Kate LeBlanc found that amazing things can happen on even cold and drizzly nights, as she watched her young romance bloom into something more when she and her boyfriend, Clint Costanza, walked on Church Street one night. On the evening of Jan. 15, the couple had finished dinner, visited a store and were about to head to the public library to drop off a movie. At the steps of the library, Costanza realized he had forgotten the movie, which LeBlanc said made her a little suspicious that he was planning something.

Smiling, Costanza saw they were close to a dock near the bayou where Costanza had first asked LeBlanc to be his girlfriend, and he suggested they go walk there.

There, they acted like the young couple they are, running, scaring ducks and laughing, but something more important was to unfold soon after.

Costanza slowly dropped to one knee to pop the question.

“Will you marry me?” asked Costanza.

“Maybe!” cried LeBlanc.

LeBlanc asked Costanza how much he wanted her to marry him, to which Costanza replied, “A lot, a lot!”

With excited hearts, the two decided to get out of the cold and head back to Church Street.

Along the way, the couple ran into several of their friends, and they spread the good news. Afterwards, the couple rushed home, and to LeBlanc’s surprise, Costanza had a strawberry cream cheese king cake and bouquet of roses waiting for her.

Such was the perfect night that began their engagement.

The couple’s relationship started three years before in a biology class where they were project partners. From then on, they learned they had more in common than they had realized.

Costanza was in a fraternity, Kappa Alpha Order, and LeBlanc was in a sorority, Sigma Sigma Sigma. They were both in the pre-med and biology societies.

Also, they both worked at Nicholls, LeBlanc as a lifeguard and Costanza in the dorms.

In 2007, the couple added another common bond. Costanza was awarded Mr. Nicholls 2007. LeBlanc had been chosen as Ms. Nicholls 2006 just the year before. They both say they consider this a great point in their lives.

“It felt like a reward for all of the work we put into Nicholls,” Costanza said.

As perfect as their matching awards may seem, the beginning of their relationship was a little fuzzy, though.

“We didn’t really have a first date,” LeBlanc said.

Costanza and LeBlanc agreed that a meeting on Halloween 2005 was the closest thing to a first date. They first rode together on a hayride, and the relationship had took flight from there.

Life is quaint now as their wedding approaches. Costanza and LeBlanc work for physicians’ offices in preparation for physician’s assistant (PA) school. They work more in the office than with patients, but getting “hands-on” will come soon.

“It’s a regular 7-to-5 job,” Costanza said with a small smile.

After work, the two talk about their medical experiences from throughout the day and relax in front of the television, watching the cable they recently became able to afford.

On the weekends they visit family. Costanza loves to travel, a love that he developed from his trip to England, Scotland and France when he was a sophomore in high school.

When around younger people, the couple says they brag about their times and activities school.

“Yeah, we recruit for Nicholls,” LeBlanc said.

As for the future, Costanza and LeBlanc dream of being successful physician’s assistants and having a family. To get there, they have to attend school for another two and a half years. If things look bright, med school may be in their future.

Whatever jobs they come across, the couple says they want to live locally.