While many UP alums searched for jobs this summer, one was searching for love on national television. 2012 UP graduate Chris Siegfried captured the hearts of many women this summer, including ABC’s Bachelorette Desiree Hartsock. After cross-continental dating and dramatized heartbreak, Siegfried finally took a knee and proposed to Hartsock, earning her final rose and a pending engagement.
During his time at UP, Siegfried pitched for the baseball team and was a member of the E-Scholars program. He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2007 where he played minor league baseball before returning to UP in 2011 to finish his degree in economics.
The couple now live in Seattle together where Siegfried works at HomeStreet Mortgage Bank.
The Beacon caught up with Siegfried last weekend as he drove across Washington’s Highway 2 from a weekend vacation at Lake Chelan. Across the crackling speaker phone and stop-and-go traffic, Siegfried filled us in on his days as a Pilot and his plan to visit The Bluff next month.
What is your best memory from your time at UP?
I really enjoyed a lot. I enjoyed baseball. My best time at UP was getting to know the friends that I have still and being a part of the baseball program and the E-Scholars program at the school there.
You have a book of poems coming out soon – “Diamonds and Hearts.” Did you write or take any poetry classes while at UP?
Yeah I took writing courses. I took two college writing courses. I don’t remember the professor’s name though. I enjoyed them very much, it allowed me to break up the business portion I was taking everyday. It allowed me to get my creative juices flowing.
What’s the best place to hang out in North Portland?
Besides the T-Room on Thursday nights? John Street Café is a good spot, we used to go there a lot. You should go, it’s awesome.
You already went to a Seahawks game and toured Discovery Park. What else are you going to introduce Desiree to in the Pacific Northwest?
Another time we’re definitely going to go up to Crystal. We definitely want to try to get up to Whistler at some point. So we’ll see if we can make that happen. It will be nice to experience Seattle together. I’ve only been there for a year so it will be nice to hang out.
In an interview with Baseball America you mentioned coming back to UP for alumni baseball games. Will you be returning to The Bluff anytime soon with Desiree?
Yeah the alumni weekend is the 13th, 14th and 15th so I’ll be down there playing a game. We’re just gonna kinda hang out. The game’s at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Any advice for Pilots looking for love?
Try out for The Bachelorette. No, just keep an open mind and an open heart, and be willing to date and write a lot of poetry. I’m not Dr. Phil so I’m not really the best for that advice.
You’ve delved into a versatile set of activities and career paths including baseball, banking, The Bachelorette, UP’s E-Scholars and modeling. What’s your advice for Pilots deciding upon their career path?
Good question. Just try to go with what you feel you know you’re passionate about and just pursue that. You know, try it for two years and if it doesn’t work out you can change course but go after what you’re passionate about. Right now I’m passionate about Des (laughs). Just kidding…but really.
Fast Facts:
Walk-up song for baseball
A German techno song from “Super Troopers.”
UP dorm
Corrado Hall freshman year, then off-campus housing
Favorite professor or class
Dr. Adams: finance, Dr. Seal: economics, Dr. Anderson: E- Scholars program, and Gwynn Klobes: adviser.
