At Lehigh’s Reunion in June, Christian Hillegas ’18 planned a surprise engagement for his long-time partner Sara Anderson ’18. This was no small feat, because Anderson is a self-described “big, big planner.”
“I can’t believe he pulled it off,” says Anderson. “Because I always know everything that’s going on.”
It made perfect sense that the engagement happened at Lehigh, surrounded by their classmates, because that’s where their relationship started in the late summer of 2014. During Lehigh’s orientation week, a group of newly-formed friends were walking down East Fifth Street in Bethlehem, when an outgoing, friendly sociology major approached a rather shy neuroscience student and said, “Hi, I’m Sara!”
That’s when their love story began — not with fireworks, but more like a slow burn. “We just started hanging out,” Anderson remembers. First, as part of a larger group of friends, then just the two of them. “We really enjoyed each others’ company.”
The pair went everywhere together: to parties, dances, and even shows by Hillegas’ metal band. But it wasn’t until sophomore year that their friends confronted them about what was obvious to everyone around them. Says Hillegas, “Our friend group was like, ‘C’mon guys, get it together. Are you gonna date already?’”
Still, Anderson and Hillegas didn’t bow to the pressure to define what their relationship was.
“We were still chillin’, having fun together,” says Anderson.
“We didn’t exactly make an agreement, but we both felt we didn’t need to see anyone else,” adds Hillegas.
Finally, Senior Year…
During the summer before their senior year, something shifted. They had come to realize they were a perfect match.
“We complement each other. I’m a very relaxed and reserved person. Sara pushes me, she lights a fire under me, and that doesn't come naturally for me,” says Hillegas. “And I think the way I complement her is that I bring a relaxation into things.”
Adds Anderson, “What I love about Christian is that I can always count on him to show up no matter what — positive, negative, or whatever. He’s going to be my number one, always there, always dependable.”
Anderson also appreciates the little things. “He’s not going to get me flowers or anything like that,” she says. “He knows me well enough to show up with a latte and then watch a movie with me. That’s what makes me happy.”
A Surprise Proposal
In the years that followed, Anderson and Hillegas settled into their life together, helping each other through grad school and careers. All the while, Hillegas had been thinking about proposing. It wouldn’t be easy, though.
“I was brainstorming ideas with everyone I knew because Sara didn’t want anything public and didn’t want a restaurant proposal.”
Then the perfect idea came to him. “Why not Reunion? We love Lehigh, all of our friends will be there, we have so many good memories, and we love being alumni,” says Hillegas. The bonus was that they both would be busy volunteering with Reunion activities, so it was a good bet that Anderson wouldn’t suspect a thing.
It was a brilliant plan. At Reunion, Anderson wasn’t suspicious when Hillegas suggested that they go take some pictures on campus.
“At first I thought, ‘Why? We have so many pictures of us.’ But then he said his mom wanted some pictures of the new Clayton [University] Center, so it totally made sense.”
With Sara’s sister taking pictures of the couple on her phone, Hillegas suddenly handed Anderson an envelope. “I’m thinking, ‘What’s this? It’s not my birthday; did I miss something?’” As Anderson read the card, Hillegas made his move. “That’s when I brought the ring out,” he says.
Success! Anderson was completely surprised. In an unplanned surprise, photographers swooped in and “literally came out of the woods,” says Anderson. Word had spread about the engagement, and the Lehigh Reunion photographers made sure the couple had beautiful photos to remember their special day.
“Christian was so good,” says Anderson. “I was completely surprised. And also, the thing that only the two of us know is that if he were to get down on one knee, we’d both start laughing. So the card was perfect.”
No Longer a Secret
Now officially engaged, Anderson and Hillegas will come back to Lehigh to get married in Packer Chapel in December of 2026. What’s after that? For Anderson and Hillegas, just being together is enough.
“You know you’re with the person you’re meant to be with when you can just enjoy being together, sharing the same space,” says Anderson.
Adds Hillegas, “I just want to spend the day together. That’s it, you know?”
