Burlington Standard

One of the main goals of attending college is to study and learn valuable skills to launch and build a professional career. But when two students find love – and then get married – that's a pretty sweet deal! This Valentine’s Day, we celebrate a few couples who attended Grossman School of Business and continue their love today! Read about these GSB sweethearts: 

Dana and Patrick Biddiscombe 

This couple met at the University of Vermont Grossman School of Business and started dating early 2007. They both shared a passion for entrepreneurship and hit it off immediately. After graduation Patrick ('08) went on to an internship at New Breed, a startup company, while Dana ('09) took a job in the finance department at General Dynamics. 

After a few years at New Breed, Patrick and Dana acquired the company and set out to grow it, while also running a horse farm in St. George, Vermont. The couple was dedicated to their work, but also found time for their joint passion for polo. 

In 2014, Patrick proposed to Dana at Shelburne Farms, overlooking Lake Champlain. The couple was married in October of 2017 at their farm in a beautiful ceremony, surrounded by family and friends. By 2018, New Breed had reached new heights, becoming one of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The company was a five-time recipient of the Inc. 5000, a testament to Patrick and Dana's hard work and dedication. 

Outside of work, the couple enjoy their joint passion for polo, playing with their string of horses in New England in the summer and Wellington, Florida in the winter. Patrick and Dana were truly a match made in business heaven, and their love for each other and entrepreneurship continues to grow stronger with each passing day. 

Ellie Schabel and Alex Farrell 

These two lovebirds met in the fall of 2021. Alex (‘15) and Ellie (‘21) met in the fall of 2021 right after Ellie’s graduation from GSB. Ellie was working for a beer company in Burlington and had become friends with several of Alex’s friends in the beverage industry. During an evening out, they were introduced and were immediately interested in each other, but attempted to play coy for a couple weeks until Alex worked up the audacity to ask Ellie out. They had a first date, then accidentally spent every day together since.  

Ellie and Alex will celebrate their second anniversary later this year. While they didn’t cross paths while at GSB, their shared networks have made it surprising that they never met sooner, and they are sure glad they did! They quickly discovered that they each walk through campus during pensive moments or for a bit of cheering up on a blue day. Now, Ellie and Alex take the occasional chance to walk campus together to compare the campus as it was during Alex’s time at Grossman School of Business and how it is now. 

We just love love stories! Are you an alumni with favorite memories or stories from your time at GSB? We’d love to hear about it! Please take a few minutes share your story for a chance to be featured as a GSB Spotlight on our social media! 

Original source can be found here.