Just in time for Valentine’s Day, here are 18 College of Charleston couples who each met, as one alum put it, as “young Cougars on the prowl.” Whether you’re a fan of the holiday or not, these love stories, threaded throughout campus’ beautiful live oaks and historic landmarks, are sure to make you smile.
1. Michael Ruthsatz ’02 and Ashley Mudge Ruthsatz ’06
Ashley and Michael met through mutual friends. The psychology majors were married in October 2007. Their son, Matheson “Banks” Ruthsaz is an expected Class of 2037 alum.
2.Bobby Raidt ’12 and Emma Newberry ’12
For Emma and Bobby, matters of the heart extended beyond romance; they met as first-year students volunteering for the College’s emergency medical services program and started dating the following year. Now the two are planning their June 2015 wedding while attending the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).
3. Andrew Sharpe ’09 and Kristen Fasano Sharpe ’10
Andrew and Kristen met several times in college, first through a mutual friend and later through mixers between his fraternity and her sorority, before they began dating. After graduating the two maintained a long-distance relationship while Andrew attended law school in Florida and Kristen was in Connecticut for nursing.
The Sharpe’s were married in Charleston in September 2014, and they now live in Miami, Fla., but often return to campus where Kristen’s sister is a junior. Photo by Hyer Images.
4. George Hamberger ’11 and Katie Libby ’10
The 2010 Wale concert at the Music Farm brought George and Katie together. These “young Cougars on the prowl” danced the night away and began dating shortly after. This photo was taken while they were still students at the College.
5. Austin Morgan ’10 and Allisyn Miller Morgan ’09
For Allisyn and Austin, the College is more than a shared alma mater. The two met here as seniors, dated while they both worked on campus following graduation, and were married at the President’s House in November 2014!
6. Stephen Harden ’10 and Amber Reilly Harden ’10
Stephen and Amber did not meet on campus, but rather at Sea World in Orlando, Fla. where they both worked over summer 2009. They became friends that summer and started dating after graduation in 2011. The two wed in 2012, and Stephen attended MUSC. He is currently completing his residency in anesthesiology at Yale University, and he and Amber are expecting their first child in March 2015!
7. Jeffrey Bertel ’12 and Katie Kundinger Bertel ’12
Jeffrey and Katie’s introductory physics course calculated the rate at which the two would hit it off and begin dating. Just kidding, but after studying physics together one night at the library, they had their first official date alongside the Tri Delta sorority late-night pancake fundraiser. They were married in July 2014 in Charleston, and, Katie says, “We are so blessed to have been able to fall in love and get married in such a beautiful city!”
8. David Andrew Baltzegar ’00, ’06 and Jennifer Fountain Baltzegar ’04, ’10
These “double alumni” attended the College for both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees. They met, in true Charleston fashion, after attending an Art Walk on historic Broad Street with mutual friends. On their first date, Jennifer says, “We were having so much fun talking to each other that the waiter had to come by our table three times before we even looked at the menu.” David and Jennifer celebrate their sixth anniversary this May (they married at the Old Wide Awake Plantation in nearby Hollywood, S.C.).
9. Griffin Bettencourt ’99 and Jaime Bettencourt ’99
Almost 20 years later, Griffin still remembers that his first date with Jaime was March 15, 1996. He proposed to her at Waterfront Park, and they hosted many College alumni at their 2001 wedding. They now live in Charlotte, N.C. with sons Cohen and Hudson, who are eight and two years old, respectively.
10. Brad Chapman ’08 and Amanda Crocker Chapman ’08
Amanda and Brad kicked off their college careers together when they met during New Student Orientation on a bench in Physicians Promenade in 2004. Nine years later, Brad proposed as Amanda sat on the same bench, and the two got married in August 2014.
11. Andy Love ’96 and Nicole Fowler Love ’95
Nicole literally found Love at the College of Charleston. She and Andy met through mutual friends and had their first date at The Wreck on Shem Creek. They celebrated the 15th anniversary of their 1999 wedding last year, and now live in Charlotte with three children (each future Cougars, according to Nicole!).
12. Jordan Boyd ’13 and Sara Grant ’14
Jordan and Sarah met as Sara and her roommate were moving into her first-year residence hall. Sara’s roommate took her to meet up with a high school friend (Jordan) at his room in College Lodge. Jordan says Sara was, “This strange girl who didn’t talk much and sort of sat in the corner the whole time,” though he got to know her better over coming months.
Now, almost five years after they started dating, while Jordan works toward his master’s at the Cinncinnati Conservatory and Sara runs a successful wedding photography business (Sara Bee Photography), they are planning their own November 2015 nuptials.
13. Parker Ihrie ’09 and Ariana Sweeney ’09
Another move-in love story, Parker and Ariana met as they both moved into McAlister Residence Hall for their first year at the College. They two dated throughout college and then long distance for four years after, between Detroit, Mich., Washington, D.C., Charleston and Charlotte, N.C. until Jon proposed immediately before A Charleston Affair in 2013. They got married in September 2014 at Charleston’s scenic Magnolia Plantation.
14. Ryan Lucas ’05 and Mary Law ’06
Ryan and Mary never met in college despite overlapping for three years and sharing many mutual friends. Instead, they met at Blackbaud where they both worked after college. They now live in Columbia, S.C., where Mary practices law as a South Carolina Supreme Court attorney and Ryan still works for Blackbaud. They were married at the beautiful Unitarian church mere blocks from campus.
15. Z. Vance Morgan ’88 and Cheryl Morgan ’89
Summer school brought these two together for a physics class in 1987. They married three years later at the Bethel United Methodist Church, which was still under repairs from Hurricane Hugo! They celebrate 25 years of marriage this year.
16. Chris Lietzow ’09 and Alissa Collins Lietzow ’07
Chris and Alissa met while Alissa attended the Charleston School of Law and Chris was a junior at the College. They began dating a few years later, and got engaged in November 2012. Now the two, who married in April 2014, are both practicing attorneys in Charleston.
17. Rich Bailey ’09 and Clara MacMillan Bailey ’11
Rich and Clara met through her roommate in 2008 and have been “inseparable ever since,” Clara says. They dated five years before getting engaged over Christmas 2013.
18. John Caleb Wise ’14 and Emily Wise ’14
This couple walked down the aisle in December 2013, just a few months before walking across the Cistern for spring 2014 commencement. They met at a Halloween party in 2010 and fell in love shortly after. More than a year later, John Caleb proposed on stage in Physicians Auditorium surrounded by close friends.
