On a sun-dappled June afternoon, during the bustling festivities of Spartan Reunion, the soft chime of bells echoed through the trees of north campus as couples gathered at the Alumni Memorial Chapel. In a ceremony rooted in tradition and love, Spartan couples gathered not just to remember, but to reaffirm — renewing vows forged in friendship, tested by time and strengthened by Michigan State University’s enduring legacy.
A Ceremony Steeped in Spartan Tradition
Inside the beloved Alumni Memorial Chapel — a space alive with memories, laughter and the echo of countless “I dos” — a vow renewal ceremony welcomed Spartan sweethearts into a sacred moment. Each pair was gifted with fresh flowers and keepsakes to remember these moments. But perhaps the most treasured gift was the shared recognition of their love, much like their alma mater, which had stood the test of time.
As the officiant invited couples to face one another and take each other’s hands, the chapel grew still with emotion. Together, voices echoed softly through the historic stone walls as each pair repeated the heartfelt vows:
“I choose you again today,
as my beloved companion,
my partner in this life.
I promise to love you with kindness and patience,
to support your dreams
and walk beside you through whatever may come.
I celebrate the love we have built
and look forward to all that lies ahead.”
This collective reaffirmation was more than ceremonial. It was a testament to decades of enduring love — words made weightier by life’s shared joys and challenges. In that sacred space, under stained glass and surrounded by tradition, every promise felt timeless.
Love Stories That Span the Decades
Among those present were Susan and Rick Brooks, whose love story began in Holmes Hall in 1977. From a first date at Dooley’s with dancing, pizza and talking until 5 a.m., to a horse drawn carriage ride through campus and a wedding ceremony in the Alumni Chapel, their Spartan love story was written — their wedding was even covered by the Lansing State Journal. “For years afterward,” they recalled, “we were told ours was the best wedding people had been to – including their own children’s.”
Jon and Sue Awbrey, who wed in a candlelight ceremony at the Alumni Chapel in 1970, found each other during the “turbulent late 1960s and fell in love by the Red Cedar.” With six MSU degrees between them and memories of a proposal at Bower House, the vow renewal was a chance to reflect on more than half a century of partnership. “Fifty-five years later, we’re still soulmates,” they said. “Still Spartans through and through.”
William and Barbara Kendall’s romance began behind the desks of the MSU Library circulation department. A shared shift turned into a first date – a George Carlin show in the fall of 1974 – and just two years later, they stood at the altar of the Alumni Chapel. “We’re so happy our 49th anniversary coincided with this vow renewal,” Bill explained, marveling at how a moment in the stacks turned into nearly half a century of companionship.
Others, like Dennis and Lynda Patriarche, returned to the very place where their marriage began. “On the day of our wedding, it rained all morning,” Dennis recalled, “but by 3 p.m., the skies cleared and it was perfect – a magical day.” Their vow renewal brought that enchanting memory back, this time with a light rain throughout the morning and sunshine for the ceremony.
Bob and Ellen Anderson found love working in the same hospital. Though life took them to Florida — where they raised three children — their hearts never left MSU. Homecoming parades, bowl games and Spartan milestones brought them back time and again. “We haven’t missed a Homecoming since Ellen’s first in 1976,” Bob shared.
Laura Ringlein and Kurt Hines first met in Fee Hall at MSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. After their first date at the 1990 Michigan Festival on campus, Laura recalled “that very night, I knew Kurt was the one I would marry.” At an East Lansing Art Festival, the pair met a local artisan jeweler who crafted the wedding bands they exchanged aboard the riverboat Michigan Princess during their wedding in 1994. Renewing their vows at MSU, the place that shaped their beginnings, was a full-circle moment nearly thirty years in the making.
A Celebration of Love and Lifelong Connections
For each couple, the vow renewal was more than a romantic gesture – it was a celebration of a shared past rooted in green and white. From serendipitous first encounters to weddings documented in newspapers and anniversaries intertwined with university events, these stories stand as testaments to enduring love shaped by a special place and an even more special community.
The Alumni Memorial Chapel – where many have married since its opening in 1952 – continues to be a symbol of commitment, not just between two people, but between alums and their alma mater. On this special afternoon, love, laughter and an unmistakable buzz of Spartan pride filled the air.
Because at Michigan State University, love doesn’t just begin — it grows, deepens and when the time is right, it renews.