Although Nick Swanson and Julia Ingram met during an informational meeting for FRC Robotics during high school back in 2011, the two didn’t start dating until they came to S&T in August 2015.

At S&T, Nick studied mechanical engineering and was a member of Kappa Sigma, and Julia studied civil engineering and was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha. Throughout their college experience, the two served as each other’s support system and enjoyed many Greek experiences together.

“Engineering school can either be the hardest four years of your life, or the best seven,” she says. “Cheesy, but there is real truth in that statement.” 

Some of their fondest memories include going to Greek Week every year and St. Pat’s events. Nick was Zeus in 2018 and Julia was Ugly Man, and Princess of Peace and Happiness in 2019, the year they both graduated from S&T. 

“After graduation we took a Europe trip and backpacked through nine different countries,” Julia says. “During our travels we actually ran into several S&T students doing their own backpacking trips.”

Nick proposed to Julia in Paris, after keeping the ring in a backpack for seven counties. The couple plans to marry in May 2021. 

Today, Nick works as a shift manager in Anheuser-Busch’s Williamsburg Brewery and Julia works as a development services civil analyst for Kimley-Horn in Virginia Beach.

Their relationship advice?

“Forgive and forget,” she says. “If your fight or argument won’t matter in five years, drop it. Never go to sleep upset. If you’re in the heat of an argument, take a walk together. Get outside. Move around.”