Boxer Love Story: Ryan Beck '14 and Mellissa (Wilson) Beck '15

Ryan Beck ‘14 and Mellissa (Wilson) Beck ‘15 are none other than high school sweethearts.

Having met in photography class Ryan’s senior year and Mellissa’s junior year of high school, their love was both captured and developed. Ryan was later accepted to Pacific University to pursue a degree in chemistry where they endured a long distance relationship for a year between Seattle, Washington and Forest Grove, Oregon. Though they were just teenagers at the time, they knew they were in love, so Mellissa applied to Pacific University her senior year of high school and later got accepted.
 
Finally being together again after a year of texting, Skyping, and endless visits to see each other, Ryan and Mellissa shared wonderful memories and experiences together at Pacific University. When Mellissa was finishing up her sophomore year and Ryan was completing his junior year at Pacific in 2012, Ryan got down on one knee and proposed during Thanksgiving Break.

Nine months later they got married on a beautiful August day in Portland, Oregon.  
 
Now, Ryan is attending the Pacific University College of Optometry (‘18), and Mellissa is receiving her bachelor’s degree in creative writing. They are also welcoming a baby boy in June, 2015!

“High school may have been where our relationship started, but our love blossomed at Pacific University," says Mellissa. "Now whenever Ryan and I walk around campus we can’t help but smile at all of the wonderful memories that we have shared as Boxers and the stories we are going to tell our little boy one day!”

Read more Boxer love stories at pacificu.edu/lovestory