My YC Valentine

For many alumni, part of their York Experience included meeting that special someone while on campus. Enjoy these fun stories that show how God has used unexpected circumstances to bring people together.

The Late Plate

We met at YC in the fall of 1959. I was working on the college farm after classes and would come in late to eat supper. Dianne would still be working at the kitchen and would serve me a “late plate.” I could not keep from watching that red head. I must admit I did date some “town girls” (against Mrs. Thompson’s approval), but none compared to Dianne. Now, 50 years later I’m still watching her.

Dianne (Vincent ’61) Mitchell & Harold Mitchell ‘60

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Tan lines and gas money

It was Valentine’s Day 15 years ago when I made a classic Nebraska steak dinner for my then hopefully-soon-to-be girlfriend, Tammy Adamson. I had been flirting with and teasing Tammy since the fall when I met her after one of her soccer games. A mutual friend of ours, Jodi Peplinski, introduced us during soccer season, and I instantly became a fan of the YC girls’ soccer team. And just so you know…that wasn’t really my thing, but she was a pretty hot freshman!

I was taking an odd approach by teasing her about the mis-tinted tan lines on her legs. She was a soccer player and soccer socks don’t help with tan lines. I don’t think she was too amused by my jokes, but for some reason she gave me enough attention to keep after her. We did all the devotionals together, ran around York together and occasionally made a trip to Lincoln for a movie and dinner. In fact, one time I invited her and another couple to go to Lincoln. I was driving the double date in my car. It seemed reasonable for me to ask the group, including Tammy, to contribute some gas money! I thought it was a great idea at the time, but looking back, I was an idiot. She gives me grief now…and since we have been married for almost 12 years, she hasn’t paid for a tank of gas our entire married life. It’s only fair.

York College plays a special place in our hearts for many reasons, but on this Valentine’s Day, where I-80 and I-81 intersect for this Washington boy and that Oklahoma girl, it’s a place that we both found love. The relationship we started there has grown into a life story that’s worth talking about and remembering.

Justin ‘00 & Tammy (Adamson ‘00) Graham

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More than friends

We started YC together in the fall of 1982. We were in choir together and traveled on the choir tour together, but honestly, I have no recollection of him at that time. It wasn't until the start of our sophomore year that my roommate, Sandy, could not wait for me to meet this guy. So, I met him. I didn't get what all the hype was about.

Sandy, Greg and I started going out to eat together, hanging out on weekends, studying, going to Lincoln, etc, etc. I still didn't get it, but the three of us had so much fun together. We were really great friends. It wasn't until the week of graduation that I started to think Greg might be more than a friend.

We had our first date and I finally figured it out. Greg went to Central State University in Edmond, OK to finish his degree. The closest I could get to that was OC. We dated all during that summer. We were married in August of 1985. We will both be eternally grateful to Sandy for "introducing" us. Two kids and 27 years later we're still together and remember our YC days fondly.

Katie (Fisher ’84) and Greg Haynie ’84

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Walking in His ways

Ryan and I would agree that our love story is not of our own making. We were on opposite ends of the spectrum when it came to our futures. He was happy to remain a bachelor, and I wanted to settle down and raise a family... quickly! We'd also both agree that individually, we loved the Lord and knew His truths, but weren't choosing to live within His best plans for us.

We met in the choir, quickly became friends and realized that we enjoyed being together. Ryan took the lead in December of 2002 and we started dating. As much as our schedules allowed, we were together. In June of 2004 we were married outside in the rain, in front of a roaring fire at the foot of Pikes Peak. It was beautiful! (And we hear it was cold.)

We would also agree that the longer we've been married, God has shown us that our foundation must be in Him. In His goodness, He has grown our faith and grown our hearts together toward Him. The more we seek God's will for us, obey Him and trust His plans above our own, our love for each other has grown greater than we could have ever planned or imagined. His grace covers us when we fall, and given us joy and adventure along the way.

We've been married for 8 and a half years, are expecting our third child, and are truly resting in God's plans for us. We're so thankful that our own selfish plans were not fulfilled, but that God was and is in control and that we are each other’s' team. We're excited to see what the years ahead bring for us and are grateful to have our family to call home.

"How blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways." Ps. 128:1

Amy (Colwell ’03) and Ryan Davis ‘04

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A sketchy romance

"I was chatting with some new friends after the first "9 o'clock" service of the semester when a very sketchy looking dude walks up to me, "Do you want go for a ride on my motorcycle?"

Hmm. Thinking not.

My sister was already at YC so I had heard of this "Sketchy Tuesday" thing, but when I saw this man, I was not aware that he was preparing for this coveted soccer event. I just thought that he was sketchy: a two plus inch goatee, handlebar mustache, long hair, baggy jeans, brown leather coat just a tad too small for him... you get the picture. My reply, "I don't even know who you are."

My cousin, Joy Colwell, was there with me, "No, you want to ride with him," she said. Apparently they were good friends. Who knew? We worked it out that I would ride to McDonalds with the Colwells and then catch a ride back to campus with this man: Ben Hackett. He later gave me his number, and informed me that if I ever needed a ride I could call him.

I didn't have a car, and I worked off campus... he picked me up from work the next Tuesday. We were officially dating by October. A year and a half later, on a club mission trip to Mexico he proposed in front of the whole crew. We were married in the school cafeteria, August 11, 2007.


Natasha (Byrd ’09) and Ben Hackett ‘07

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Of Plays and Pick-Up Lines

Steve and I met while working on the show The Mouse that Roared back in 2007. I actually had a very large crush on a different member of the cast, but that didn’t deter Steve at all. While the entire cast of 20 or so was down in the basement, I was complaining loudly about my costume. It looked like a large, ugly tapestry with holes for my arms and head.

I said, “I bet you could lean me against a wall and people wouldn’t even realize I was there because they’d think I was just part of the decor.”

At that moment, Steve popped his head into the room and replied, “You’d make a cute tapestry. I’d hang you on my wall!” He then winked and walked back out of the room.

Everyone turned and looked at me, and I was mortified! I turned bright red while the rest of the room made 80s sitcom “ooooos” as if they were an audience laugh track.

At that moment, I would have never thought that Steve would be my future husband, but with a pick up line like that, how could I say no? Two and a half years later……we were married.

Maegan (Simpson ‘07) and Steve Detlefs ‘09
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Picture perfect

Last week I came out of Aidan's room from putting him to bed and Cliff told me to go look at my phone. I had received a text from my brother, Darrel, telling me that our friend Lane Hinton had texted him this photo below and was hoping he could get it to me. I immediately started crying. I remembered looking for this pic when Cliff and I got engaged but wasn't able to locate it. I actually had never even seen it.

In June of 2002 I was walking through campus to my apartment and saw Cliff sitting outside the dorms. This was the first time we had ever seen each other. Lane, who was working for the college at the time, came up to me and asked if I would be in a picture for him. He then introduced me to Cliff and I remember that Cliff and I both thought it was weird to pose for a pic together having just met but we did it anyway. Over a year later we started dating and a little over two years later we were married.

I feel so lucky to have this moment captured in a picture. We hardly spoke to each other the year following that but I remember this moment well! Lane found it as he was going through old pics and remembered that I was searching for it when we got engaged. Now, 10 years later, here it is!

Laura Beth (Sears ’04) and Cliff Mullen ‘06
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A love written in the stars

On the first day of our freshman year (1971) I was sitting in front of McGehee Hall with some new friends when Nadine (Mac) McAllister and another freshman girl walked up and introduced themselves. Back then the common question to people you didn't know was, "what's your sign?" I responded with "cancer" and Mac said, "me too!!"

When I asked her what day in July she was born she said, "the 19th!" I was shocked as that was my birthday. Wow - another person born on July 19th! We became instant friends and each time we saw each other on campus we would call each other "July 19."

It wasn't until fall of our sophomore year that we started dating and in June of '74 we married. Now nearly 39 years later we are convinced that it was a match made in heaven!

Nadine “Mac” (McAllister ’73) and Michael Runcie ‘73

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Ahh…Yes

A lingering kiss
   in the pale moonlight
A shy little glance
   from eyes shining bright
Fingers entwined…
   a squeeze so tight
Dreaming and wishing
   with all their might
Each moment together
   a cherished delight
Late at curfew
   every night
Ahh…yes…
   they’ve fallen in love alright.

While Avon “MamaVon” Shields didn’t meet husband Ron at YC, as the longtime supervisor of McCloud Hall, she was a witness to the YC romance of many, many others! She submitted this poem. 

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Looking for Mr. Right

Kristi’s story: I started attending York College in 1989. Of course I wanted a degree, but my main goal was to find a Christian man to marry. I had graduated from Oskaloosa, Iowa High School and Mike Rush was the Iowa recruiter for York at that time. I loved York and dated a few guys, okay, a lot of guys, but was not finding Mr. Right. It was my third year at York and I was getting discouraged. All the new students coming in were so young! I worked in the President’s Office, first under Dr. Gardner, and then Dr. Roberts. All the recruiters worked in the same office so I got to hear of any new students coming to York. In 1991, I started hearing about this cute guy named Dana Brant, who was my age, coming from California on a full ride scholarship! I already had it planned – he is mine!

Dana’s story – After graduating from high school in York, Pennsylvania, I decided that it was time for a move. I was still hanging out with a partying crowd and felt I needed a new start to get my life on track. My two older brothers lived in Sacramento, California at the time, so I packed up and headed there. I didn’t even really think about going to college at that time. Once in California, I started selling Amway products and had to go door to door trying to get customers. One day, I was in a mall trying to drum up some business and I noticed a man in a suit sitting on a bench. I walked up to him and started talking.

Pretty quickly I knew that he wasn’t going to buy Amway, but it was a good conversation, so we continued to talk. I asked the man what he did for a living and he said he was the President of York College. I said, “What? I’m from York.” He was shocked, but then he started talking about Nebraska, which confused me thoroughly. What I finally realized was that he was the President of York College in Nebraska not York College in York, Pennsylvania where I was raised.

He asked me if I went to church anywhere or if I ever thought of going to college. I was interested in finding a church, but not sure about the college deal. He gave me the phone number of the Youth Minister of a church in Sacramento. His name was Mike Rush. Mike had moved there about a year before that and was doing a wonderful work there with the youth. I was baptized not long after that and received a phone call from President Roberts offering me a full ride scholarship to York. However, I didn’t know that someone there was already planning to marry me!

Our story – We met at one of the first devotionals that year and the first thing he asked was, “Which one of these cute guys around here is your boyfriend?” And, of course, I said, “None of them.” We hit it off from the very start and now 20 years later and 4 children, we couldn’t be any happier! Our children have started attending York’s Soul Quest and plan on going to college there too. We pray that they will also find a Christian mate! And since Mike Rush is back at York, we will have to get him to start watching for that special someone for them. Thank you Mike and thank you York College!

Kristi (Burleson ‘94) and Dana Brant ’96