Donte Ingram (BASC ’18) and Brady Ingram (BS ’18)
What is your Loyola Love Story (how/where did you meet, how long have you been together, etc.)?
We met at freshman orientation (2014), she ran for the track team, and I played on the basketball team. We ended up having Univ 101 together where the class was split into pairs (of course she and I finessed our way into a pair). The professor asked us to introduce our partner to the class with their name, where they’re from, and what they’re most excited for going into freshman year of college. When Brady introduced me to the class, she repeated my name and hometown as I’d told her, but when it came time to tell the class what I was most excited about, on a charismatic whim, she said “Donte is most excited about seeing me in this class every week.” At the time I didn’t have a clear intention on where things would go, but I knew she was supposed to be in my life somehow, someway. I found myself very intrigued, so I caught up with her after that same class. I couldn’t even find words; I just tapped her shoulder with my phone at the crosswalk near Regis where she stayed. Little did I know, I was exchanging numbers with my future wife! Thank you, Loyola.
What would be your advice to fellow Ramblers for a happy relationship?
In some ways, today’s culture waters down love and encourages self over others, but our advice is shamelessly fight for the people you love. If you know a person is supposed to be in your life, put your ego aside and don’t give up on them. There will be rough patches in every relationship because we are all constantly evolving and changing, but God promises to work things together for good, so always stay the course for the ones you love. The hardest paths often lead to some of the most beautiful outcomes.
What have you both been up to since you graduated?
Since graduating, we’ve lived in 3 different states and 4 different countries. After the team’s historical March Madness run at Loyola, Donte continued his basketball career professionally starting out with the Bulls in the NBA Summer League and eventually playing in the G League for 2 years before COVID pushed his career worldwide! So, during our travel, I became a yoga instructor and got my master’s degree in exercise science, and he continues to be successful in the UAE league in Dubai - where we currently reside. Most of our days consist of exploring new cities and cultures together and of course, tons of basketball!
What are your fondest memories of Loyola?
Some of our best memories include the 2018 March Madness basketball run, living in the city, the wheel throwing class we took together senior year, the friends we made through sports and otherwise, freshman welcome week events and the retreat, De Nobili build your own pizzas, and all the events on campus that included wine and ice cream.
If you could offer a current Loyola student advice, what would it be?
Our advice is, what’s for you will find you. Limit your expectations and judgments (on things and people) and just let life unfold before you. Settle into a balance between effort and ease that allows you to work toward your dreams but also encourages you to gracefully pivot in the face of changes in events or a plot twist here and there. There truly is no other experience quite like being a college student so get out of your head (and off your phone for a sec) and take in the beautiful, messy, mutual chaos of college life!!
Did you and your partner meet at Loyola? Share your story.
What is your Loyola Love Story (how/where did you meet, how long have you been together, etc.)?
We met at freshman orientation (2014), she ran for the track team, and I played on the basketball team. We ended up having Univ 101 together where the class was split into pairs (of course she and I finessed our way into a pair). The professor asked us to introduce our partner to the class with their name, where they’re from, and what they’re most excited for going into freshman year of college. When Brady introduced me to the class, she repeated my name and hometown as I’d told her, but when it came time to tell the class what I was most excited about, on a charismatic whim, she said “Donte is most excited about seeing me in this class every week.” At the time I didn’t have a clear intention on where things would go, but I knew she was supposed to be in my life somehow, someway. I found myself very intrigued, so I caught up with her after that same class. I couldn’t even find words; I just tapped her shoulder with my phone at the crosswalk near Regis where she stayed. Little did I know, I was exchanging numbers with my future wife! Thank you, Loyola.
What would be your advice to fellow Ramblers for a happy relationship?
In some ways, today’s culture waters down love and encourages self over others, but our advice is shamelessly fight for the people you love. If you know a person is supposed to be in your life, put your ego aside and don’t give up on them. There will be rough patches in every relationship because we are all constantly evolving and changing, but God promises to work things together for good, so always stay the course for the ones you love. The hardest paths often lead to some of the most beautiful outcomes.
What have you both been up to since you graduated?
Since graduating, we’ve lived in 3 different states and 4 different countries. After the team’s historical March Madness run at Loyola, Donte continued his basketball career professionally starting out with the Bulls in the NBA Summer League and eventually playing in the G League for 2 years before COVID pushed his career worldwide! So, during our travel, I became a yoga instructor and got my master’s degree in exercise science, and he continues to be successful in the UAE league in Dubai - where we currently reside. Most of our days consist of exploring new cities and cultures together and of course, tons of basketball!
What are your fondest memories of Loyola?
Some of our best memories include the 2018 March Madness basketball run, living in the city, the wheel throwing class we took together senior year, the friends we made through sports and otherwise, freshman welcome week events and the retreat, De Nobili build your own pizzas, and all the events on campus that included wine and ice cream.
If you could offer a current Loyola student advice, what would it be?
Our advice is, what’s for you will find you. Limit your expectations and judgments (on things and people) and just let life unfold before you. Settle into a balance between effort and ease that allows you to work toward your dreams but also encourages you to gracefully pivot in the face of changes in events or a plot twist here and there. There truly is no other experience quite like being a college student so get out of your head (and off your phone for a sec) and take in the beautiful, messy, mutual chaos of college life!!
Did you and your partner meet at Loyola? Share your story.