Graduation encounter comes full circle with Alumni Center proposal

Finding your true love can happen at any moment. For alumni Catherine Ledet and Adam Mier, their Ragin’ Cajun love story began on one of the biggest days of their lives: graduation.

Ledet ’16 and Mier ’16 were both very active undergraduate students. Ledet double majored in chemistry and chemical engineering while Mier majored in computer science. Not only were they both very involved with their academics, but they were also involved in student organizations on campus. Both Ledet and Mier grew up in the Lafayette area too. Despite all of this, they never crossed paths until the Spring 2016 Commencement Ceremony.

During graduation, Ledet was called onto the stage to be recognized for her academic achievements. Meanwhile, Mier was sitting in the audience with a friend who happened to be Ledet’s lab partner. As soon as she walked on to the stage, her lab partner started cheering for her. Mier, who had never seen her before, asked his cheering friend who that was. After the Generally Assembly, the two were introduced by their mutual friend. “We only exchanged a few words, but I was smitten,” said Mier. Later that day at a party, the two met again and began to really get to know each other. “A few weeks later he called and asked me to go to lunch with him, and the rest is history,” said Ledet.

After a year and a half of dating, Mier knew that he wanted to ask Ledet to spend the rest of their lives together. But, he also knew that he wanted to make it special. What better way to do that than by having a proposal scavenger hunt. On December 17, 2017, Ledet went to eat lunch with her friends in Lafayette like any normal day. After lunch, one of them gave her a note card that began her scavenger hunt journey. Throughout the day, Ledet traveled all around Lafayette to places where the couple had significant memories together. Finally, the scavenger hunt led Ledet to the gardens at the Alumni Center where she found Mier there waiting to propose. “I wanted to propose there because [UL Lafayette] is where it all began for us, and the garden at the Alumni Center is the prettiest spot on campus in my opinion,” said Mier. Of course, Ledet said yes to the love of her life.

Today, Ledet and Mier are both living and working in Baton Rouge while preparing for their upcoming wedding. They may not live in Lafayette anymore, but the couple will always hold a special place in their hearts for their alma mater. “Our relationship is always going to have a connection to UL Lafayette because we’re always going to remember that this is how we met,” said Ledet. Even though the couple grew up in the same town and had mutual friends, UL Lafayette is eventually what led to their Ragin’ Cajun love story.

Photo: Adam Mier '16 proposes to Catherine Ledet '16 on the Alumni Center gardens.