Mr. and Mrs. John Dennis Wood of Vicksburg announce the engagement of their daughter, Keli Louise of Brandon, to Richard Dane Ballard, also of Brandon. Mr. Ballard is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Preston Ballard of Louisville.

Miss Wood is the granddaughter of the late John Henry and Louise Nichols Wood, the late Charles F. and Sidney R. Burgess and the late Hugh G. Rogers Jr., all of Vicksburg.

Mr. Ballard is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. William Harvey Sullivan of Louisville and Mrs. Edward Stenson Ballard and the late Mr. Ballard of Pickensville, Ala.

The bride-elect is a 2002 graduate of Warren Central High School. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Mississippi, where she received a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where she received a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Miss Wood is a registered nurse at Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. She is enrolled in the master’s degree program at UMC, where she is pursuing a degree to practice as a family nurse practitioner.

The prospective groom is a 2002 graduate of Winston Academy. He graduated magna cum laude from Mississippi State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in biology .

Mr. Ballard is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

The wedding will be at 6 p.m. July 31, 2010, at Hawkins United Methodist Church in Vicksburg. A reception will follow at the B’nai B’rith Literary Club. All relatives and friends are invited to attend.