Many amazing things happen at UCLA. For these couples, perhaps nothing was more amazing than meeting and then falling in love. Read their unique stories of how it all began and where they are today.
Sabrina ’09 and Reuben Ayala ’06
In 2013, Sabrina and Reuben served as volunteers for UCLA Giving’s Young Alumni Development Council (YADC). During one of their monthly council meetings, Reuben shared his personal story and immediately caught Sabrina’s eye. After attending UCLA’s Centennial Campaign launch in May 2014, Reuben was intrigued to see Sabrina at the event and was drawn by her personality and vibrant smile. Three months later, Sabrina asked Reuben to take one of her evening fitness barre classes in Redondo Beach, Calif. where she was teaching at the time. Not knowing what he was getting himself into, Reuben showed up as the only male participant, unaware if he would make it through Sabrina’s hour-long class. After having embarrassed himself in front of Sabrina, who found it endearing, their evening led them towards a bar across the street, talking for hours and getting to know each other on a much deeper level. By their third date, Reuben took Sabrina to Shakespeare in the Park at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park and asked her to be his girlfriend. They tied the knot on Aug. 25, 2017 and are now working as fundraising officers for UCLA Development, where Sabrina is now managing the same program where they first met.
Shannon ’96 and Jerome Hill ’96
When Jerome and his classmate finished their workout at the John Wooden Center, he was startled to see two female twins, walking down Bruin Plaza. As the twins approached Jerome and his classmate for small conversation, Jerome was instantly curious about one of them, Shannon. Jerome’s classmate said that Shannon and her twin sister were living together in Sunset Village, but didn’t know the room number. After what seemed to be an impossible trek to find Shannon, Jerome finally made it to Shannon’s dorm. Shannon wasn’t sure if he was interested in her or her twin sister, so before things got awkward, Jerome asked for her phone number and also told her he had a twin brother. Thus began their courtship. Head over heels in love, Shannon and Jerome married on Aug. 22, 1996. They launched their careers as educators for the Compton Unified School District after graduating from UCLA and have since been teaching for more than 20 years. In 2006, Shannon and Jerome welcomed boy and girl twins of their own, Bryce and Nya, now 11. Shannon and Jerome are proud to say that UCLA gave them an opportunity to meet one another and graduate with what so many people look for everyday - falling in love, working in careers they love and having a happy, healthy family.
Katie ’79 and Cameron Alan Larson ’80
In 1975, Rieber Hall hosted a dance for students right before fall quarter classes started. Both freshman at the time, Cameron and Katie attended the dance, eager to make the most of their college experience as Bruins. Cameron noticed Katie across the dance floor and asked to share a dance with her.
Some four to six weeks into the fall quarter, Cameron started hanging out with Katie as friends and asked her to a semi-formal dance in Marina Del Rey, Calif., also hosted by Rieber Hall. That night, Katie decided that Cameron was too quiet for her and did not go out with him again. From time to time, they would run still into each other during Sigma Kappa and Phi Delta Theta exchanges while both working at the Student Store and Disneyland. Fast forward to 1991, Katie was on a phone call and ready to transfer flights at the Denver International Airport when she noticed a familiar face. It was Cameron. They exchanged business cards and briefly caught up with one another, later becoming pen pals and exchanging letters from a distance for another eight years. Katie and Cameron married in 1999 at Wayfarers Chapel in Palos Verdes, CA. They consider themselves both fortunate to have attended UCLA. They enjoy hosting Dinners for 12 Strangers and cheering on the Bruins during football, basketball and water polo season.
Janel, M.P.H. ’09 and Miguel Edwards Ph.D. ’14
Miguel Edwards first took notice of Janel Edwards at a Halloween mixer for UCLA, USC and Cal Tech students in the fall of 2007. Although they never interacted that day, Miguel knew Janel was worth pursuing. He asked Janel out after a group of their friends spent a night out together and her exact words were “I’m unavailable.” Over the course of nine months, Janel and Miguel became really great friends. They hung out in group settings, spent a lot of time with each other on a daily basis, and out of coincidence, lived in Weyburn Terrace (graduate student housing). The two would go to sporting events, jazz reggae festivals, comedy shows, concerts, roller skating and food outings. While Miguel believed they were both very compatible since he became really close with Janel and her friends, Janel made it clear that she was not interested in him romantically and wanted to remain friends. Miguel wanted more than just a friendship, so he decided he had enough and told Janel that he didn’t want to be friends or see her anymore, at all. The next day, Janel showed up to his apartment as if everything was back to normal. In time, Janel asked Miguel to ask her out again. They married in June 2011 and welcomed their daughter, Rachel, in 2016. For Janel and Miguel, UCLA made it possible for them to end up together and allowed them to work in science careers, for which they share a passion.
Kim ’85 and Natalie Bergman ’85
Kim and Natalie first met across a crowded room at a party for student leaders involved in student association groups on campus in 1983. Both sophomores at the time, Kim was the chair of an LGBT student group and wrote for Together, the women’s newspaper. Natalie was chair of the Jewish Student Union and editor-in-chief of Ha’am, the Jewish Student newspaper. They hit it off instantly and became good friends. They often found themselves “studying” together and pulling all-nighters.
Kim and Natalie moved in together their junior year and have been together since. After establishing their careers, Kim and Natalie decided to get married at a private Jewish community in 1994, way before marriage equality was considered at the state and federal level. In 1996, they welcomed their first daughter Abby, followed by their second daughter, Jenna, in 1999. Now that both their daughters are attending college, they are enjoying being “empty-nesters.” Kim and Natalie are proud supporters of the UCLA Alumni Association, spend each summer in Bruin Woods with their two daughters Abby and Jenna calling it “the best week of the year.” The Bergman’s love to entertain, travel the world and enjoy hosting Dinner for 12 Strangers. They continue to be passionately involved in a variety of causes and charities, and continue to sustain deep friendships with fellow Bruins.
If you are an alumni couple and want to share your story, email us at connectfeedback@alumni.ucla.edu.