Falcons Ever After
An Albertus Valentine’s Day Feature
From First Year to Forever
At Albertus Magnus College, love stories are written in academic centers, residence halls, on courts and fields, and late-night study sessions. They begin in places that feel ordinary at the time and grow into something extraordinary. This Valentine’s Day, we are celebrating two alumni couples who found more than a degree during their time on campus. They found each other.
From first games to first homes, from dorm rooms to special destinations, these Falcons remind us that sometimes the most meaningful connections begin right here.
Some love stories start with a swipe. Casey and Steve’s started the old-fashioned way.
They met in Dominican Hall through a mutual friend, a simple introduction that would shape the next 14 years of their lives. Some of their favorite memories together are rooted in the everyday rhythms of campus life, especially time spent hanging out in Casey’s dorm in Siena Hall. It was not elaborate or planned. It was simply time together, building a foundation that would last long after graduation.
“It’s been an amazing 14 years together and we’re grateful that we had the opportunity to meet the old-fashioned way at Albertus,” Casey shared.
In June 2018, they were married in Aruba, trading campus hallways for ocean views as they began their next chapter. Today, they live in Massachusetts as proud parents to their 14-month-old daughter, Athena, and their 9-year-old rabbit, Tunes. They are pursuing their passions both personally and professionally, building a life rooted in the connection first formed on campus.
Their advice to current students is heartfelt and timeless: “Have fun and learn as much as you can. College is a special time so try to savor it.”
From first year to forever, their story is a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful beginnings feel beautifully simple.
Love at First Serve
Some love stories begin with a spark. JB and Mariah’s began with a game of ping pong.
They met in January 2020 in the Hubert Campus Center, just after its grand reopening. “What started as a ping pong game in the game room turned into playing basketball and tennis together, and about a month later, we were dating,” Mariah shared. What felt like a fun, friendly competition quickly became something more.
Soon after, COVID-19 hit, and the couple suddenly found themselves in different countries. It was not how they imagined beginning their relationship, but even distance could not ground their love. They navigated uncertainty together and came back stronger.
When reflecting on their time at Albertus, senior week stands out. It was a chance to slow down and celebrate four years of growth, friendship, and accomplishment. With celebrations at Anthony’s Ocean View, Bear’s BBQ, and Foxwoods, they were finally able to be fully present with one another and with the community that had supported them along the way.
Their campus involvement was woven into nearly every corner of student life. Orientation leaders. Move-in crew members. Captains of the men’s and women’s tennis teams. Leaders in SGA and CAB. Regular competitors in campus recreation tournaments. “Side by side, we celebrated many victories together,” Mariah and JB shared, recalling wins in volleyball, spikeball, cornhole, and ping pong. Each experience added to what they describe as a college journey they will always hold close to their hearts.
Today, JB continues his journey at Albertus in the Professional and Graduate Studies Admissions Office as the Enrollment Coordinator and Slate Operations Manager, while also building his own drone business. Mariah works at Insurlynx LLC as an insurance customer service representative and is studying toward her Property and Casualty insurance license.
In 2025, they took one of their biggest steps yet and moved into their first home together. Along the way, they rescued a kitten named Mew, who quickly became part of their little family. Together, they continue to grow side by side, supporting one another through every new chapter.
Their advice to current students reflects their own experience. Be open to every opportunity, because you never know where it might lead. Or who you might meet.
For JB and Mariah, it truly was love at first serve.
At Albertus, we often talk about transformation. About growth. About discovering who you are meant to become. For these Falcons, that journey also included discovering who they were meant to walk beside.
This Valentine’s Day, we celebrate love that took flight right here on campus. We celebrate partnerships built on shared experiences, resilience, laughter, and gratitude. And we are reminded that long after graduation, the Albertus connection remains.
Here’s to our Falcons, and to every love story still unfolding.