Samuel LeDoux, Adjunct professor at UNM-Los Alamos, proposed to Kiele Nichols Sept. 12, 2024 at Nationals Park Stadium in Washington, D.C. at the Washington Nationals Baseball game against the Miami Marlins. Courtesy/Cindy Kane Photography
Scene from the Nationals Park Stadium in Washington, D.C. at the Sept. 12, 2024 Washington Nationals Baseball game against the Miami Marlins. Courtesy/Cindy Kane Photography
The crowd cheers as Kiele Nichols accepts the proposal of marriage from Samuel LeDoux Sept. 12, 2024 at Nationals Park Stadium in Washington, D.C. Courtesy/Cindy Kane Photography
COMMUNITY News:
Mark and Paula LeDoux of Nambé, New Mexico are proud to announce the engagement of their son, Samuel LeDoux to Kiele Nichols, daughter of Jonni Lutz of Sacramento, Calif. and Arturo Nichols of Española.
Samuel proposed to Kiele at Nationals Park Stadium in Washington, D.C. at the Sept. 12 Washington Nationals Baseball game against the Miami Marlins. Samuel is a huge baseball fan and this was Kiele’s first major league game.
The future groom is a 2010 Pojoaque Valley High School graduate who earned undergraduate degrees in Business and General Studies from Northern New Mexico College in 2014 and New Mexico Highlands University in 2015, then went on to earn a Masters degree in Professional Studies from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Samuel has worked in various political campaigns across the country. Most notably with New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, Arizona Sen. John McCain and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan. Also serving in the Administrations of Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey. Samuel also been a staffer for the New Mexico State Legislature for the Republicans in the House and the Senate. He’s an Española City Councilor, an Adjunct professor at Grand Canyon University and UNM-Los Alamos, and the GEAR UP Grant Program Coordinator at Española Public Schools.
The bride-to-be is a 2020 graduate of Mesa Verde High School of Citrus Heights, California. Kiele moved to Española, New Mexico in 2023 to help her father and step-mother Tilly Nichols run the Chimayo Rocks store in Española. She met Samuel at an Española Valley Chamber of Commerce event during his run for City Council.
Kiele works as an Educational Assistant for Special Education at Eutimio “Tim” Salazar III (Fairview) Elementary in Española. She plans to attend Northern New Mexico College to obtain a degree in Education and become a full-time teacher in the Española Public Schools.
The happy couple plan to be wed in August 2025 at The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe.