Setting: A warm August morning in 2016, on the campus of Indiana University of Pennsylvania

We met in an IUP journalism class in late August 2016, in the HHS building (Journalism 120 to be exact—shoutout to Professor Lauri Miller). Kendall was a disability services major, and Walt was a communications major, but somehow, someway, we both ended up in that class. Walt was entering his third year at IUP as a football player, and Kendall was entering her second year as a member of the basketball team.

Walt had spent his sophomore season as a color commentator for the women’s basketball games, so he knew of Kendall but doesn’t really remember seeing her outside of that. He does, however, remember walking into class on day one, seeing Kendall sitting there (she’s usually early to everything), and instantly recognizing her from the basketball gear. Something about her just felt warm and familiar, so he decided to sit next to her.

To this day, Walt says sitting next to Kendall was the best decision he’s ever made... and you could say the rest is history… kind of.

We started as classmates. It only took one assignment, where we had to interview each other for class, to break the ice and get beneath the surface. We learned who the “mystery student-athlete” sitting beside us was, and the qualities we shared. Our humor and care for others, led us from classmates to friends. The friendship stage was pivotal.

Over Thanksgiving break, as Walt and the football team were on campus preparing for the playoffs and Kendall and the basketball team were in the thick of their season, we spent time together during game nights and movie nights. These moments turned our friendship into best-friend territory. Walt became a regular at Kendall and her crew’s infamous pregames and TGIT watch nights.

Our bond grew stronger over quality time, phone calls, Facetimes, mission trips, and some very competitive (and fun) pickup basketball games between the football guys and basketball girls. What a time it was.

Then came the fifth date, where Walt recalls saying "I love you" (Kendall remembers slightly earlier), right before graduation. Kendall was there, celebrating with him, and from there, things continued to grow. We spent more time together, exchanged birthday gifts, took squad vacations to Ocean City, and hovered in that “talking/courting” stage, which teetered on the edge of the friend zone. But when you know, you know.

K&W

Wedding Day

5:00 PM–5:30 PM

Ceremony

5:30 PM–6:30 PM

Cocktail Hour

6:30 PM–7:00 PM

Reception Begins- Special Dances

7:00 PM–8:15 PM

Dinner & Toasts

8:15 PM–10:45 AM

Party Time!

10:45 PM–11:00 PM

Grand Exit