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Western Illinois University alumnus Michael Dillon (far left, in color) and alumna Hillary Higgins (fourth from left, in color) first met in 2009, when they were team members for their Corbin Hall floor team in the annual Bayliss-Henninger Mud Volleyball Tournament.
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In early August, Dillon, who earned his bachelor's and master's degrees (2012, 2014) in instructional technology, and Higgins, who earned her bachelor's degree in education (2011), traveled back to Western's Corbin Hall to revisit the first place they met. Dillon proposed marriage to Higgins in the second floor study lounge — the location where he first asked her to be his girlfriend — Aug. 1.
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Higgins and Dillon at Western in 2010.
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Clear as Mud: Residence Hall Memories Lead to Alum's Marriage Proposal in Corbin Hall

September 28, 2015

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MACOMB, IL — Taking part in one of the messiest annual residence hall events in 2009 ultimately resulted in a treasured moment late this summer for Western Illinois University alumni Michael Dillon and Hillary Higgins.

It was in Fall 2009, just before the Bayliss-Henninger Mud Volleyball Tournament, that Dillon (an Elmhurst, IL, native) and Higgins (originally from Oneida, IL), met on their mutual floor in Corbin Hall.

"Our first interactions with each other occurred when we each signed up to be a part of our floor's mud-volleyball team, which was happening one of the first weekends on campus. We became fast friends leading up to the event, and then we continued to be friends after," Higgins noted.

"We were lucky enough to live approximately seven doors down from one another in Corbin," Dillon added. "I was a transfer student in my first year at Western, and I was looking for opportunities to become involved. One of the big events we were told about early on in the school year was the Bay-Henn Mud Volleyball Tournament, so it seemed like a great opportunity to get to know fellow floor mates—one of whom was Hillary. After the event concluded, I was still eager to be involved, so I began to look for more opportunities in my residence hall. Sure enough, Hillary was also involved in a lot of the same activities. It was throughout our involvement in residence hall activities that Hillary and I began a friendship that will now last our lifetime."

In early August, Dillon, who earned his bachelor's and master's degrees (2012, 2014) in instructional design and technology, and Higgins, who earned her bachelor's degree in education (2011), traveled back to Western's Corbin Hall to revisit the first place they met. Little did Higgins know that Dillon had more in mind than just a visit to their old stompin' grounds.

"The residence hall brought us back to the roots of our friendship and our relationship. There, I shared many laughs, many hours of studying, and it was there where I truly got to know Hillary. One of the best memories I have of living in Corbin was me asking Hillary to be my girlfriend in the second floor study lounge. With all the sentimental value that Corbin Hall has for Hillary and me, it was clear to me that's where I wanted to ask her to be my wife."

So on Aug. 1, Dillon asked Higgins to marry and him, and Corbin Hall Complex Director Danielle Tucker was there to take a photograph of the couple for their WIU love story. Dillon and Higgins both said they are considering setting the wedding date for some time in the next couple of years.

Since graduating from Western, Higgins has earned her master's degree in library and information science. She now works as a children's librarian at the Galesburg Public Library. Dillon, who now lives Elmhurst (IL), currently works at Everspring Partners, an education technology company as an associate instructional designer. In his job, he works with the faculty of his company's client schools to design online master's degree programs.

"As for the wedding, we haven't made any concrete plans yet, but we are thinking some time in 2017. We are working toward living in the same area first," Dillon said.

"Looking back, I am glad the resident assistants in Corbin Hall encouraged us to get to know others on our floor and to participate in activities," Higgins added.

Posted By: Teresa Koltzenburg (WIUNews@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing