From an SDSU residence hall to everlasting love

“Sometimes you never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”

Wise words from Dr. Seuss that speak volumes to San Diego State University alumnus Scott Pansky (’91). An average day back in 1991 would soon turn into a moment that he’d remember for the rest of his life. The day he met his future wife, Yovita Pansky (‘94).

Love at First Sight

While at SDSU, Scott worked as a resident adviser for the university’s Villa Alvarado residence hall. He was manning the front desk when an assistant approached him. Her immaculate sweater caught his eye, so naturally, Scott complimented the woman’s sweater.

After the assistant invited Scott to borrow the sweater, he decided to go over to her dorm room that night. The woman who answered the door, however, was not the same one from the front desk. It was his future wife, Yovita, who was a junior transfer student from Solano Community College in Northern California. Scott began to enter the room, but Yovita asked him to wait outside because she didn’t know who he was.

“Although I was not her resident adviser, I was surprised she didn’t know me because our photos were posted for the residents at the front desk,” Scott said. “I may have been a little too self-assured.”

Once Scott was inside, Yovita sat down on the couch to watch “Days of Our Lives.” Having watched the soap opera with his mom growing up, Scott asked Yovita six simple words: “Are Bo and Hope still on?”

Shocked and surprised, Yovita smiled, and the two immediately hit it off. It wasn’t long before the friendship blossomed into something more, as six months later, they would have their first official date.

However, the two have different stories of what their first date actually was. Scott says it was over the summer up in Northern California. The two lived only 30 minutes away from each other and met up one afternoon. Scott took Yovita to all his favorite places in Marin, and they ended the day with dinner at Scott’s parent's house.

“When I dropped her off that night, we could both tell something was different,” Scott said.

But for Yovita, their first date didn’t occur until a little later in their friendship. During the summer, Yovita and Scott spent hours talking on the phone every day. So, by the time the fall semester rolled around and they were back on campus, the two went out to dinner at Etna Pizza and Italian Grill (now closed), and they never looked back.

A Themed Marriage

While the facts surrounding their first date may be up for debate, Scott and Yovita can certainly agree that the first movie they watched together as a couple was “Beauty and the Beast.” The pair joked that if they ever got married, their first dance would be to the movie’s theme song of the same name.

Little did they know that just three years later, the couple would tie the knot in 1995 and have their very own “Beauty and the Beast”–themed wedding.

Surprising their guests, Yovita and Scott decorated the venue with roses and teacups, the San Diego Junior Theatre performed songs from the movie and the couple had their first dance to “Beauty and the Beast” performed by a local musician.

Staying Involved

As true Aztecs for life, Scott and Yovita remain actively involved in the SDSU community. Whether it’s watching football games or volunteering, the pair enjoys being surrounded by their fellow Aztecs.

Scott’s love and passion for journalism go deep, as he has continually supported the School of Journalism and Media Studies at SDSU.

“We are among the original donors to the Glen M. Broom Center, and I currently serve as the chairman of the Journalism and Media Studies Advisory Board,” Scott said.

Scott and Yovita have also given back some of their knowledge by mentoring in the Aztec Mentor Program. Beginning this year, the Aztec Mentor Program is on SDSU’s new platform, Aztec Network, where the SDSU community can connect with fellow Aztecs and receive career advice, networking opportunities and more.

Scott recently published his first children’s book, “Playing Together in the Sandbox,” hoping to inspire students to live up to their full potential.

Legacy to Come

Although their days on campus may have ended more than 30 years ago, Scott and Yovita’s legacy at SDSU is not over yet.

“We are proud parents of a new Aztec freshman,” Scott said. “It’s been a full-circle moment for us.”

Yovita and Scott’s daughter, Jessica-Belle, named after “Beauty and the Beast,” is a business major specializing in integrated marketing communications.

While Scott’s favorite memory from SDSU is watching Yovita walk the stage in 1994, they will certainly make a new favorite memory watching together as their daughter follows in their footsteps and walks the stage in 2027.