because Cora was new to the program & already receiving an overwhelming number of welcomes from everyone. Preston didn't even know her name, but was excited at the potential of being cast with this new girl. When the cast lists were posted, Preston was thrilled to see a girl’s name he didn’t recognize. Surely that was the girl from auditions. On the first day of rehearsal, however, she never walked through the door. He soon realized the name on the list wasn’t hers, & he figured he’d never see his mystery girl again. But of course, he did. Cora had been cast in the second spring play - not the same one as Preston. When he attended that show with friends & Cora stepped onto the stage, he instantly thought, "that’s the girl from auditions." After the performance, Preston invited some friends to his house to watch Pulp Fiction. Cora was nearby, & he invited her too. She said yes. Before heading over, the group stopped at HyVee for snacks, where Preston & Cora joked around the store with each other, instantly clicking. At Preston’s house, they had a conversation where they dove deep right away, sharing goals & dreams. That first night, Cora talked about her dream of moving to New York City someday. They both recall that conversation, feeling chemistry immediately. When they went to watch the movie, Cora spotted a seat by Preston & sat right next to him. After the movie ended, it was well into the early morning of the next day, but Preston & Cora continued chatting for hours after everyone else had left. Despite full schedules, multiple jobs, school, & activities, they found a way to see each other every single day. If Cora got off work at 11:30pm, she’d drive to Preston’s house just to see him for 20 minutes. If Preston had only 10 minutes between classes, he’d run across campus to spend 2 of them with Cora. They’ve been attached at the hip ever since. 4 months later, they moved into an apartment with a mutual friend. After graduating from DMACC, they both attended ISU. They traveled together, hosted parties, & spent time with each other’s friends & family. After 5 years together, Cora had the chance to make her New York City dream a reality. Preston not only supported her move, but he encouraged it. In 2024, they did long distance for a year. They missed each other terribly, but the distance only confirmed what they already knew: they were meant to be together. In 2025, Preston joined Cora in New York City. They walked & ate their way through the city, checking off bucket-list experiences like the US Open, Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, the NYC Ballet & Opera, Broadway shows, comedy clubs, Christmas in Dyker Heights, & countless restaurants. And, of course…GETTING ENGAGED! On Friday, August 29, 2025, Preston asked Cora to marry him at Domino Park in Brooklyn, right on the water with Manhattan in the background. He had been planning it for nearly a year, asking Cora’s parents for permission the fall before & spending 7 months organizing every detail. After Preston proposed, the two of them went to dinner to soak in the joy of what had just happened! After dinner, Cora suggested going to an ice cream shop. To her surprise, when they showed up, her mom & sister were there to celebrate! The surprises didn’t stop there. The next day, after brunch, one of Cora’s best friends appeared! That evening, Preston had a dinner reservation at one of their favorite restaurants in Little Italy. When Cora walked in, she was completely shocked to see 5 more of her friends sitting at the table! They had flown into New York to surprise her! They spent the entire weekend celebrating their engagement. A few months later, Preston & Cora moved back to Iowa. They cannot wait to marry each other & have all the people they love in one room.