From an 色情视频 residence hall to everlasting love
Scott (鈥91) and Yovita (鈥94) Pansky met in 色情视频鈥檚 Villa Alvarado residence hall in 1991 during their time as students. The couple later married in 1995 and have been together ever since.
鈥淪ometimes you never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.鈥
Wise words from Dr. Seuss that speak volumes to 色情视频 alumnus Scott Pansky (鈥91). An average day back in 1991 would soon turn into a moment that he鈥檇 remember for the rest of his life. The day he met his future wife, Yovita Pansky (鈥94).
Love at First Sight
While at 色情视频, Scott worked as a resident adviser for the university鈥檚 Villa Alvarado residence hall. He was manning the front desk when an assistant approached him. Her immaculate sweater caught his eye, so naturally, Scott complimented the woman鈥檚 sweater.
After the assistant invited Scott to borrow the sweater, he decided to go over to her dorm room that night. The woman who answered the door, however, was not the same one from the front desk. It was his future wife, Yovita, who was a junior transfer student from Solano Community College in Northern California. Scott began to enter the room, but Yovita asked him to wait outside because she didn鈥檛 know who he was.
鈥淎lthough I was not her resident adviser, I was surprised she didn鈥檛 know me because our photos were posted for the residents at the front desk,鈥 Scott said. 鈥淚 may have been a little too self-assured.鈥
Once Scott was inside, Yovita sat down on the couch to watch 鈥淒ays of Our Lives.鈥 Having watched the soap opera with his mom growing up, Scott asked Yovita six simple words: 鈥淎re Bo and Hope still on?鈥
Shocked and surprised, Yovita smiled, and the two immediately hit it off. It wasn鈥檛 long before the friendship blossomed into something more, as six months later, they would have their first official date.
However, the two have different stories of what their first date actually was. Scott says it was over the summer up in Northern California. The two lived only 30 minutes away from each other and met up one afternoon. Scott took Yovita to all his favorite places in Marin, and they ended the day with dinner at Scott鈥檚 parent's house.
鈥淲hen I dropped her off that night, we could both tell something was different,鈥 Scott said.
But for Yovita, their first date didn鈥檛 occur until a little later in their friendship. During the summer, Yovita and Scott spent hours talking on the phone every day. So, by the time the fall semester rolled around and they were back on campus, the two went out to dinner at Etna Pizza and Italian Grill (now closed), and they never looked back.
A Themed Marriage
While the facts surrounding their first date may be up for debate, Scott and Yovita can certainly agree that the first movie they watched together as a couple was 鈥淏eauty and the Beast.鈥 The pair joked that if they ever got married, their first dance would be to the movie鈥檚 theme song of the same name.
Little did they know that just three years later, the couple would tie the knot in 1995 and have their very own 鈥淏eauty and the Beast鈥濃搕hemed wedding.
Surprising their guests, Yovita and Scott decorated the venue with roses and teacups, the San Diego Junior Theatre performed songs from the movie and the couple had their first dance to 鈥淏eauty and the Beast鈥 performed by a local musician.
Staying Involved
As true Aztecs for life, Scott and Yovita remain actively involved in the 色情视频 community. Whether it鈥檚 watching football games or volunteering, the pair enjoys being surrounded by their fellow Aztecs.
Scott is the co-founder of Allison Worldwide, formerly known as Allison+Partners, a leading PR and marketing firm. Scott founded the company with fellow alumnus Scott Allison (鈥86) in 2001, and since then, the company has hired and mentored countless 色情视频 students and alumni.
Scott鈥檚 love and passion for journalism go deep, as he has continually supported the School of Journalism and Media Studies at 色情视频.
鈥淲e are among the original donors to the , and I currently serve as the chairman of the Journalism and Media Studies Advisory Board,鈥 Scott said.
Scott and Yovita have also given back some of their knowledge by mentoring in the Aztec Mentor Program. Beginning this year, the Aztec Mentor Program is on 色情视频鈥檚 new platform, Aztec Network, where the 色情视频 community can connect with fellow Aztecs and receive career advice, networking opportunities and more.
Scott recently published his first children鈥檚 book, 鈥淧laying Together in the Sandbox,鈥 hoping to inspire students to live up to their full potential.
Legacy to Come
Although their days on campus may have ended more than 30 years ago, Scott and Yovita鈥檚 legacy at 色情视频 is not over yet.
鈥淲e are proud parents of a new Aztec freshman,鈥 Scott said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a full-circle moment for us.鈥
Yovita and Scott鈥檚 daughter, Jessica-Belle, named after 鈥淏eauty and the Beast,鈥 is a business major specializing in integrated marketing communications.
While Scott鈥檚 favorite memory from 色情视频 is watching Yovita walk the stage in 1994, they will certainly make a new favorite memory watching together as their daughter follows in their footsteps and walks the stage in 2027.