Back in August, some staff members in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations were reviewing the inscriptions for bricks that had been donated for the Portico of Heritage Hall. More than 1,400 bricks/ pavers were inscribed with memorials, weddings dates, names, or quotes—but one stood out more than the others.
“ANNA-MARIE,
EVERY TREASURED
MEMORY I HAVE OF WMU
IS A SMILE, A LAUGH,
AN ADVENTURE I SHARED
WITH YOU. YOU’RE MY
GAL IN KALAMAZOO.
WILL YOU MARRY ME?
- NICHOLAS”
It was Nicholas Bennett’s (BA ’11, Political Science) brick, and he was planning to propose to his girlfriend of nearly 10 years, Anna Marie Krause (BS ’12, Special Education).
The two began dating in 2005 as students at Cousino High School in Warren, Mich.
“Our paths crossed a few times as freshmen and sophomores as we both joined the marching band and played clarinet,” Bennett said, “but we really took notice of one another in Algebra II.”
As time went on, the two began looking for silly reasons to call each other. It wasn’t long before they began dating, and a few years later attended WMU together.
The area between the columns of former East Hall and the hillside that overlooks Kalamazoo is home to many memories of first kisses and proposals, and just one day after the Grand Opening, the renovated building had its first romantic moment as Heritage Hall.
On Saturday, October 24—WMU’s 92nd Homecoming—the two traveled back to WMU to run the Campus Classic. They grabbed breakfast at their favorite old spot, the Bagel Beanery, and headed up to Prospect Hill for Bennett to propose. Even though he said he was a little quick on the delivery, Krause was none the less surprised, and she said 'Yes!'
According to Bennett, their dating clock started running on December 7, 2005. “Nine years, 10 months, 20 days, and three hours later…. Here we are!”
Photos courtesy of Matthew Lee Thaler (BS ’15, Aviation), who was on hand to snap some pics of the big surprise.