Study Sessions to Soulmates — A Love Story Born at ECC
When Claire (Smith) and Eric Feldmann first met at East Central College’s Learning Center, romance wasn’t yet in the air. She was an English tutor, he was a math tutor, and their shared shifts were filled with assisting students, sneaking in homework, and plenty of good-natured banter.
But dating? Not on the agenda.
Fast forward nearly a decade, and ECC’s campus is more than just the place where they earned degrees—it’s where their love story began.
Beginning at ECC
Claire, an Owensville High School graduate, started at ECC in Fall 2013 and earned her Associate of Arts in Teaching before transferring to Mizzou in 2015. Eric, who attended Washington High School, began his ECC journey a year later, studying Pre-Engineering before transferring to Missouri S&T in 2017.
Their paths crossed in a British Literature course with Dr. Bob Mahon, but it wasn’t until they both took tutoring jobs at the Learning Center in Spring 2015 that they truly got to know each other.
“We were really good friends, and we got along really well,” Claire said. “But we didn’t date.”
However, they did get to know each other during their shifts comprised of helping students navigate everything from math equations to essay revisions. Both credit their time at ECC for providing a strong academic foundation, and they agree that the Learning Center was a highlight.
“We loved working there—the staff was great, and the environment was supportive. Plus, getting paid to help others and do homework on the side wasn’t bad either,” Claire laughed.
Paths Cross Again
After ECC, Claire and Eric pursued their respective careers—Claire as a high school English teacher and Eric as a software engineer. Life took them in different directions, and for eight years, they didn’t speak.
That changed in May 2023 when Eric sent Claire an unexpected message on Snapchat. One conversation led to another, and soon they were meeting at the Washington Riverfront for ice cream and a walk with Claire’s dog, Sarge—who would later become their dog.
From that first reconnection, everything clicked.
Years in the Making
On Nov. 30, 2024, Claire and Eric officially tied the knot. ECC may not have been part of the wedding planning, but it was part of their journey.
“The Learning Center is where we really got to know each other,” Claire said. “It’s where we learned how similar our senses of humor are and how aligned our values and goals were. Even though life took us separate ways for a little while, ECC was the foundation for our relationship.”
Looking back, they wouldn’t change a thing about their time at ECC.
“It was financially smart, academically beneficial, and gave us opportunities we wouldn’t have had at a larger school,” Claire said. “And, of course, the Learning Center just might help you find the love of your life.”
ECC has played another role in their story: Claire’s mother, Dr. Michelle Smith, is the College’s Director of Institutional Effectiveness. A role she assumed in 2018 after Claire and Eric had graduated.
For current ECC students debating whether to take advantage of tutoring services, Eric and Claire have some advice: “Go to the Learning Center! You never know who you’ll meet.”
From study sessions to career success, and eventually finding each other again, Claire and Eric’s journey proves that sometimes, the best love stories aren’t the ones that happen instantly—they’re the ones that take time. And for these two, it all started at ECC.
The photographer at the Feldmann wedding was Cinthya Navarro Photography.