Several weeks ago, Joey Lucas devised a marriage proposal plan for Sydney Borowiak, his longtime girlfriend.
He had a date and place in mind: September 24th in the Michigan State University College of Engineering Building’s courtyard.
The building was where Borowiak found a friend in Lucas. They were both freshmen trying to survive an introductory engineering course.
“She lasered in on one person to make a friend with on that first day,” Lucas recalled. “That was me, and that’s how we met.”
To properly execute the marriage proposal on campus, Lucas had to think like an engineer.
He created a digital map and route so family and friends could track the couple’s Homecoming Weekend whereabouts on their smartphones.
Lucas then assigned tasks to family and friends so they could scatter rose petals along the walkway and carefully display romantic mementos.
Everything had to be timed right so Lucas could escort Borowiak to the courtyard at noon without any spectators in view, drop to one knee and pop the question.
The meticulous preparation paid off – from the ring presentation to a 16-person celebratory toast.
“She actually started this relationship,” Lucas said laughing. “So, I figured I’d do something nice to return the favor.”
The future bride and groom spent many long nights as first-year MSU students in the Engineering Building studying together.
They didn’t start dating until they were seniors.
A friendship eventually blossomed into companionship. They both graduated MSU in 2019 with electrical engineering degrees.
“Engineering is what brought us together,” said Borowiak, beaming proudly at her engagement ring.
After graduation, the couple survived a two-year long-distance relationship during the COVID-19 pandemic.
They signed up for rotational programs located in different states.
Borowiak, from Gaylord, Mich., was sent to Miami for one year and Minneapolis for another. Lucas, a Brighton native, lived in Indianapolis during that time.
They eventually reunited in Indianapolis and now work for Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, a biomedical company.
The couple established a tradition a few years ago. They now walk campus the Sunday of every MSU Homecoming Weekend and visit the Engineering Building.
These trips will now take on a new meaning.
“Everything came full circle,” said Borowiak, holding back tears of joy. “MSU is our special place.”
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