On the third floor of Cross Village: Building D, two freshmen at the University of Oklahoma — Emma Ludwig and Ella Dreese — shared a wall in their four-room residence hall. Before arriving on campus, neither knew the other. By the time their freshman year wrapped up, both were sure of one thing: they'd be lifelong best friends.
Ella Dreese &
Emma Ludwig
Price College of Business,
Class of 2026
The University brought me someone I truly cannot live without. She’s my very best friend in the whole entire world. I think in the chaos and newness that comes with freshman year, there are droplets of sunshine that are sprinkled throughout. Our friendship is one of those droplets.
- Emma Ludwig
If everything had gone according to plan for Ella, they wouldn't have ever met.
She had never planned to join the OU Family. As a high school senior, she was committed to another school in another state but a friend kept encouraging her to visit OU’s main campus in Norman, Oklahoma.
“I toured campus to prove this place wasn’t for me,” Ella said. “Instead, I fell in love with OU.”
Ella attended several OU tours. Each time, she was amazed that despite the campus’s size, her tour guides — who double as current OU students — knew people passing by.
“It was crazy to be on such a large college campus and to think that, no matter where you are, there are intentional connections and friends you can easily find,” Ella said. “I was looking for that kind of connection and community.”
In comparison, Emma came from a family of OU alumni. She knew firsthand what it meant to be part of the OU Family — the accomplishments, opportunities, academic excellence, and people that await here. It made sense to her that, as an OU student, she’d find lifelong friends — she just didn’t know it would come in the shape of Ella.
Beyond being roommates, they were in student organizations like the President’s Leadership Class and Crimson Club, where they served as student leaders and helped preserve the traditions of campus. As the time they spent together outside of classes grew, it dawned on Emma that they would become best friends before the end of their first semester.
“We were sitting on the first level of Cross on the floor,” Emma said. “We were inside the small room where you walk through one set of doors and have to scan into the next set for building access.”
Together, they watched fellow students walk to and from early morning classes. Ella was doubting herself.
“She was asking, ‘Should I be pre-law? Should I be pre-med?'” Emma said. “We talked about it for an hour, debating and listing out the pros and cons of each path, and that was when I knew we would be friends. I know we were meant to be there together at that exact moment to support each other.”
Made their friendship international by studying abroad in Italy with the President's Leadership Club.
Experienced the rivalry between OU and Texas by attending two OU-Texas football games.
Dived into campus life through Greek Life, where they both lived in their sorority houses, attended formal events, and made lasting friendships.
Created a student organization together in the Price College of Business known as “Believers in Business.”
Helped future OU students see the possibilities awaiting by becoming student tour guides!
“The University brought me someone I truly cannot live without,” Emma said. “She’s my very best friend in the whole entire world. I think in the chaos and newness that comes with freshman year, there are droplets of sunshine that are sprinkled throughout. Our friendship is one of those droplets.”
As seniors preparing to graduate in May, both women already know what comes next in their academic journeys. While both are excited, it also means they will be split up for the first time in four years.
“OU has been this beautiful environment where we have just seen our friendship flourish,” Ella said. “It’s given us the time, support, and resources we needed to make this friendship long-lasting and able to withstand the distance.”
Emma will continue her education with OU with a master’s in management of information and technology on the thesis track. Ella will be moving to Nashville, Tennessee, to attend the Belmont University College of Law.
“No matter where we are — timezone, state, space — I truly believe our friendship will be forever,” Emma said. “Bless that campus tour and this school for bringing us together.”
Emma and Ella built a lasting friendship as freshman year roommates in Cross, one that’s carried them all the way to commencement and beyond. The connections and community you’ll find here are just part of what makes being in the OU Family so special.
