Recent graduates add their romance to long list of UM-Flint love stories

Commencement day at a university is one filled with anticipation, excitement, and pride. For alumni Kelsey Schenk ('18) and Jake Neighbors ('17), commencement day this past December took on even more special meaning when Jake proposed to Kelsey shortly after she walked off stage.

Immediately following the ceremony on December 17, and with their family, friends, and some strangers surrounding them, Jake stopped Kelsey on the concourse of the Dort Federal Arena. As he pulled an engagement ring from his pocket and dropped to one knee, several bystanders began to cheer while Jake "popped the question" to his longtime girlfriend.

"We have spoken about getting married for some time. When we discussed it, we both agreed there was a strict path we wanted to follow that included getting our degrees first. I just had no idea he was going to do it at the soonest point he could after my graduation," said Schenk.

The couple met on a playground as elementary school children and began to date in high school. After high school, Jake gave Kelsey an "unofficial tour" of the UM-Flint campus. She fell in love with the school and began attending the next year. Jake, who graduated in April of 2017, was a residential student and active in his fraternity. While students, the couple enjoyed spending time together in the library and eating Mexican food at a downtown Mexican restaurant.

The couple are planning a June 2019 wedding and are currently shopping for a house in their hometown of Mayville, Michigan. Kelsey is a fifth grade school teacher in Mayville and Jake works as a technician and manager at MIDYNACO in Plymouth, Michigan.