We did a callout, asking alumni couples to share the origins of their relationships, showcasing the enduring connections and cherished memories that started at our beloved college. From serendipitous encounters at orientation events to shared passions for academics and campus activities, these couples have built lasting connections that continue to thrive.
Jenna (Hood) & Scott Miller
Sociology and History majors
Class of 2003
Jenna and Scott Miller's love story began with a heated exchange during an intramural softball game their freshman year (1999).
Mike Roberson, the College’s long-time director of intramural sports, recalled the moment vividly: “I was umpiring the game. It was the bottom of the 6th and final inning, the score tied 4-4, with two outs and a runner on 3rd base,” he said, describing how Jenna missed an easy pop-up ball on Scott's team. “Scott yelled, ‘How did you miss that ball?! You made us lose the game!’ Jenna threw her glove down and screamed, ‘I QUIT!’ And, well, the rest is history!”
Despite the fiery competitiveness, this moment kindled their connection. Throughout their four years at Flagler, the couple cherished quality time together, often enjoying Domino's pizza in the rotunda, one of the few co-ed spaces on campus at the time.
“Sometimes we bought a medium pizza with two cans of soda for $5.99 delivered to the breezeway, and other times we were in the right place at the right time to grab someone else's unclaimed order before it got dumped,” Scott said.
Their relationship blossomed through shared experiences, from exploring St. Augustine to engaging in lively conversations that fueled their connection.
“The quaint campus atmosphere, small class sizes, and various opportunities for socialization led to an eventual proposal our senior year just before the winter formal,” Scott said.
The fire of their love still burns bright in St. Augustine, where they’ve raised their children, one of whom aspires to join Flagler's theater program, continuing the family's legacy.
Jennifer (Swift) & Jim Carroll
English and Sport Management majors
Class of 2010
In their first semester at Flagler (2006), Jennifer and Jim Carroll exchanged flirtations and friendly football conversations. Over winter break, Jim started adding Flagler students he recognized on MySpace, and something in Jennifer’s profile caught his eye.
“I was particularly intrigued that the song which auto played was ‘Roll to Me’ by Spin Doctors,” Jim, a music enthusiast, said. “I was pretty sure this pretty girl had no idea that the song was by Del Amitri, not the Spin Doctors. This became our earliest topic of conversation.”
Jennifer remembers their early digital romance slightly differently. She recalls setting up Facebook accounts with her roommates to stay in touch over the break.
“I got a friend request from a guy wearing a football helmet,” she said. “I sent a message saying I didn’t accept friend requests from strangers.” Jim jogged her memory, reminding her that he was the Panthers fan who always talked about football.
“So, I accepted,” Jennifer said. “We ended up exchanging AIM usernames and talked every night, a mix between light and serious.”
Their relationship blossomed when they returned from break, with a particularly memorable January all-nighter in the Gazebo.
“We ended up sitting on a bench in the gazebo talking,” Jennifer said. “At one point, he ran back to Lewis to grab his guitar so he could play while we talked. He told me he was going to work in the NFL when he graduated. I told him I wanted an adventure, I just didn’t know what that looked like yet.”
“I was standing on the gym steps walking to class with his roommate and best friend when he called me from Bank of America Stadium to tell me he got his dream internship at the Panthers and asked if I would move to Charlotte with him the week after graduation,” Jennifer remembers fondly.
Jim proposed under the stars at their favorite St. Augustine beach spot, and they married at Memorial Presbyterian Church, surrounded by college friends.
His dream of working in the NFL came true, now working for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Jennifer found her adventure in their life together and in her work as a Pre-K teacher. Now, they celebrate 14 years of marriage with four children and a small zoo of pets.
“Flagler will always be the backdrop for the most magical years of our lives,” Jim said. “To this day, there is nowhere that feels more like home than when we walk around campus together.”
Meredyth & Jennie Mustafa-Julock
Deaf Elementary Education and History majors
Class of 2000
Meredyth and Jennie Mustafa-Julock met in 1997 during tryouts for Spirit, Flagler’s American Sign Language (ASL) performance club, and solidified their connection while practicing to interpret a song together for Parents' Weekend.
“Jennie had nearly zero ASL skills at the time, so I did all the heavy lifting,” Meredyth said. “After we met up for our interpretation session, we got to talking and we’ve been inseparable ever since.”
Jennie transferred to Flagler as a sophomore and quickly integrated into Meredyth's circle of friends.
“We did everything together as best friends - even went on some double dates with boys - but eventually, we had the courage to share our feelings for each other,” the couple wrote. “With the exception of our small circle of friends, we stayed in the closet. Though anyone who was around us by senior year was probably onto us.”
After graduating in 2000, they got engaged and eventually married in 2003. They now run their own online consultancy business, “Jennie + Meredyth.”
“After ‘collecting hometowns’ in DC, Boston, New York City, and Los Angeles, we left big city life and now live full-time in a gorgeous Airstream trailer with our dog Sadie as digital nomads,” Jennie said. “We point the Airstream toward gorgeous weather, so we are wintering in Southern California as we speak. We’ve never been happier!”
Nicole (McDonald) & David Arieti
Special Education and Accounting majors
Classes of 1993 & 1992
Flagler has been part of the Arieti’s love story since they met on the steps of the Rotunda during orientation week in 1989 at an SGA sock hop. Despite David initially calling her by her roommate's name, their connection was immediate. They quickly became friends and started dating in their second semester.
Their college experiences were marked by deep campus involvement and shared time. David served as the social chair in SGA, while Nicole organized President's Hour. They enjoyed dances at the Elks Lodge, late-night study sessions in the student lounge, and lunches with professors and friends in the dining hall. They also cherished their roles as RAs, getting to know administrators and becoming part of that close-knit staff.
“Flagler was a huge part of our story—so many great memories and friends that became part of our wedding that we’re still friends with today,” Nicole said.
Nicole and David married in 1996, and their connection to Flagler has only grown stronger. They have two children, Hannah ('23) and Tillman ('27), who both followed in their parents’ footsteps as Saints. Flagler's influence extended to the next generation, with Hannah serving as President of Phi Alpha Omega and an Ambassador, and Tillman currently a senator in SGA and a leader in the Forum.
“We feel really blessed and proud that our kids are Saints; how awesome it’s been to see and experience Flagler through their eyes,” Nicole said. “Flagler is where our love story and family began!”
Taylor (Napper) & Josh Manning
Deaf Elementary Education and Graphic Design majors
Class of 2017
Josh and Taylor Manning’s journey was defined by their shared passion for scholarship.
“Taylor insisted that I attend the reception to celebrate our achievements alongside President Abare in the Solarium,” Josh recalls. They both made the President's List in the Spring 2015 semester, and Taylor encouraged him to attend the ceremony.
A few weeks later, they had their first date at the Taco Shop. The couple emphasized that their shared drive for academic achievement and advancing in their majors brought them closer.
“We had many meetups in the Ringhaver Student Center playing Uno and Battleship between classes, where we learned more about each other and our individual majors, studying in the library and getting a glimpse into each other’s world,” Taylor said.
As Josh was nearing his degree completion in the fall of 2016, he decided to add an extra semester of classes so they could finish their time as Saints together and walk the stage at the Spring 2017 Commencement. A romantic proposal at the Castillo de San Marcos, “the Fort,” came shortly after, in December 2018, on their three-year anniversary.
They have been married for almost five years and will celebrate ten years together in December 2025.
Lisa Schweikert & Logan Montuori
Graphic Design and Psychology majors
Classes of 2019 & 2020
Lisa Schweikert and Logan Montuori met in 2017 as Resident Advisors. Their bond deepened during a “cereal party” where they connected
over a shared nostalgia for “Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends” and Logan's guitar playing.
“It was clear to everyone around us that we were into each other,” Schweikert said. “I think the thing that drew us most to one another was our shared love of being silly and wanting to make others laugh.”
Spending a lot of time together as a part of the RA staff, their relationship quickly fell into place.
“With the help of some orchestration by our friends, he held my hand for the first time when our group of friends went to see the lights turned on for Nights of Lights that year,” Schweikert said. “The rest was history.”
“I would say we valued our friendships a lot from Flagler, and every Sunday, we would get brunch in the dining hall with our closest friends,” Lisa said. “A lot of our best memories were being with our friends on the west lawn, the library, or spending super late nights working on homework in the art building.”
Now living in Knoxville, Tenn., Lisa works as a motion graphics designer, and Logan is a Research Labs Manager at the University of Tennessee, pursuing his graduate degree.
They are set to marry in March of 2025 right here in St. Augustine, surrounded by Flagler friends who have been part of their journey since the beginning.
“We are so lucky that our closest friends, with whom we shared these wonderful memories at Flagler, will be there to support us,” they noted. “We are so looking forward to indulging in the nostalgia of being back in one of our favorite places in the world where we met and fell in love.”
