In 2014, Kelsey Akee found herself in a Spanish class. The Bella Vista, Arkansas native wanted to attend school outside of her hometown but still nearby, and with its affordable tuition, Missouri Southern is where she ended up.
She also found herself two rows behind Zach Baughman, who left another university to attend MSSU. There, he found a great community, which included Kelsey. The two of them were even a part of several Spanish study groups. Eventually, Zach friended Kelsey on Facebook, exchanging some friendly messages about class.
“I loved Zach’s enthusiasm and kind, genuine spirit,” Kelsey said about her first impression of her husband. “He had a wonderful smile when he walked into a room.”
"Kelsey was really cute, funny, cool, and so intelligent,” said Zach. “It made sense why she already had a boyfriend." He winced.
A year and a half later, Zach was studying in Guanajuato, Mexico for the summer. Kelsey wanted to be a part of the adventure, so she found a month-long internship in the area. In a city of over 190,000 people, by complete chance, they were next door neighbors.
“This allowed our friendship to grow and spend time doing more activities together,” she said. “We both gained a greater appreciation for Mexican culture and the Spanish language.”
After graduation, Zach studied at University of Arkansas and then worked in the aerospace/defense industry, while Kelsey spent time between Joplin and Arkansas. However, after the summer, eight years passed, not one phone call or message exchanged between the two of them.
But the story doesn’t end there.
In Northwest Arkansas, Kelsey prayed to prepare for heart to find the right person.
“Less than a week later,” she said. “I was overcome with the desire to call Zach.”
Despite the years that passed between them, they talked for hours.
“I was completely floored,” he said. “Here's this amazing girl I had a crush on, and we were talking like no time had passed. I knew I had to keep her in my life just after the first day we spent talking. I didn't waste time asking her on a date and didn't tiptoe around it."
They spent weeks talking before reuniting in person again. Their first date was spent dancing all night at Kelsey’s friend’s wedding.
“We shared so many special things we loved about nature and the world,” said Kelsey. “The date felt natural. When we reconnected, we were open, honest, and old enough to have some great communication skills.”
Zach says this was the moment he realized he was going to marry her.
“It was while dancing and seeing her move through the world,” he shared. “I felt it so strongly that without any hesitancy, I told her I loved her that night.”
For Kelsey, it was at a Matchbox Twenty concert.
“We danced when everyone else was sitting still,” she said. “After the concert was over and everyone had left, we laid on the grass in front of the stage together, holding hands.”
Zach and Kelsey soon returned to the site of their first date: The reception hall of The Belvedere. Zach proposed to Kelsey in the same place where they danced all night long just months ago.
The couple got married on February 10, the Lunar New Year of 2024. The wedding featured MSSU alumni and staff who supported the couple: Kelsey’s former professor turned friend, Dr. Holly McSpadden, became ordained to officiate their wedding; Ruth Stamper, Kelsey’s friend, was a bridesmaid and supportive presence while they planned and celebrated their unity; and the DJ was Payton Walker, who helped with the surprise proposal.
Now, Zach works at EaglePicher, still in the aerospace/defense industry, and Kelsey is a lead estimator at All Seasons. They’re celebrating their first wedding anniversary this week.
“We got married in our early thirties after we both had some tough times in the dating world,” said Kelsey. “We both made decisions along the way not to settle, but also not to become hardened or lose hope that the right one would come our way.”
The Baughmans would like to say this:
“To anyone at any age, we would say we know it is rough out there, and being single by choice is a blessing over settling for the wrong fit, but don't lose faith someone amazing might come your way if that's what you want. Good luck in life and in love!”
[AUTHOR’S NOTE: The title is a excerpt from the “Tell Me” by Kelsey Baughman (née Akee) published in the 2014 issue of “bordertown.”]
