Augie Sweethearts: Stephanie Kendzior and Javier Rodriguez, Class of 2013

Submitted by Stephanie Kendzior of Huntley, Ill.

Once upon a time, I wrote a prayer to God and He answered it.

I cannot believe that I met my true love, best friend, and prince charming on one of the most exciting days of my life — my first day at Augustana College in 2009. Javy and I were paired up in the same orientation group where we were asked to exchange a slip of paper with our names and phone numbers. The initially awkward exchange is now a cherished memory of the first day we met. Over our four years at Augie our friendship and love blossomed.

On Oct. 14, 2017, Javy surprised me with a return trip to Augustana where we walked through memory lane and where he proposed on one knee across from the Lacrosse field where we had our first kiss. The engagement ring he designed has two emerald stones that represent “two peas in a pod”. We just celebrated our marriage on Dec. 29, 2018!