The engagement of Julie Kylene Gares and Joseph Michael Thrower has been announced by their parents. She is a daughter of Rodney and Mary Gares of Kahoka, Mo. He is a son of Simon and Cheryl Thrower of Ewing, Mo.

The bride-elect graduated in 2004 from Clark County High School and graduated cum laude with honors in May from Hannibal-LaGrange College. She played softball 2004-2007 and basketball 2006-2007, was a resident assistant from spring 2006-spring 2008, was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes 2005-2008, the Student Missouri State Teachers Association 2004-2008, Alpha Tau service organization for women 2005-spring 2007 and the Student Government Association 2004-2007. She was named All-Conference Academic Softball 2004-2005 and All-Conference and All-Regional Academic Softball 2005-2006. Miss Gares is employed for the 2008-2009 school year at Bowling Green Middle School as an eighth-grade English teacher and coach for middle school cross country.

The prospective bridegroom attends Hannibal-LaGrange College, where he has played baseball since 2006. He has been a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Phi Beta Delta service organization for men, Christian Ministry Vocations Fellowship and Student Activities Committee since 2006 and a resident assistant since 2007. Mr. Thrower was a member of the All-Conference Academic Baseball Honors Program 2006-2008.

The couple will be married Dec. 20 in Calvary Baptist Church in Hannibal, Mo.