Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kirkland Sims of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Mary Katherine Sims, to Joshua Patrick Whelan of Oxford.
The prospective bridegroom is the son of Dr. and Mrs. William Michael Whelan of Greenwood.
He is the grandson of the late Rev. and Mrs. John Pennington Ragsdale and the late Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Albert Whelan.
The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Dale Stockstill of Picayune and Mrs. Peggy Kirkland Sims of Jackson, and the late Mr. Pat Sims.
Miss Sims is a 2004 graduate of Jackson Academy, where she graduated with honors.
She earned a bachelor's degree in communicative sciences and disorders from the University of Mississippi in 2008, where she graduated cum laude.
At Ole Miss, she was a member of the Mortar Board Honor Society, Associated Student Body Senate, Student Alumni Council and Chi Omega fraternity, where she served as recruitment chairman from 2007 to 2008.
Miss Sims will graduate in May 2010 with a master's degree in communicative sciences and disorders with plans to become a speech-language pathologist.
The prospective bridegroom is a 2000 graduate of Pillow Academy, where he graduated with highest honors.
He graduated cum laude from the University of Mississippi in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in English and psychology.
At Ole Miss, Mr. Whelan was a member of Order of Omega Honor Society and Phi Delta Theta fraternity, where he served as recruitment chairman in 2002 and vice president of recruitment in 2003.
He completed a master's degree in higher education administration in 2007.
Whelan is associate director of development for the Ole Miss Parents Association at the University of Mississippi Office of Development.
The couple will exchange vows at 7 p.m. April 10, 2010, at Northminster Baptist Church in Jackson.
A reception following the ceremony will be held at the Mississippi Museum of Art in downtown Jackson.
