English teacher Mark Hernandez is now engaged to his girlfriend of four years, Palo Alto High School social studies teacher Melinda Mattes.

Hernandez first met Mattes on the Stanford pool deck while coaching the Gunn swim team in 1999. On the eve of Feb. 20, 2006 at 12:30 a.m., Hernandez proposed to Mattes in room 2965 in the Sierra Tower of the Disneyland Hotel.

The ceremony will take place on July 7, 2007, at Stanford Memorial Church at 3 p.m. Hernandez welcomes both staff and students, but he will not however, tolerate any ‘rioting.’

Hernandez and Mattes first announced their engagement to the Gunn swim team during the team meeting after the Intrasquad Meet March 3. “We felt that the swim team knew us best, and therefore, they deserved to be the first to know [on campus],” Hernandez said.

“[Becoming engaged] means that my mom doesn’t give me as hard of a time,” Hernandez said. Mattes and Hernandez are currently enjoying their new life as they begin to plan their wedding. “There’s a lot to be planned,” Mattes said.

One thing that must be done is the purchase of an engagement ring. Both have decided that they will not travel the traditional route regarding an engagement, a diamond ring. Instead, Mattes wishes to have a sky or water blue sapphire as the prominent stone.

“Diamonds are not rare, yet completely overpriced,” Mattes said. She wishes to not be a walking advertisement for diamond cartels. “Having a diamond ring as an engagement ring is not historically accurate,” she said. In the early 20th century, DeBeers used the diamond as the preferred stone of choice in the ads. “I would rather pay less for something even more beautiful and valuable than follow the trends and have a diamond,” Mattes said.

Hernandez has been teaching for seven years, while Mattes has been for four. However, in their free time away from school and coaching swimming, they enjoy watching sports and “Law & Order” and playing miniature golf.