Mark and Tina Preston of Gainesville announce the engagement of their daughter Kara Jo Preston to Benjamin Thomas Jackson, son of Sandy and Libby Jackson of Clermont.

The bride-elect is the granddaughter of the late James and Elizabeth Maurer and Jack and Barbara Chobanian of Vicksburg, Miss.

She is a 2003 graduate of North Hall High School in Gainesville. She graduated in 2007 from the University of Georgia in Athens with a bachelor's degree in child and family development. She is employed as a preschool teacher with Discovering Basics Daycare of Clermont.

The groom-elect is the grandson of Jackie Roberts of Gainesville, the late Ralph Roberts, Dolly Jackson of Clermont and the late Christopher Jackson.

He is a 2003 graduate of North Hall High School in Gainesville. He graduated in 2005 from Truett-McConnell College in Cleveland with an associate's degree in business marketing. He is the owner of Skitts Mountain Shavings in Clermont.

The couple plan to wed June 13, 2009, at Buck Creek Farm in Gainesville.