Some love stories begin with a spark. Others begin with friendship, laughter, and a shared sense of calling. For Rosie Carter and David White, both Class of 1996, their story started the way many great Warner stories do: surrounded by friends, faith, and the daily rhythms of campus life.
The two officially met during new student orientation, along with a group of fellow youth ministry majors. Rosie remembers the early days as a “gaggle” of friends who did nearly everything together: studying, hanging out, and navigating college life side by side. Names like Eileen, Clint, and Tim filled their circle, along with roommates Becky, Betty, and Mark. In that close-knit community, Rosie and David became friends first, a foundation that would quietly shape everything that followed.
Like many Warner couples, they found “their” place on campus. The SUB became their go-to spot, where they would watch movies, play pool, or settle in to do homework together. Then as now, date nights were low key; often it was a group of friends heading to the dollar movie theater. Yet those simple moments built a shared life filled with laughter and companionship.
One of Rosie’s favorite memories from those years is the barn party: a night of hayrides, hot dogs over an open fire, and the kind of joy that comes from being surrounded by friends. “It felt like home,” she recalls. It was one of many magical moments that defined their Warner experience, not just as a couple, but as part of a Christ-centered community.
Their first official date came about in a delightfully Warner way, through the “Most Creative Date Match” game hosted by Student Activities. Rather than go with the assigned matches, Rosie and David decided to double date with another couple. In a fitting twist to their story, they won the contest and another date.
From that playful beginning, their story unfolded beautifully. David proposed in March of 1996 during a student government–sponsored dinner cruise. They were married just a few months later in July. Nearly three decades on, their journey continues to bear fruit: 29 years of marriage, seven children, six grandchildren, and even a marriage ministry. Rosie sums it up simply and powerfully: they are still choosing each other every day.
Their story is a reminder that Warner is a place where lives intersect, friendships deepen, and faith flourishes. For Rosie and David White, Warner will always be the place where a friendship became a family.
