We are excited to share another LERve story, this time featuring Drew and Liz Keiser, MHRIR 09. Their journey began as classmates at LER but truly took off when a summer internship (and a little matchmaking from a friend) brought them together. From instant messages across state lines to a first date at a then-new Black Dog in Urbana, their love story grew alongside their careers. Now raising their family in Champaign, they remain loyal Illini fans, always ready to welcome anyone who is a part of the LER family. Read on to hear Liz share their full story.
When were you two at Illinois/LER?
Drew and I both started at LER in Fall 2008 and received our degrees in December 2009.
How did you meet/start dating?
Although we were in the same LER class of 2009, we didn’t meet until we both received summer internship offers at Shell Oil. Our mutual friend Heather Nornhold (Grindley) was also going to be interning at Shell, and she introduced us. Heather also played matchmaker that summer and delivered similar “he/she likes you” messages to each of us. (thanks, Heather!) Drew interned in San Francisco, and I interned in Houston, so we first got to know each other through the company’s internal instant messenger and at the Shell summer internship conference in Houston.
What was your favorite date night location if you were dating while in Champaign-Urbana?
After a lot of instant messaging and texting over the summer, we had our first in-person date when we both were back on campus in August 2009. We went to Black Dog in Urbana, which had only been open for six months. We both received full-time offers with Shell Oil shortly after our first date. Drew was placed in Houston, and I was placed at a refinery in Norco, Louisiana. We had only been dating a couple of weeks, so we didn’t think we could request to be put in the same location. After graduation, we dated long-distance and flew back and forth from Houston and New Orleans every weekend (except one!) for 15 months. Once we were married, Shell moved me to a role in Houston.
When/where were you married?
Drew proposed in front of the Alma Mater in October 2010, and we were married in Champaign in July 2011. We had our reception at Radio Maria (RIP!).
What are you up to today?
We live in Champaign in my childhood home with our two kids, Lily, age 10, and Davis, age 8. Drew is the Vice President Global HR for TCCI, a global manufacturer of automotive compressor technology. I left Shell when Lily was 15 months old to stay home and currently substitute teach and volunteer at the kids’ schools.
When was the last time you visited campus together?
Living in Champaign, we are on campus a fair amount. During the Illini football season, you can find us tailgating in Lot 31 with our tailgate crew, The Smoking Illini (Barbecue-Bourbon-The Prosciutto of Happiness). We’d love for any LER students, alumni, or staff to stop by for a drink and to catch up!
Are there any other favorite memories or fun stories you’d like to share from your time together on campus?
So many great memories together on campus with LER friends to choose from! Thursday night (TNP) always made for great times when so many LER students would get together to meet up on campus or downtown. Bar Golf was also a favorite LER tradition!
Is there anything else we’re missing that would be fun to know?
Every time we go ice skating with our kids on campus, we park by LER and love to point out the building where “Mom and Dad” met. Our kids are tired of hearing about our LER love story, so it is fun to share it with others. 😊
