Dr. Iris Ellis and Mr. Randall Craig Ellis of Valdosta announce the engagement of their daughter, Dr. Whitney Elizabeth, to Dr. Stephen Michael McConnell of Lawrenceville, Georgia.

Dr. Ellis is the granddaughter of the late Preston Lee Cooper and Mrs. Lena Hayes Cooper of Ochlocknee, Georgia, and the late Glynn Thomas Ellis and Mrs. Carolyn Ellis of Valdosta.

She graduated from Valdosta High School in 2005 and received her Bachelor of Science in Bio-Chemistry and her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from The University of Georgia in 2009.  She received her Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine degree from Temple University in 2014.  Dr. Ellis is currently a second-year resident at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia.

Dr. McConnell is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Michael McConnell of Lawrenceville, Georgia, and the grandson of Mr. J.W. Kingery and the late Mrs. Jolaine Bailey Kingery of Atlanta, and the late Mr. Thomas Evan McConnell and Mrs. Lady Mary McConnell of Stone Mountain, Georgia.

Dr. McConnell graduated from St. Pius X High School in Atlanta in 2003 and received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from The University of Georgia in 2007.  He received his Doctorate of Medicine degree from Mercer University School of Medicine in 2013.   He is currently an ophthalmology resident at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia.  Both are scheduled to complete their residency training in 2017.

The wedding is set for Saturday, February 28, 2015, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Savannah with The Reverend Patrick Kingery officiating.