Augie Sweethearts: Yesenia Reyes '94 Nicoson and Erik Nicoson '96

Submitted by Yesenia Nicoson of Bloomington, Ill.

Erik worked at the library and I worked at the student center. I spent a lot of time in the library where I did more socializing than studying. Unbeknownst to me, he heard me talking and asked my friend if I was Puerto Rican; apparently I had an accent. At around the same time, I noticed him as he’d come into the student center where I worked the switchboard, right across from the mailboxes. I noticed how cute he looked in his jeans. ;)

One day, he got the nerve to stop and chat with me. His pickup line? “I bet you don’t know how to spell my last name!” he exclaimed with a challenge in his voice. “What is it?” I asked. He proceeded to tell me, and I spelled it correctly. That must have been the sign he was waiting for to ask me out!

Our first date was a group date to the bowling alley. By then I knew I liked him and I had him figured out—he was competitive. I knew I’d get a second date by betting him I could beat him. Little did I know that he was a really good bowler, and he kicked my butt! It didn’t matter—he asked me out and we had our first solo date at Happy Joe’s Pizza. We’ve been together ever since. He proposed at the library where he first heard my voice, and we just celebrated our 20th anniversary. And yes, he still looks pretty good in a pair of jeans!