Band activities became Jason and Katie's haven, a space where their love for music and each other intertwined--leading to a shared desire to instill the Mount's spirit in their future.
In the year 2000, summer band camp was in full-swing at Mount St. Joseph University. Katie, a bright-eyed Early Childhood Education freshman from Mt. Orab, Ohio, and Jason, a local Cincinnatian and Music Education freshman, were just getting introduced through their marching band peers. Their paths would officially cross during the freshman orientation cruise. Seated at separate tables with friends, fate intervened when Jason, wanting to escape seasickness (or perhaps wanting to be closer to Katie), orchestrated a seat switch.
As the semester began, they found themselves surrounded by the same group of music education majors, often hanging out in the department's MEC lounge. Their connection grew deeper over shared classes, band practices, and even a special education class on the unforgettable morning of September 11th, 2001. They weren't just classmates; they were becoming best friends who enjoyed racquetball, intramural basketball, dorm life, and even attending Sunday evening mass together.
They had their official first date for lunch at Penn Station on Delhi Pike before their four-year journey together at the Mount. “Katie likes to say she beat the odds with a ratio of 1 male per 6 females on campus,” Jason laughs.
Despite the challenges – Katie living on campus while Jason commuted, both navigating busy schedules and family commitments – their shared experiences at the Mount brought them closer. Band activities became their haven, a space where their love for music and each other intertwined.
From Jewelry Store Glance to Forever Romance
From the first spark of interest to the undeniable feeling that blossomed during their early dates, the Mount provided the backdrop for their love story. A visit to Northgate Mall one evening sealed Jason's fate. As they browsed jewelry stores, a seemingly casual moment turned serious when Katie expressed admiration for a ring.
“I knew the first time that I saw her that I liked her and hoped to date her,” recalls Jason. “When we started dating, I knew it could be forever. A group of us went to hang out at Northgate Mall one evening and as we were walking around I took Katie into a jewelry store, somewhat jokingly. But when she mentioned liking an engagement ring we saw, and I could tell she was serious, I knew at that moment that it was going to happen (and ended up buying the ring and having it for a few years before actually proposing—my family’s worst kept secret).”
Their journey after graduation, in 2004, mirrored their time at the Mount – a testament to the foundation it provided. Though their proposal was ultimately rained out, the sentiment remained strong. They were married in 2006, surrounded by their closest friends from the Mount, including some who played pivotal roles in their ceremony.
“My surprise wedding gift for Katie at the reception was a recording of a song that I wrote for her and had some students record, that told our story of meeting at band camp and journey through life,” says Jason.
"There it was, the summer of '00; this one time at band camp, to us was no joke. Sailing on board the Ohio, this feeling I had, I had a clue, what I would soon give to you. It's more than just a word, longer than any day. Starts with ‘L’ and ends with ‘e-ternity.’”
Today with two beautiful children, Drew and Elsbeth and fulfilling careers, Katie and Jason look back at their MSJ experience with gratitude. The Mount instilled in them a shared sense of purpose and a love for a Catholic education, values they hope to one day pass on to their children. Jason embarked on a successful career as a band director, now on his ninth year as assistant principal, while Katie found her calling as a third-grade teacher and is now in her eighth year as assistant principal.
Upon completion of the Mount’s Centennial Fieldhouse, the couple took their children to see it to get a picture with the Catamount sculpture, an iconic bronze lion statue that is more than twice the size of a mountain lion. “We use the Mount as an example of the type of school we would like our kids to attend someday if it makes sense for their future plans,” Jason expresses. “The fact we both chose a local Catholic University is something we are proud of and talk to our children about. We have a number of relatives who have now gone to the Mount.”
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Share Your MSJ Love Story!
Want to share your MSJ Love Story with us? Fill out our brief submission form here!