We met at UM-Dearborn

We asked couples who met at UM-Dearborn to tell us their love story and their responses will warm your heart. This Valentine’s Day season, hear from seven couples who have a special reason to love being Dearborn Wolverines. Quotes have been edited for length and clarity.

Riley Vandenheuvel and Josh Makarchuk

“We met in our freshman year (2021). We are both Canadian student-athletes. I play for the Women's Hockey team, and Josh plays for the Men's Hockey team. We have spent three and a half amazing years together at Dearborn and can’t wait to graduate together this April!” – Riley Vandenheuvel

Lauren Engelhardt and Grant Schils

“Grant and I met in our Chemistry II class during the Winter 2020 semester. He asked me out to dinner and a movie right before the pandemic. We officially became a couple shortly after our first date, and now we are engaged to be married on May 30, 2026! Both of us graduated from UM-Dearborn in April 2023. Grant received his bachelor’s in chemistry and I received my bachelor’s in accounting.” – Lauren Engelhardt

Yasmin Gonzalez and Phillippe McRae

“We met on the first day of our first semester at UM-Dearborn. Out of all the COMP 105 classes, we were in the same one and in the same group. We both got to class super early and were sitting on the benches outside. I introduced myself to him, and we became friends. My excuse to talk to him outside of class was asking him to play Roblox with me. It worked! After being friends for a couple of months, we started talking and now we will have been together for 10 months on February 22!” – Yasmin Gonzalez

Brandy and Paul Novak

“Paul was my lab instructor. We started dating near the end of the Fall 2005 semester and got married in July 2009.” – Brandy Novak

Leslie King and Darrius Hicks

“We met in 2016 in the Student Activities Board office. I was an event lead, while he was looking to join different clubs on campus. We became friends and, after a year, we decided to start a relationship! In 2022, Darrius proposed, and we’ll be getting married this October!” – Leslie King

Claire O’Connor and Kyle Begeman

“In the Winter semester of 2024, I had been going through a rough patch and had not been to any of my classes. After going to see a therapist at CAPS, I finally got the motivation to attend class in February. I walked into my clinical psychology class for the first time that semester and I walked past this guy in the front row. I remember thinking, ‘Wow this guy’s got really nice hair. He’s cute!’ (He noticed me too and thought the same!) After class, I was sitting in the lobby at CASL waiting for my appointment at CAPS and the guy from my clinical psych class came up to me and asked me if I would like to go to the library with him to study for our upcoming exam. I said yes, but that I could only study for half an hour because of my appointment. So, we walked to the library, asking each other questions like what was our major, name, grade, etc. When I had to leave, I asked for his number so we could continue studying the next day. That night, I texted him and I didn’t think I’d get a response. Thankfully, I did and made plans to meet the next day. We spent the next study session talking about anything and everything, bonding over shared experiences and whatnot! At the end, I said that we should hang out sometime outside of school. He followed with, ‘Do you just want to start dating?’ I said yes! We had our first date the following day and we’ll be celebrating our one-year anniversary this February!” – Claire O’Connor

Madison Chervenak and Landon Johnson

“We’re both in Greek life chapters on campus, but we never really met until late 2023. Our chapters had meetings at the same time in the same area of CASL, so we ended up seeing each other more and more, talking more and more, and eventually hanging out more and more! We also found out we lived super close to each other in the same city. On our first date, I got him a silly birthday gift and took him to my two favorite spots in Plymouth. I remember fighting with him at the register trying to pay for his food (and winning). We were always texting, and when we talked I felt like we could talk for hours and hours. Now, almost a year later, every moment I’ve spent with him has been heaven. I’m so grateful to have someone on campus who understands and uplifts my academic values. He is the best partner I could have ever asked for!” – Madison Chervenak

“Maddie and I first met each other through Greek life. Our chapters had done a couple of mixers together, and, funny enough, the Valentine's Day mixer one year ago is when we hit things off. We went out on a couple of dates and made things official on March 19, 2024. Much of our time together has been spent here at Dearborn. From studying together in the library to getting lunch in the University Center, we've made countless memories here on campus that have only made our love for each other grow.” – Landon Johnson

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Story compiled by Kathryn Bourlier