When Paige (Fiscella) ‘23 and Yemi Ward ‘23, ‘26 MOL, first met at St. Ambrose University, neither could have guessed the moment would lead to marriage, careers gained with skills acquired on campus, and a life built from the relationships they formed there.
Their first interaction came during the fall of 2020, when both were living in North Hall. Mutual friends encouraged them to meet. What followed quickly became a story the couple still laughs about.
“Yemi just walks in and scolds me because I was sitting on his chair – which was definitely not his chair,” Paige laughed.
From there, the two started spending time together on campus, learning more about each other, and bonding over shared interests. One of their early dates was a fierce video game competition.
“That was pretty much the first time we hung out,” Paige said. “And we’ve been hanging out ever since then.”
Growing together at St. Ambrose
Their relationship began at an unusual time in the campus’s history. With the COVID-19 pandemic limiting activities and athletics during the fall of 2020, the campus became a smaller, more insular world.
“When we met, there was no football season or anything like that,” Yemi said. “When you’re stuck on campus, and you really can’t do anything else, you meet other people in your building that you might not have otherwise.”
St. Ambrose’s close-knit campus made it easy for their relationship to grow.
“Even just walking each other to class – little things like that were super easy for us to do because most of our classes were in the same building,” Paige said.
Both say the shared environment helped form a natural connection – one based on proximity, routine, and mutual understanding.
From student-athletes to partners
As student-athletes, Paige and Yemi fit into each other’s lifestyles early on. Paige was involved in cheer and dance, while Yemi played football and ran track.
“We understood each other’s schedules and commitments,” Yemi said. “Being student-athletes, we were both going through similar things.”
Individually, both say St. Ambrose helped them grow outside their comfort zones. For Paige, campus life encouraged her independence and curiosity.
“Ambrose offers a lot of different clubs and activities,” she said. “It was super fun to go to basketball games, volleyball games – I'd never even heard of lacrosse before I came here.”
Yemi says the university helped him develop socially.
“There’s a lot of great people at Ambrose,” he said. “It helped me come out of my shell and step out of my comfort zone.”
Together, Paige and Yemi say their time at St. Ambrose helped them learn how to support one another while balancing demanding schedules – a skill they’ve carried beyond campus.
“During college, we were always busy – in classes and in practice. We were always occupied,” Yemi said. “We were never waiting on each other, and we had room to grow.”
A proposal tied to shared memories
After more than two years together, Yemi proposed in September 2023 at Vander Veer Botanical Park – a location close to campus, which holds a fond memory for the couple.
“One of the first times we went to Culver’s, she hit a pothole and popped her tire,” Yemi said. “We ended up across the street at Vander Veer.”
When the time came to propose, they returned to that spot. Together, they stood looking at the park fountain, reminiscing about that early date.
“I asked her if she had a coin, and I told her to make a wish in the fountain,” Yemi said. “When she turned around, I was already on one knee.”
She said yes, and the rest is history.
A full-circle moment on campus
The couple graduated together in December 2023 and were married in March 2025, choosing to return to campus for their wedding.
“Our ceremony was in the Gottlieb room, and the reception was in the Rogalski Ballroom,” Paige said.
Yemi says the decision felt like a full-circle moment.
“You could choose anywhere in the world for a wedding,” he said. “But having a genuine connection not only with people, but with the campus and the school – it just put a bow on everything.”
Their wedding day reflected the community they built at St. Ambrose. Most of Yemi’s groomsmen were former football teammates, and Paige’s maid of honor was a SAU alum. “That spoke to how great my experience here was,” Yemi said.
"It really showed how everything came together here,” Paige added.
Carrying Ambrose forward
Today, St. Ambrose continues to shape their lives. Yemi is a graduate assistant for the football team, coaching wide receivers while pursuing a Master of Organizational Leadership degree.
“I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to start my coaching career while getting my master’s degree at my alma mater,” Yemi said. “My goal with my MOL degree is to continue my coaching career and elevate from the GA position.”
Paige recently started a new role as an operations and marketing coordinator for Buy Sell Build QC, combining her business management degree and her marketing minor – a job she credits to her St. Ambrose education.
“I really, really like it,” she said. “Marketing was something I really wanted to do.”
Looking back, both say St. Ambrose prepared them not just academically, but personally.
“Don’t be afraid to try new things,” Paige said. “You’re never going to meet anyone just sitting in your dorm.”
Yemi echoed that advice.
“Be comfortable being uncomfortable,” he said. “That’s the only way you grow.”
For Paige and Yemi Ward, St. Ambrose provided more than an education – it gave them friendships, careers, and a partnership of shared experiences. And as they continue building their life together, that foundation remains firmly tied to the campus where it all began.
