Boxer Love Story: Aaron Atkins '94 and Jo (Cupps) Atkins '95

Aaron and Jo met through a mutual friend at the 1993 Mash Bash Dance.

On the Monday following the dance, Aaron and Jo realized they had been sitting next to each other in their history class and had never spoken to one another. After that, they began talking with each other quite a bit, and realized they actually had a few other classes together. A few weeks passed and Jo invited Aaron to go out and see a movie. The plan was to meet in the UC. Jo arrived at the UC and waited, and waited, and waited, but Aaron was a no show.

Later that night, Jo went to the library to study and happened to run into Aaron there. She was obviously upset, and did not want to talk with him. However, he chased her down and begged for mercy and for her to listen to his explanation. He was caught in a meeting at work and was unable to get a message to her at the UC to let her know he couldn’t make it. He was very sorry and asked if he could make it up to her by taking her out the next weekend. She agreed and on Nov. 13, 1993, they went on their first date. The rest is history.

On Aug. 12, 1995, Aaron and Jo were married. They currently live in Sherwood, Ore. with their daughter Hannah 9, and son Carter 5, and will celebrate their 19th anniversary this August.

Read more Boxer love stories at pacificu.edu/lovestory