Bryan and Samantha Hancock

From a young age, Bryan Hancock (C'98) knew he wanted to be a pilot. As a junior at Wahlert Catholic High School in Dubuque, Bryan began his journey to achieving his dreams and started working on his private pilot's license through the University of Dubuque. When it came time to look at furthering his education, he knew that UD was going to be his college home. In the fall of 1996, Bryan began his college classes, pursuing his degree in flight operations.

Samantha Tiffany (Ex'01) also had a passion for aviation. As a senior at Erie High School in Erie, Illinois, she took her first discovery flight at UD in the spring of 1997. After that flight she knew she wanted to pursue a degree in aviation, so she enrolled at UD later that fall and began her college journey.

Sam and Bryan first crossed paths at a UD flight competition in the fall of 1997. As students, they were helping with the competition and connected quickly over their love for aviation. Their first date was at an Alpha Eta Rho Halloween party that October, setting the stage for a love story that would quickly take flight.

Five months later, Bryan decided that he wanted to ask Sam to marry him, but the proposal didn't go quite how Bryan had hoped.

"I can't keep secrets. So I know I was not acting myself that night." Bryan said.

Sam added, "The night we got engaged was a night I had made dinner. I hate cooking. I might cook two meals in a year. So one night, I put a lot of work into making a fancy dinner, and he wasn't eating. I got mad and stormed upstairs. He followed me and proposed right there in our home. Turns out, he wasn't eating because he was nervous, not because my cooking was bad!"

Even though they were newly engaged, the two focused on their education. Bryan completed his degree in Spring 1998 and began working for Cottingham & Butler while simultaneously building his flight hours. Then in August 1998, Bryan moved to Davenport, Iowa, where he worked as a flight instructor. Unfortunately, it was at this time that Sam's time in the aviation program was cut short after only one year due to some medical reasons.

Sam and Bryan were married soon after on June 12, 1999. The couple tied the knot at the United Methodist Church in Morrison, Illinois, close to Sam's hometown. A reception followed at the Steeplegate Inn in Davenport, Iowa. The wedding was a grand celebration, attended by 300-400 of their family and friends. Their families took charge of the planning, allowing Sam and Bryan to simply enjoy their day.

"Our wedding was the first for both of our families. They pretty much took charge and did all of the planning for us. All we had to do was show up." Sam recalls.

Bryan and Sam honeymooned in Riviera Maya, Mexico, enjoying relaxing time on the beach, horseback riding, and snorkeling.

After their wedding, they moved to Kentucky in 2000, where Bryan worked for ComAir, a Delta Airlines connection. As newlyweds, Sam and Bryan's shared passion for flight and travel led them to explore destinations all over the country whenever Bryan had a few days off. Among their favorite spots were the Cayman Islands, Las Vegas, and Florida. Sam, who worked part-time as a veterinary nurse, often accompanied Bryan on his work trips.

In November 2003, their son, Carter Hancock (C'24), was born. Sam continued her educational journey, earning her bachelor degree in elementary education and teaching at Northern Kentucky University in 2007. Later that year, the family decided to relocate back to Dubuque.

Since 2005, Bryan has flown for private airlines, enjoying a schedule of one week on, one week off. In addition to his aviation career, Bryan pursued a Master of Theological Studies at the University of Northwestern - St. Paul, graduating in 2016.

Sam went on to study for her master's degree in educational technology from the University of Central Missouri from 2010-2012 and took additional classes at the University of Dubuque to obtain her Iowa teaching license. She taught at Cascade Elementary for a year. She then worked at McGraw Hill as a Learning Solutions Representative before joining Thomas Jefferson Middle School, where she worked from 2012 - 2016. In 2016, she took on the role of a technology coach at Roosevelt Middle School. In November 2022, Sam returned to the University of Dubuque aviation program, this time as an advisor for flight students.

Carter also has a passion for flying and followed in his parent's footsteps, beginning his flight training as a junior in high school, working to obtain his private piolet license. In 2022, Carter began his college career at UD, majoring in flight operations. Carter is now a UD graduate and is serving the University as a certified flight instructor, helping other student achieve their dream to fly.

The Hancock family also has a great love for dogs. Their Bernese Mountain Dog, Wilbur is a treasured member of the family, and they hope to get another dog soon to train as a therapy dog. In between working and traveling, Sam and Bryan have become avid pickleball players and enjoy catching a match whenever they can. They also enjoy spending time at their cabin in Apple Canyon, especially riding trails, boating, and relaxing by a bonfire. Bryan is also involved with the Dubuque organization "100 Men Who Care." Sam loves music and enjoys going to concerts as often as possible. With Bryan's demanding travel schedule, they value their time at home and prefer staying local rather than embarking on frequent trips.

Bryan and Sam enjoy visiting Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado to attend concerts. One cherished memory is their visit to Red Rocks to see the Avett Brothers perform, one of Sam's favorite bands, and to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.