Brazil meets Ohio at Ohio University Lancaster Campus

                                                          The Story of Jennifer and Gabriel Faria

When Jennifer (Jen) Wright Faria met then Brazilian exchange student, Gabriel (Gabe) Faria, during their junior year at Lancaster High School, she had no idea she would someday say "I do" by the covered bridge on Ohio University's Lancaster Campus. The two, now newlyweds, initially said their good-byes when Gabe went back to Brazil after his exchange program ended 2007.  During his search for opportunities within higher education, Gabe received an offer from his host family, Steve and Judy Root of Lancaster.

 

"I chose to come back to the Lancaster Campus because my high school host family offered to host me in Lancaster for college, and the tuition was affordable," said Gabe, reflecting on his decision to return to Ohio for college. Jen and Gabe reunited at OUL as students and rekindled their friendship that eventually became romantic.

 

"We would have lunch together across the creek at the shelter house when it was warm, and we would often bring our bicycles to ride on the bike path behind OU," said Jen. Jen studied communication at the Lancaster Campus, and Gabe pursued classes in science, math and computers. They both were active members of the campus community. Gabe was a mainstay in the Hannah V. McCauley library as a student help desk worker, and Jen was active in the L.E.A.D. program, which she credits for making her more outgoing and extroverted.

 

In addition to his work with students in the library, Gabe was the first male recipient of the Lancaster Campus Student of the Month program. His academic achievements, in addition to his campus and community involvement, set him apart and made him an ideal recipient of this recognition.

 

 

 

Now living in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Gabe is an IT Support Technician for Google © where he provides online support for Google © employees globally. Jen recently made the move up north after she and Gabe were married on the Lancaster Campus on October 13, 2012. She said her plans are to one day become a communication professor or start her own business.

 

If you have a story from your years on the Lancaster Campus or at the Pickerington Center, please contact Mandi Custer, director of development, 740—654-6711, ext. 234 or custera@ohio.edu.