They met at UC Davis, they fell in love at UC Davis, they proposed at UC Davis, they got married at UC Davis — and in the week leading up to Valentine’s Day they have been telling their love stories — dozens of them — on the UC Davis Facebook page.

Roommate brought them together

Videography by Joe Proudman/UC Davis

“My fiancé and I were chem 2a lab partners first quarter freshman year (2008),” reads a posting from Facebook user Eric Hauck, who attached a photo of his proposal in the same lab where they were partners. “We are going to get married in August 2014!”

Many of the stories, like this one, are tied to specific places, and we’ve marked them on this map. Click on the hearts to read the associated Facebook stories, like this one:

“It was 1972,” Facebook user Larry Tom begins. “I was the president of the University Chorus and Kathy was a new soprano. She decided that she wanted to meet me but was unsure how. Her opportunity came about a week later when she rode up to Mrak Hall and saw me walking on the sidewalk.

“How did she make me notice her? SHE RODE HER BIKE RIGHT INTO ME!”

Tom added: “This year we will celebrate our FORTIETH anniversary!"

Other love stories begin before the first day of classes, at orientation and in the residence halls. Others involve campus and Greek activities, and Aggie athletic events.

Some couples met as drivers or passengers on Unitrans — perhaps it was the red buses that sparked the passion! Other couples kept the beat in the Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh! and found their hearts beating in sync, as well. For more about hearts beating in sync, read this UC Davis research news.

The arboretum pops up frequently, as a place where couples have gotten engaged, married and renewed their vows.

University Communications told the first love story on video, featuring Scott Judson ’09, Law ’12, and Kristen Judson ’09. A new video features Dan and Mary Egan, Class of 1985, who met via the landline phone in Dan’s room in Ryerson Hall.

Today, the phones are different (although every room in Ryerson and other residence halls has a jack for a landline), but UC Davis remains the same inviting place for love.

Stories still welcome on the UC Davis Facebook page.

•••

Three University Communications interns developed this project and helped in its production:

• Elaine Ip, social media intern, a senior, is majoring in communication and minoring in computer science.
• Gheed Saeed, UC Davis Magazine intern, a sophomore, is a communication major.
• Melanie Sarti, social media intern, a junior, is majoring in managerial economics, and minoring in textiles and clothing.

Project leaders: Evelyn Padilla, social media specialist, and Joe Proudman, multimedia specialist, both of University Communications.

Follow Dateline UC Davis on Twitter.