In Love at Naz

Written by: Genevieve Fontana 

Alumni share how Nazareth plays a special role in their love stories. 

To Naz Together
Marioly Corchando ’05 and Nicklaus Ambrose ’04

"We met actually in high school! Like all high school sweethearts we didn't want to be separated when we went to college so I asked Nick if he would consider going to school in Rochester. He applied at multiple schools, but RIT didn't have a golf team at the time and Nazareth gave Nick a more competitive financial aid package than St. John Fisher, so he came to college with me! 

We sat near each other for three straight years in high school and because he was quiet I assumed he just was not interested. A mutual friend of ours introduced us and after being assigned seats next to each other in high school we started a conversation that has been going on for almost 22 years. It was best friend at first sight that eventually turned into love. 

Nick is your quintessential "nice guy" with great eyes and a very sincere smile, so super easy to love. I'm super high energy and pretty fiery so I've always thought of him as "my peace" because he balances me and calms me down when I'm starting to get way too much. 

At Naz I was a nursing student and Nick double majored in business administration and economics with a concentration in finance. I worked at Friendly's right on Monroe so we went there all the time but also liked the Pittsford Pub, the movies, and for special occasions we went to Mario Via Abruzzi's. We used to walk past the Del Monte Lodge (up the street from Nazareth) and would dream of one day staying there, which seemed an impossibility to two broke college kids. 

When we came back for Nicklaus' athletic hall of fame induction at Nazareth we stayed there and it felt like our lives had come full circle — a really nice memory. We both like watching sports and murder mystery docs. We play golf (Nick is a much better golfer than I am!) and snowboard/ski.  We love spending time with our kids. We love grabbing dinner at new restaurants in Buffalo and wherever we go."

A Soccer Girl and a Lacrosse Guy
Briana Vibbard ’16’18G and Scott Brown ’16

Bri and Scott met their freshman year at Nazareth College in 2012. They were a part of the same friend group. Bri was a soccer girl and Scott was a lacrosse guy. The summer following their freshman year Scott went to visit Bri in her small town hometown of Sherburne, NY and Bri went to visit Scott in the suburbs of Chicago. This was when they “officially” decided to be together. 

Throughout their undergrad time at Naz, they supported each other in everything they did. Helping each other prepare for a big test or presentation, ordering late night garbage plates from Hungry's, and most importantly, attending each other’s sporting events — whether it was in person at Golden Flyer stadium or streaming games on their computers. They did it all together. 

They both graduated in 2016 —Scott with a bachelor’s in business management and Briana with a bachelor’s in health science. Scott landed a job at Paychex and stayed in Rochester so he could be close to Bri while she finished her doctorate in physical therapy at Nazareth. On May 12, 2018, Briana graduated with her doctorate in physical therapy, and they went to the Echo Circle on campus to "take photos." It was at this moment that Scott proposed to Briana, surrounded by their families and close friends, in the place where it all began — Nazareth College. 

They were married on August 9, 2019 with about 40 of their fellow Naz alumni present (11 of whom were in their wedding party). The dance floor was packed the entire night, thanks to all the Nazareth alumni. Over the past eight years, they have truly fallen in love with Rochester. They bought their first home in Penfield one year ago and live there with their dog, Minnie. 

Briana and Scott visit campus whenever they can, whether it's a quick drive through or on a date night on the upper field with ice cream from Pittsford Dairy. The campus will always be a home away from home for them. Nazareth College holds such a special place in their hearts. They are beyond thankful it brought them together, and that it was the start of many lifelong friendships.