Amy Mills ’05 and Travis Pons ’06 met in Watterson Towers in 2001. Travis, a soon-to-be Redbird at the time, was visiting a friend. Amy was catching up with her dormmates. She and Travis bonded as friends instantly. During their time at Illinois State, they enjoyed playing games on the Quad and gathering frequently at Pub II.
Amy completed her degree in English prior to Travis finishing his major in safety. The two stayed in touch following graduation, yet neither one imagined the amazing journey they would share long after leaving campus. The turning point for their relationship came when they reconnected at the wedding of fellow ISU alum Heath Beagle ’03.
“We knew that the people we were with at the wedding weren’t the right people for us,” Travis said. “It took us a little while to figure it out, but we are really glad we did.” He and Amy officially started dating long distance in 2012, with her in New York and Travis in Arizona. From then on they were inseparable despite the miles.
The two married in Bloomingdale on November 1, 2014. Amy works at Discover Financial Service as a part of the digital marketing communications team. Travis is a safety manager at Central Steel and Wire. They still enjoy supporting Redbird Athletics and visiting the campus, where their chance encounter led to a romance 11 years later.
Not surprisingly, Illinois State still holds a special place in their hearts. “For us it means everything that we can share the ISU experience, because it is much more than just a school,” Amy said. “It’s how everything started for us. If ISU wasn’t in the picture, we never would have known each other.”
