Brad Melzer ’08 and Lauren Leggett ’08 met in Elk Grove Village while attending Stevenson Elementary School. They not only attended school together, but also played soccer for the park district. In fourth grade, Lauren moved away. She expected to never cross paths with Brad again.
After a year of attending a small private college in Iowa, Lauren transferred to Illinois State for her sophomore year in 2005. Brad immediately recognized her as his old elementary school friend and reached out to her. The two soon began seeing each other.
Friends teased Lauren about her first date: Brad escorted her to the top of Watterson Towers. They made things official shortly after and became a serious couple. “We have so many fun memories of our time together at Illinois State. We especially loved to walk around the Quad and talk for hours,” Lauren said.
Brad graduated with a double major in political science and history, going on to attend law school in Indiana. Lauren began working in Naperville after graduating with a degree in insurance.
After five years, Brad proposed to Lauren and the couple wed in September 2012. Brad works as the assistant state’s attorney in Kane County, while Lauren is the regional technology director at Hanover Insurance. They both love reflecting on their time at ISU, realizing that if they had not each chosen to attend the University, their childhood bond would not have been rekindled.
