Finding Love at Elmira College: Alumni Share Their Happily Ever Afters

For Elmira College alumni Megan Klopfer Wheelden '09 and Daniel Wheelden ’09 it was in a German Language course. For Julie Salinero ’18 and Stephen “Trey” Rider ’19 it was reorganizing the EC Theatre Departments’ costume storage. Similarly, for Rachael Patten ’17 and Dallas Winchell ’18 it was during set construction for an EC Theatre performance. Those were the moments when the couples first met each other. Now married and building their careers, they look back fondly on their Elmira College beginnings, hoping future students find, as Megan Wheelden put it, “that person who will always be your cheerleader.”

Now living in Annville, Pennsylvania, with their three kids, Megan and Daniel Wheelden look back on their EC days with humor. Megan Wheelden is an Oncologist at Penn State Hershey Medical Center, and Daniel Wheelden is a Human Resource Generalist at the Lower Dauphin School District. As they shared the story of how they met they chatted easily together, often teasing one another.

They met in German class. They were also in a writing class, though back then Daniel Wheelden was too shy to speak.

“Now I yap more than she does,” he quipped.

Through shared friends, Daniel Wheelden grew fond of Megan Wheelden and finally asked her to a haunted house attraction at Bradley Farms just outside Elmira. Megan Wheelden, unaware of his interest, only realized they were “serious” when Daniel Wheelden updated his Facebook status to "in a relationship."

“I didn’t know what I was doing,” Daniel Wheelden admitted. However, he must have figured it out because Megan Wheelden said yes when he proposed during a Term III trip to The Bahamas. They married in 2010, with many EC friends in attendance.

A self-described “odd couple,” they say their differences balance each other out, helping them navigate careers and the chaos of three young kids.

“We give each other perspective,” Daniel said.

That opposites attract also holds true for Salinero, a School Psychologist at Corning-Painted Post High School, and Rider, a Manager of requisition to payment accounts at Corning Incorporated.

Like the Wheeldens, they enjoy teasing each other, recalling their first impressions while unpacking costumes.

“Trey was diligent,” Salinero said.

“She was crazy,” Rider joked.

Salinero was immediately drawn to Rider, but he was oblivious to her feelings. Since he didn’t get it she attempted to date others throughout the year. Then, just ahead of summer break, she confessed her feelings to him over text, as he was moving home for summer break. He suggested staying “just friends” for the summer, but eventually, Salinero won him over. Eight years later, the Star Wars-loving couple married on May 4, 2024.

“We used Star Wars songs for reception entrances,” Salinero shared excitedly.

Reflecting, the couple advises future Soaring Eagles to be more observant and to trust in their instincts.

“If your gut is telling you to go for something, then go for it,” said Salinero. “There was a reason why I couldn’t move on from Trey. Even though I didn’t want to have a crush on him, I compared everyone to him. It’s worth it to hold out and be patient.”

Among the EC friends that attended Salinero and Rider’s wedding were this story’s third couple, Patten and Winchell.

Patten, a Mental Health Therapist at Pathways, and Winchell, a Systems and Process Analyst at Corning Incorporated, didn’t initially see romance in their future.

Scott McGuire, Technical Director of Theatre, recruited Winchell at Summer Orientation to help run the soundboard for performances. This led to a friendship with Patten, but their romantic relationship didn’t begin until they became dance partners in a Term III ballroom dance class while also serving on the Reunion Committee. As they spent time together, their feelings changed—though there were complications. For starters, Patten was seeing someone.

“That other relationship ended, and soon after Dallas and I realized our feelings went beyond friendship,” Patten said.

Timing was another hurdle. Shortly after they got together, Patten graduated and moved home to Massachusetts for graduate school, while Winchell finished his senior year.

“Dallas visited,” Patten said proudly. She recalled some of the thoughtful gestures they made while apart.

“I surprised him his senior year with some trickery for Halloween,” she shared. “The week before Halloween, I had people approach him with love notes from me. I then surprised him by delivering the final note and the costume I told him I would mail – but never did – in person.”

Five years later, Winchell returned the surprise, proposing on Halloween in 2022.

“Everyone but me knew,” Patten said.

They married in July 2024, with many EC friends, including Salinero and Rider, in attendance.

Their advice to students is to take things slow.

“It’s OK to not rush,” Patten said. “We were together for seven years before getting married. We really took our time. Just enjoy the relationship moment by moment.”

For these couples, Elmira College wasn’t just where they earned their degrees—it was where they found lasting partnerships, built on shared experiences, friendship, and a little bit of fate.