Augie Sweethearts: Christopher Payton '01 and Christina Payton '02

Submitted by Christopher Payton of West Chicago, Ill.

Our story is the traditional Augustana love story. Our first date was at Ascension Chapel and dinner at Finney’s restaurant. I spent the weekend at home in the suburbs and rushed back to get back in time to go to 5 p.m. mass. That was the beginning of a great Augustana experience. We both participated in Greek life and I played soccer. The only thing we did not have together was classes. We were engaged underneath the bell tower. We still believe in the tradition that “Whomever You Kiss Underneath the Bell Tower is Who You Will Marry”. We enjoyed our experience so much that we decided to get married at Augustana and also a few years back renewed our vows there as well. But one of most special moments was bringing our kids back to show them where our family started.