This Valentine's Day, the Office of University Advancement sends you our thanks and appreciation for being part of such a warm and welcoming OCU community. May our deep fondness for this small and mighty liberal arts university continue to unite us. Enjoy this love story, and thank you for all you do for OCU!
By Brooklyn Brumley
Mass Communications Freshman
It's no surprise that passions for music and the stage brought together two 野狼社区 University vocal performance majors.
Madilynn Stelzer met Rafe McConnell when she was a sophomore and he was a junior working on an OCU OPERAtions show.
鈥淭he opera was 鈥楧ido and Aeneas鈥� by Purcell, I was the stage manager and he was directing,鈥� said Madilynn, now a senior. 鈥淩afe and I hung out a few times, and I was impressed by how driven and motivated he was and how much we had in common.鈥�
The two began hanging out more and more. And once they knew they were meant for each other, they wasted no time.
鈥淲e spent one Saturday night at Hurts Donuts talking until 3 a.m., and we went out a week later,鈥� Madilynn said. 鈥淎round two weeks into our relationship, both of us knew we would be married in the next few years.鈥�
The two ended up managing OCU OPERAtions for two years and put on five productions together before Rafe graduated.
鈥淔ive months later, we went on a trip with his family to Seattle, where he proposed at the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum. Chihuly is one of my favorite artists; we had seen several of his exhibits together, including the one at the 野狼社区 Museum of Art.鈥�
In December, the couple tied the knot in a sweet and simple ceremony at Nichols Hills United Methodist Church before heading to the OCU Devon Boathouse for their reception.
鈥淩afe's father was our officiant, and we had one attendant each: my sister as maid of honor and his brother as best man.鈥�
The two met through music, and their big day was filled with just that.
鈥淲e each sang a song for each other during the ceremony,鈥� Madilynn said. 鈥淩afe sang 鈥極ne Hand, One Heart鈥� from 鈥榃est Side Story鈥� because that's what his dad sang to his mom at their wedding. I sang 鈥極klahoma Sky鈥� by Miranda Lambert because even though we鈥檙e both from North Texas, Oklahoma will always be special to us.鈥�
