CCU alumni betrothed at Chauncey statue

The first time Shane Norris met his sweetheart Jess Dennison, he knew he would propose to her on campus one day. Eight years later, he did it in front of the Chauncey statue at the entrance to the TD Sports Complex, which seemed appropriate since they were both track and field student-athletes during their four years at Coastal Carolina University.

The couple had traveled back to campus the weekend of Feb. 18-19 for opening weekend of the Chanticleer baseball season and for the National Championship ring presentation for the baseball team. It gave Norris a perfect opportunity to pop the question.

“I felt like proposing where it all began,” he says. “And the Chauncey statue is such a cool location.”

“Coastal is near and dear to our hearts,” says Norris. “We follow Coastal athletics with a passion, and we love the University. The friendships we built with classmates, teammates, administrators and faculty are some of the best we still hold today.”

Originally from Lexington, S.C., Norris graduated in 2012 with a degree in communication. He was a reporter for WBTW and a producer at WNCN in Raleigh, N.C. He is now in public relations at G&S Business Communications in Raleigh.

Dennison, who is from Kendallville, Ind., majored in exercise and sport science, graduating in 2013. She later earned an associate degree and is a physical therapy assistant at Emerge Orthopedics in Clayton, N.C.

“And yes, Jess is leaning toward teal as a main color in our wedding,” says Norris.