SIUE Love Connection Every love story is sweet, but for Veronica and Raed Armouti, their story began with some added sweetness. Veronica worked at Union Station, the convenience store located in the Morris University Center. There, she met Raed, who frequented the store, just as SIUE students still do today. “I used to go in and buy candy from her. That is where we first met,” Raed shared. It did not take long for the two to develop an eye for one another. Veronica planned “chance” run-ins with Raed, while regularly reporting back to her roommates on her progress. Raed asked Veronica out for the first time during one of these “chance” meetings in the Peck Building. But, before he could ask her out, he needed to break the ice. “I asked her how to get to the library,” Raed said. “I knew that he knew where the library was,” Veronica laughed. “But I went along with the question anyway.” Veronica jumped at the chance to provide directions to her new friend. She knew Raed was doing more than just looking for the library … the “ask” was coming. Their first date happened on September 29, 1983, after Raed picked up Veronica from cheerleading practice. “We just talked and talked that night,” Veronica reminisced. “It came so easy.” The couple regularly met for lunch on campus, and Raed watched Veronica and the other Cougar cheerleaders during soccer games. Veronica was nominated to Homecoming court, and the couple attended the dance together. After dating for a year and half, Raed and Veronica decided to get married. They were married on November 25, 1985, in Alton, Ill. Several members of their wedding party are also SIUE alumni. Following graduation, the couple lived in Jordan for three years while Raed served in the Army. Today, the Armoutis are avid travelers and enjoy exploring new places with their family. They have three children, Seraya, Nadia and Laith. Raed has worked at Crawford, Murphy & Tilly as a civil engineer for more than 24 years. He is now a shareholder with the company and works in the downtown St. Louis location.
Veronica Armouti, BS Sociology/History ’86, MS Policy Analysis ’88 Raed Armouti, BS Civil Engineering ’86
After earning her undergraduate and graduate degrees from SIUE, Veronica earned her Juris Doctor from Saint Louis University School of Law. In 2013, she founded The Senala Group, LLC, a parent company for consulting work and internet-based start-up in development. In addition to her professional work, Veronica is an active community member, serving on numerous boards over the years. While their days as SIUE students are over, they still visit campus frequently to attend Arts & Issues events and other campus activities. Veronica has been a key volunteer and board member for the SIUE Alumni Association and continues to make a lasting impact on our University.
Do you have an SIUE love story? Visit siue.edu/alumni and tell us about it. We may feature you in the next eConnection! 20 Spring 2015