Jacee and Andrew’s story began way back in August of 2017, early in their freshman year of college at Wayne State. Their relationship is in thanks to their mutual friend, Maddie Knobbe, Jacee’s volleyball teammate at WSC and Andrew’s high school classmate. In August 2017, Andrew came up to talk to Maddie in the cafeteria, and Jacee and the rest of the freshman volleyball girls were all at the table as well. Andrew refused to make eye contact with anyone but Maddie, as they were all “intimidating volleyball girls.” He would later find out that they weren’t that scary after all ;) After Andrew left the table, Jacee told Maddie, “He’s pretty cute, actually,” to which Maddie responded, “And he’s Catholic too! You want me to set you guys up?” Jacee said absolutely not, as she was not looking for a boyfriend at that time. The rest of their freshman year went by, and their paths didn’t cross again until the summer of 2018. Jacee and her volleyball teammates were in Wayne all summer, bored out of their minds, and so again Maddie said, “I could text Andrew!” And Jacee, having nothing better to do over the summer, agreed. Jacee and Andrew’s first date was eventful to say the least… especially after Andrew was almost an hour late, thanks to forgetting his wallet and the reliable Nebraska summer roadwork. Let’s just say Andrew did not have the best first impression on the rest of Jacee’s friends. Although Jacee was annoyed, she was quick to forgive thanks to Andrew’s charm. The two spent the rest of the summer together, going to concerts, movies, ice cream dates, and meeting each other’s friends and families. They officially started dating on August 19th, 2018.

They continued to grow in their relationship over their next three years together in Wayne, both pursuing biology degrees. They graduated in May 2021, and here came the dreaded part of their relationship that they would endure for the next three years: long distance. Andrew began physical therapy school at the University of South Dakota, and Jacee began her gap year job at a pediatric clinic in Lincoln. Although they were three hours apart, they visited each other on the weekends, cherishing the few days a month they were able to spend together. Jacee was then accepted into medical school at Kansas City University, and moved down to Kansas City, MO. And so they were now five hours apart, and had to plan their weekends together around both of their grad school schedules. Although the long distance has not been enjoyable, they know that this has only strengthened their relationship.

In December 2022, Jacee and Andrew went on a trip to Hawaii with Jacee’s parents. After a rare rainy day on Maui, the sun had finally come out and created a beautiful sunset, and so they all decided to go on a walk along the beach. Here, Andrew got down on one knee and proposed to Jacee (who obviously said yes), and they spent the rest of their time in Hawaii celebrating.

Jacee and Andrew are now navigating a long distance engagement, participating in their marriage prep courses virtually, planning their wedding from a state away, and studying for their board exams. In May 2024, Andrew will graduate from the University of South Dakota with his Doctorate of Physical Therapy. He will then move to Kansas City, where Jacee will be doing her clinical rotations during her third year of medical school. They are SO excited to finally be together after nearly three years of long distance.

Jacee and Andrew are so thankful for their friends and family and cannot wait to celebrate this new chapter of their lives with you!!