UNI alum said ‘yes’ after proposal at game

Whether they're on the court or in the stands, University of Northern Iowa alumni and former UNI cheerleaders Danielle Schulz and Bob Helgerson have always cheered for their favorite college basketball team, the University of Northern Iowa Panthers. At the UNI men's basketball game against Drake on Sunday, Jan. 22, another event was transpiring from within the second row of the stands – a wedding proposal.

With five minutes left during halftime, the current UNI cheerleaders were performing their final stunt, finishing in a high pyramid with three cheerleaders at the top holding up three individual signs that read, "DANO, MARRY ME?"

"While they were performing the stunt, I was fumbling in my pocket for the ring. I was shaking like crazy," said Helgerson. "I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me."

Schulz and Helgerson met and started dating when they were members of the UNI cheerleading squad. Helgerson said he wanted to propose where it all started.

Schulz, also known as Dano, started cheering her freshman year at UNI. Helgerson joined the squad on a bet his sophomore year, where he was then introduced to Schulz.

The two started dating at the end of their sophomore year.

Helgerson said planning the engagement wasn't easy. Knowing the cheerleaders on the squad, he asked them to help by making the signs and performing the stunt in front of them during half time.     Schulz said she was a little suspicious when he didn't want to sit in their normal section, but instead up close in the second row of the stands.

"I was surprised," said Schulz. "I didn't think he would propose in front of all those people at the game."

Since graduating from UNI, Schulz said she and Helgerson try to go to one or two UNI games a year since they once cheered for the Panthers. The couple recently moved to Cedar Rapids.

Schulz, who graduated in 2010 with a degree in leisure youth and human services, now works at a nursing home as the activities director. Helgerson, who graduated from UNI in 2011 with a degree in elementary middle level education, is now teaching seventh grade science at Linn-Mar Community Schools.

The couple confirmed that a date has been set and they plan on celebrating their union Aug. 25 of next year.