A (shuttle) ride to remember
Some people propose over romantic candlelit dinners, during long walks on the beach, or from the stands of sporting events with the crowd watching on the jumbotron, but Thomas Scordino 鈥�26 had a different kind of location in mind.聽
This semester, with help from 精品vA品天堂密桃鈥檚 Office of Transportation and Parking, Scordino carried out an elaborate plan that culminated in him getting down on one knee from the center aisle of a Newton shuttle bus, asking his girlfriend, Sophia Paranzino 鈥�26, to marry him. A photographer hiding behind a tree nearby captured the moment, which may go down as the most 精品vA品天堂密桃 engagement of all time.聽
For Scordino, a finance and marketing major, it was a chance to celebrate the place where it all began. He and Paranzino first met as first-year students riding the shuttle bus back to their dorms on Newton Campus. (鈥淗e was wearing a Johns Hopkins shirt and I'm from Baltimore, so I asked about it,鈥� recalled Paranzino. 鈥淭hen we talked for the rest of the ride.鈥�) Four years later, it鈥檚 impossible for them to think about the early months of their relationship without Newton Campus and its trusty shuttle.聽
"Most nights we would go to 10 p.m. Candlelight Mass, take the bus back, and walk around Newton Campus for hours, just getting to know each other and growing closer," said Paranzino. "That campus played such a role in our story as a couple."
Initially, Scordino toyed with the idea of proposing at the Chestnut Hill Reservoir, another iconic 精品vA品天堂密桃 location where he and Paranzino had their first official date, but after chatting with his roommates, he couldn鈥檛 get the shuttle off his mind. So he emailed Director of Transportation, Parking, and Contracted Services Gabe Parker with what he called 鈥渁 crazy ask.鈥�
Less than two hours later, Parker replied. "He said, 'Yes, we love it. Do it,鈥�" Scordino recalled, "and I was like, 'Oh, heck yeah.' I鈥檓 so very, very grateful to them."
The happy couple with long-time shuttle supervisor Manny Alves, who 鈥渏umped at the opportunity鈥� to help make the proposal plan happen, said Parker, by driving a spare shuttle himself at no cost to the University.
For the next week, Scordino, Parker, and Boston Coach Supervisor Manny Alves hashed out logistics over email. Parker and Alves were enthusiastic from the start, but needed to make sure regular shuttle service wasn鈥檛 compromised. Hoping to keep the plan a surprise, Scordino made early dinner reservations in Newton, and suggested to Paranzino that they take the bus back to main campus afterwards. Paranzino knew something was going on when聽Scordino wondered aloud if they should dress up.聽
鈥淗e's not a good liar, which I always say is a really good quality in someone I want to marry,鈥� she laughed. 鈥滺e was acting very suspicious.鈥�
At 6 p.m. sharp, they boarded a shuttle bus marked 鈥渟pecial event鈥� with Alves himself behind the wheel, wearing a suit for the occasion. They chose the same seats they鈥檇 ridden in as first-year students, meeting for the first time, and as the bus sped along Commonwealth Avenue, Scordino delivered a small speech to his soon-to-be fiance. At Linden Lane, Alves opened the doors, and switched the bus's illuminated message to read 鈥淲ill You Marry Me,鈥� as Scordino popped the question.聽
Was this the most romantic thing to ever happen on a Newton shuttle? Probably, said Parker, who oversees the University鈥檚 six shuttle routes. Occasionally, he鈥檒l arrange buses for couples getting married at St. Ignatius who need transportation for their guests, but Scordino鈥檚 request was by far the most unusual that Parker has received in his years at Boston College.聽
鈥淲e wanted to do whatever we could to make this happen,鈥� he said. 鈥淲orking out the logistics with Thomas was just a joy. This is a kid who鈥檚 in college, worrying about midterms, thinking about where he鈥檚 going to work next year, and he still took the time to plan something so thoughtful. We were happy to be a small part of it.鈥�
After a quick photoshoot on Linden Lane, the newly engaged couple celebrated with friends and family at a party in Scordino鈥檚 Mod. In keeping with the theme, Scordino鈥檚 mother decorated a sheet cake with a small plastic shuttle bus, painted in maroon and gold stripes. With a wedding planned for next summer in Baltimore, it鈥檚 unlikely that the shuttle will make an appearance, but neither Scordino or Paranzino will forget its role in their connection.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a good reminder to just be aware of who鈥檚 there,鈥� said Scordino. 鈥淒on鈥檛 have your head down in your phone all the time鈥攋ust say hi to people. It worked for me.鈥�