It can be said that the war in Iraq has struck many people all over the country. Whether it’s having family being stationed, losing a family member or friend, or even for personal interest, Iraq has certainly made its presence.
Seton Hill University (SHU) has experienced its own importance to a soldier stationed in Iraq. Former Business major Geoff Monsour, who is now a SHU 2006 graduate, is currently enlisted in the Marines and stationed in Iraq.
By Jaynelle Stevens,
Publicity
It can be said that the war in Iraq has struck many people all over the country. Whether it’s having family being stationed, losing a family member or friend, or even for personal interest, Iraq has certainly made its presence.
Seton Hill University (SHU) has experienced its own importance to a soldier stationed in Iraq. Former Business major Geoff Monsour, who is now a SHU 2006 graduate, is currently enlisted in the Marines and stationed in Iraq.
Furthermore, at home, anxiously awaiting his return, is his fianc�e Katie Aikins, who is also a 2006 SHU graduate. What makes this story so special is that had it not been for SHU it is unlikely that the couple would have met.
�Geoff and I met in the Fall semester of 2005 here at SHU and have been officially identified as a couple ever since. I guess that is why SHU is so dear to us. It’s our relationship’s birthplace,� said Aikins.
Geoff has been enlisted in the Marines since the September 11, attack on the United States. Since then, Geoff had been working and receiving his degree at SHU until his departure.
�We found out a few days before his departure date that he would be leaving. It was very short notice,� said Aikins. Monsour left for Camp Lejune, North Carolina on July 3, 2006, and soon after that in the month of August he left for Iraq. Aikins, on the other hand, is currently taking courses at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) for her master’s degree in teaching and plans to graduate in December, 2007.
During her spare time she spends time with friends and family. According to Aikins, it hasn’tbeen easy with Geoff being in Iraq.
�The hardest part is probably that I don’thave the ability to talk to him each day and when a couple days go by and I don’thear from him, I can do nothing but worry.�
�In the future, I see them (Aikins and Monsour) being happily married with very successful careers,� said Bethany Hutira, a friend of Aikins and Monsour, and also a 2006 SHU graduate. The couple was engaged over the summer.
�I knew the day that I met Geoff that he was the one. I just knew I would marry him,� said Aikins.
�They are one of the few couples I know that act the same way together as they do (apart),� said friend of Monsour, Russ Phillips.
When Monsour returns, the couple will continue planning for their SHU wedding, which is set for July 4, 2008.
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