Eastern grad engaged to 'The Bachelorette'

CHENEY – An Eastern Washington University graduate was the winning suitor on the reality television show, “The Bachelorette.”

Nayte Olukoya won the affections of Michelle Young, the bachelorette, a 28-year-old elementary school teacher from St. Louis Park, Minn.

Olukoya is a 27-year old Canadian-born senior account executive living in Austin, Texas.

Before moving to Texas, Olukoya attended Eastern Washington University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

He has an Apple Master certification and has previously worked as a sales representative for AT&T Wireless and Direct TV in Cheney.

He also worked as a bartender at PRESS in Spokane.

The way Nayte was cast for the show was very unusual and began with a guy named, “Mike.”

Mike had just moved to Austin and met Nayte.

They hung out for a while, and Mike revealed to Nayte that he was contacted by producers from the show, “The Bachelorette.”

Due to personal obligations, Mike was not able to attend the filming and decided to give them Olukoya’s name instead.

At first, Nayte declined.

However, the show’s producers persisted and he eventually agreed.

“I got reached out to again, and so I filled out an application. I was like, ‘What’s the worst that could happen?’,” he said. “And then fast-forward, they were like, ‘Yup, we want you here,’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, I don’t think I want to come though,’”

After a while and with the support of friends and family, he agreed to be on the show.

Over the 18- episode season, the couple became close and were falling in love with each other.

During the finale episode, at the Final Rose Ceremony, Olukoya proposed marriage to Michelle and she accepted.

The couple got engaged in Mexico a couple of months ago and believe their relationship is getting stronger.

Olukoya who recently quit his job to join Young in Minnesota in their hunt for a house together.

“The Bachelor” show gifted the couple $200,000 for a down payment on a house.

Features Reporter Sarah Stephens can be reached at [email protected].