From Classmates to Couples – SkyHawk Love Stories 2026
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we’re once again celebrating the love stories that began right here at Skutt Catholic. For some of our alumni, Skutt Catholic wasn’t just the place of football games, pep rallies, and prom nights—it’s where they met the person they’d one day marry. What started as a high school connection has grown into lifelong partnerships rooted in faith, friendship, and shared memories. Join us as we highlight couples whose Skutt Catholic love stories have stood the test of time.
From Freshman Year to Forever
Some love stories really do begin in the hallways of high school. For this couple, it all started back in the summer of 2007, just before their freshman year at Skutt Catholic. At only 14 years old, Lauren Kluthe Duren ‘11 and Dylan Duren ‘11 were introduced through mutual friends and quickly began crossing paths everywhere—from the hallways to the workout room, as Dylan headed to football conditioning and she made her way to basketball workouts. Once the school year began, fate seemed to step in: four of their eight classes were together that first semester, giving them plenty of time to get to know one another. What they jokingly called a “thing” during freshman year soon became official the following summer, marking the start of a relationship that would continue to grow well beyond high school.
Their years at Skutt Catholic were filled with memories that still bring smiles today. From multiple homecomings and Senior Prom to MORP (reverse prom) and countless Friday nights spent laughing with friends in the parking lot after football games, their high school experience was rich with shared moments. Some of the simplest memories stand out the most—freshman year PE classes full of knockout games, mornings spent gathered by lockers with friends, and those everyday interactions that felt ordinary at the time but proved to be incredibly meaningful in hindsight.
On August 18, 2018—8/18/18—they were married during a beautiful ceremony at St. Wenceslaus, surrounded by many of the same people who had been part of their story since their teenage years. Their wedding party was filled with fellow SkyHawks, including siblings, close friends, and family members who had walked alongside them throughout high school. It was a full-circle moment, beginning their married life with so many familiar faces from Skutt Catholic standing by their side.
Today, their life is full, joyful, and wonderfully chaotic. They are raising two little girls, Lilly (almost three) and Hayley (eight months), along with their dog Blakely, who rounds out the family. Days are busy with toddler giggles, baby snuggles, and all the routines that come with this sweet season of life. Summers are often spent at the lake or pool, and their calendar is happily filled with mini soccer games, swim lessons, arts and crafts, and backyard adventures.
Professionally, Dylan is the owner of Monarch Siding Windows & Roofing, while Lauren works as a CPA and Director in the Client Advisory Services Division at Lutz. Even during this busy season of young family life, they continue to make time for their individual passions—and for each other. Dylan enjoys hunting, wake surfing, and cheering on the Huskers, while Lauren recharges through running, yoga, cycling, reading, and the occasional day of self-care. And when they can sneak away together, concerts and simple date nights are always a favorite.
One of the most meaningful parts of their life today is that many of their closest friends are fellow Skyhawks. Reconnecting as adults and now watching their children grow up together feels especially special—playdates, birthday parties, and new friendships forming right before their eyes. It’s a reminder that the connections formed at Skutt Catholic don’t just last four years—they last a lifetime. 💚
When Mrs. Beckman Played Cupid
Some love stories don’t begin with sparks—they begin with assigned seating. This one started in Mrs. Beckman’s freshman-year Health class at Skutt Catholic. Sitting in alphabetical order, Nicole—last name Zych ‘00—was perfectly content in her quiet seat at the back of the classroom. Lowell Ferguson ‘00, on the other hand, had a habit of rocking back in his chair, testing both gravity and Mrs. Beckman’s patience. After one too many warnings, Lowell was relocated to the spare teacher’s desk in the back of the room—complete with a rocking office chair—right next to Nicole. She wasn’t thrilled. Focused and studious, she had little interest in a new neighbor who seemed determined to distract her. But over time, conversation crept in, and what began as annoyance slowly turned into friendship.
During those early chats, Lowell shared his plans to join the Marine Corps. Nicole jokingly told him she would write to him—words that would later prove far more meaningful than either of them could have imagined. Throughout high school, they remained close friends, moving within the same circles and cheering each other on through different relationships and teenage adventures. Though they never dated during their Skutt Catholic years, their lives stayed quietly intertwined, building a foundation of friendship that would eventually lead them back to one another.
It wasn’t until after graduation, when Lowell was serving in the Marine Corps, that Nicole kept her promise. She wrote to him during boot camp, and through those letters, their relationship began to grow in a new way. What started in a classroom years earlier blossomed into something deeper – proof that timing has a way of revealing what was meant to be all along. As they like to say now, it turns out Mrs. Beckman may have been their cupid after all.
Nicole and Lowell were married in September 2004, just a few months after Lowell completed his service with the Marines. Standing beside them as best man was fellow SkyHawk and classmate Tom Kropf—a reminder that Skutt Catholic friendships tend to follow you into life’s biggest moments.
Today, their Skutt Catholic love story has come beautifully full circle. They live in Elkhorn and are raising four daughters, two of whom are currently students at Skutt Catholic—a senior and a freshman. Their younger girls attend St. Patrick’s Elkhorn, continuing the family’s strong foundation of faith and education. The couple feels deeply blessed to watch their daughters grow not only academically, but spiritually—whether they’re serving as water girls on the football sidelines, wrestling, trapshooting, or simply soaking in the same Skutt experiences that shaped their own lives years ago.
Lowell now serves the community as a firefighter with Omaha Fire, while Nicole runs a photography studio in downtown Elkhorn, capturing memories for other families. Their story is a beautiful reminder that love doesn’t always follow a straight path. Sometimes it takes time, patience, and a little divine intervention… and sometimes, it just takes a teacher moving a rocking chair to the back of the room.
Senior Year Sweethearts
Some love stories grow quietly out of friendship, and this one is no exception. Jessie Hopson Friend ’10 and Tyler Friend ‘10 first met at Skutt Catholic around the age of 15 or 16, part of a close-knit class where friend groups naturally overlapped and familiar faces filled the halls. Throughout high school, they were good friends, sharing classes, laughs, and everyday moments that slowly built something meaningful. It wasn’t until senior year that their friendship turned into something more, marking the beginning of a relationship that would continue well beyond graduation.
Many of their favorite memories from Skutt Catholic revolve around sports and school spirit. Tyler spent his high school years on the football field, while Jessie competed on the volleyball court, and they rarely missed a chance to support one another. Weeknights and weekends were spent on the sidelines and in the stands, cheering each other on alongside friends. Those shared moments—surrounded by teammates, classmates, and SkyHawk pride—are memories they continue to cherish.
The couple were married in 2016, surrounded by many of the same friends who had shared those high school experiences with them. Their Skutt Catholic connections remained strong, and even today, they stay close with many classmates.
Now settled in Omaha, they are raising two children, Kate and Luke, and embracing the busy, joyful rhythm of family life. Tyler serves the community as a Police Sergeant and pilot for the Omaha Police Air Support Unit, while Jessie works at Nebraska Medicine on the People Strategy team. Despite full schedules, their favorite thing is simply being together.
One tradition has remained especially meaningful throughout their relationship: annual trips to Table Rock Lake in Missouri. They’ve made the trip every year since they started dating, and it holds even deeper significance for Tyler, who has visited the lake every year since he was just one year old. It’s a place filled with memories, laughter, and continuity—much like their Skutt Catholic love story. 💚
Love at 50 Yards: A Skutt Catholic Proposal
Some love stories begin in the classroom—and for Jen and Charles, theirs started in Mr. Zeplin’s weightlifting elective at Skutt Catholic. Jen Nelson Olson ‘99 was a sophomore and Charles Olson ‘98 a junior. Friends nudged them along, and their first official date was at the school’s Valentine’s Dance in February 1997. Their high school romance lasted about three years, a chapter full of sports, activities, and shared memories. After college (both attended Hastings College) the couple reconnected, proving that some connections are too strong to fade.
Their Skutt Catholic years were rich with laughter, friendship, and school spirit. Heavily involved in sports and activities, they shared countless memories with friends who would remain close for years. Even after college, the couple’s love for Skutt Catholic didn’t wane. They became active in the alumni association, and Charles coached football until their family started to grow. One of their most unforgettable Skutt Catholic memories came during the 2004 homecoming football game. Charles convinced Jen to join him on the 50-yard line, claiming he was giving a talk about the alumni association. What Jen didn’t know was that Charles had something far more meaningful in mind: in front of a cheering crowd of family, friends, and SkyHawk fans, he proposed right there on the grass football field—a moment they’ll never forget.
Jen and Charles were married on June 4, 2005, at St. Leo’s Church, surrounded by family, friends, and nine fellow Skutt Catholic alumni in their wedding party. Their wedding was a full-circle celebration of the friendships and community that had shaped their early years.
Today, Jen and Charles live on 12 acres in northwest Elkhorn, Nebraska, raising four children – Addy, a 2025 Skutt graduate; Ellie, a sophomore in the class of 2028; Chris, a freshman in the class of 2029; and Dominic, a 5th grader who is already dreaming of becoming a SkyHawk alum himself in 2033. Between school activities, sports, and family adventures, the household is bustling and joyful. Charles serves as President of OCI in Elkhorn, while Jen teaches art and works as an administrative assistant at Spirit and Grace Academy. The family also co-owns the Ponderosa Bar and Grill in Elk City, NE.
Despite their busy lives, Jen and Charles continue to stay connected to Skutt Catholic, volunteering, attending alumni events, and planning trips that keep them close to their SkyHawk community – like an upcoming summer visit to Spain to see their former exchange student Dolsa and her family. “We love Skutt and are so grateful for everything it has given us—and still does,” Jen says. “Once a SkyHawk, always a SkyHawk.”
Finding Love After Graduation
Some love stories- like Valerie Finochiaro Zeplin ’14 and Zach Zeplin’s ’14- take a little time to find their spark. They first crossed paths in high school, moving within the same friend groups and attending the same social gatherings. They weren’t especially close at the time, but fate had other plans. Years later, at the age of 24, they ran into each other at The Good Life. After that chance meeting, Zach got her number—and the rest, as they say, is history.
Though they didn’t date in high school, the years at Skutt Catholic still left their mark. One standout memory comes from junior year: a visit to Zach’s house with friends revealed a funny coincidence—he had been Valerie’s aunt and uncle’s next-door neighbor since he was 10! Though no high school photos exist of them together, those shared moments and connections were part of the foundation that would bring them together later in life.
Zach and Valerie were married on April 25, 2025, surrounded by friends, family, and fellow SkyHawks from their graduating class. Several classmates were in the wedding party, including Sarah Cundiff Thielen, Libby McCaslin, and Matt Thomas – a testament to the enduring bonds formed at Skutt Catholic.
Today, the couple lives in Millard, where they are building their life together. Valerie is in her seventh year as a 3rd-grade teacher, shaping young minds with the same care and dedication she once admired in her teachers. Zach works at Pella Windows and Doors and was recently promoted to estimating manager, a milestone that reflects his hard work and ambition. Over the past three years, they have made their Millard house a home, filled with love, laughter, and the start of countless new memories.
Though their story didn’t officially begin until young adulthood, it’s a reminder that sometimes love is quietly forming in the background, waiting for the perfect moment to blossom. Once a SkyHawk, always a SkyHawk. 💚