At 10:58 am today, Upper School Spanish teacher Emily Stokes received a marriage proposal in front of her 4th year Spanish class.

Don Broyles, Stokes’s boyfriend, entered the classroom with a question in mind. With his basic Spanish proficiency, Broyles managed to ask, “¿Te casarías conmigo?” Stokes responded with a yes, and the Spanish class erupted in screams and squeals.

“I was dying of embarrassment,” said Stokes. “But it was so sweet and I couldn’t imagine a proposal that would’ve been more surprising and fun.”

The couple had their first date one year and seven months ago today, February 29. They went running in Point Defiance and out to dinner after.

To coordinate the event, Broyles emailed the Director of Upper School Jake Guadnola. “He asked if it would be okay to come into Stokes’s fourth year Spanish class to ask her to marry him,” said Guadnola. “I confirmed it with Mr. Sullivan, then confirmed it with [Broyles] that it was highly likely that she would say yes, and he got the green light,” he continued.

Guadnola met with Broyles at 10:53 am in the front hall and led him to Stokes’s classroom.

“The wedding will be soon,” said Stokes, “and the Spanish 4 class has already kindly offered their assistance as the official wedding dance team.”