NCHS Panther Partners
Celebrating Panthers who met at North Central and built a lasting love that’s still going strong today!
Some love stories begin with a spark, and for Sammy and Cealia, their journey started with a little chemistry as students in Chemistry X class in the spring of 2016.
Sammy was immediately drawn to Cealia’s beauty and intelligence, while Cealia couldn’t help but admire Sammy’s wit and charm. Their first date was a memorable one—a trip to an Indianapolis Indians game, complete with hot dogs and popcorn. From there, their connection only grew stronger.
As students, Sammy and Cealia were both athletes and active members of the school community. Sammy, who played baseball and football, was part of the Senior Class Council, while Cealia, a volleyball player, balanced athletics with membership in the National Honor Society. Sammy’s vibrant, outgoing personality complemented Cealia’s reserved nature, creating a perfect balance.
Fast forward to today, Sammy and Cealia are newlyweds, having tied the knot in August 2024. Both are now thriving in their careers at Eli Lilly and Company, with Sammy working in Marketing and Cealia focusing on Global Public Policy.
At North Central, they experienced the richness of diversity and inclusion. Surrounded by peers from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences, the couple learned invaluable lessons about respect and dignity. North Central’s diverse environment not only prepared them for life’s challenges, but also fostered a deep appreciation for engaging with people from all walks of life.
Sammy fondly recalls attending Prom with Cealia after a double-header baseball game, while Cealia treasures the excitement of their senior Homecoming.
Beyond their professional achievements—Sammy as an IU Kelley School of Business graduate and Cealia as a Purdue College of Pharmacy alum—they remain deeply involved in their community. Together, they volunteer at Crooked Creek Food Pantry, and actively participate in organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Indiana Pharmacy Association’s Health Equity Council.
Sammy and Cealia’s journey from high school sweethearts to successful professionals demonstrates the power of love and a strong community foundation found here at North Central.
Ryan and Shannon first crossed paths at North Central, but it wasn’t until years later that their love story truly began. As students in the early 2000s, their friend groups overlapped, but they never spent much time together. Fast forward to 2014, fate reconnected them at the wedding of mutual friends. After catching up at the wedding, they returned home on separate flights… but their conversation never stopped. Once home, morning coffee meetups at 6:45 a.m. soon became a routine due to their busy schedules. Just two days in, each already believed they had found their soulmate.
Their first official date was at Barcelona Tapas, where they shared great conversation and dreams for the future. Both had busy, active lives in high school—Ryan played basketball, worked at Kroger and Lifetime Fitness, and was a proud Costco cart boy, while Shannon was a soccer player with a packed social calendar.
In 2016, they said “I do” and have since built a beautiful life together with their two daughters, Olivia (5) and Ella (2). Today, Shannon is in her fifteenth year in education and is a math coach in her fourth year at Nora Elementary School, where she co-leads the pickleball club for 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade students. Through this club, Shannon advocated for pickleball courts to be added to the playground space. This addition was funded through the Washington Township Schools Foundation. Ryan is the Director of Training for a pharmaceutical company. Ryan is the Director of Training for a pharmaceutical company.
Their North Central memories remain some of their favorites. Shannon recalls the freedom of gathering with friends in the student center, feeling like NC was a college campus with endless opportunities. Ryan fondly remembers cheering at football and basketball games, school dances, and spending time with friends. The diverse and inclusive environment at NC shaped them into who they are today, instilling a deep sense of community, empath, and confidence.
Both of these proud graduates credit their high school experience for preparing them to navigate life personally and professionally. Now, as parents, they seek that same sense of belonging and diversity for their own children.
From building careers to starting a family, their journey is a testament to how connections made at NC can come full circle in the most unexpected and beautiful ways.
For Jacqueline and Jacob, North Central wasn’t just their high school—it was where their lifelong love story began. The two met in Ms. Ellis’s class during their senior year, where an alphabetical seating arrangement and a little rule-bending led to their first real connection. Their bond grew stronger through STARZ, a club started by Jacob’s best friend, and soon, their friendship blossomed into something more.
Their first date on November 15, 1998, after a STARZ meeting at Noble Roman’s, set the foundation for a relationship built on deep conversations, shared faith and undeniable chemistry. Jacqueline’s big sister immediately saw how special Jacob was, and 26 years later, the couple still shares that same effortless connection.
Throughout high school, their personalities complemented each other perfectly—Jacqueline, the fun-loving and outgoing 90s girl with her beeper and platform sandals, and Jacob, the quiet and reserved guy who opened up around close friends.
Now married for 20 years with two wonderful children, Madeline (20) and Adin (17), Jacqueline and Jacob have built a life centered around giving back. Both work in the nonprofit healthcare sector, with Jacqueline serving as a director at a long-term care facility and Jacob as a director at a community mental health and wellness center. Their passion for service extends beyond their careers, as they volunteer at food pantries and remain active members of their synagogue.
North Central played a pivotal role in shaping their futures, from the lasting friendships they formed to the real-world experience they gained through programs like Learning Unlimited. Their favorite NC memory? Organizing Unaphunkfest, an unforgettable economics project that not only showcased their teamwork but also gave them another chance to grow closer.
Even after all these years, their North Central connections remain strong, and they love reuniting with fellow Panthers at alumni events, as well as seeing their own children matriculate through NCHS as Panthers.
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For more Alumni Highlights and information, please visit our NCHS Alumni Center.
