Michael Blane and Mona Susan Melvin of Iola are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Marah Lenann Melvin, to Wesley Preston McFadden, son of Jacque Lorraine Ensminger and Jack W. McFadden of Iola.
Marah is the granddaughter of Jeanne Ann Percy of Iola and the late William Glenn Percy, and Osa Lenore Melvin Howard of Williamsburg and the late Ernest Ned Melvin.
Wesley is the grandson of Jack L. Ensminger and the late Marjorie Ensminger, and Jacquelyn Cox McFadden of Iola and the late Thomas P. McFadden.
The engaged couple are currently residents of New York City.
Wesley is a 2008 graduate of Iola High School. He attended Kansas State University, where he was vice president of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity and was active in KSU student government. He was a 2012 KSU honors graduate, earning a bachelor’s of science degree in chemical engineering. Wesley has been employed as a chemistry tutor and at CVR Energy, Inc. His most recent employment was as supervisor and engineer at Schlumberger Technology Corporation, concentrating his efforts in managing processes, equipment and personnel.
Marah is a 2009 graduate of Iola High school. She attended Emporia State University on a dance scholarship, majoring in theatre with a minor in musical theatre. While at ESU, Marah was a member of and held several offices in Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority, was captain of the ESU Stingers Dance Team and Marching Hornets Drill Team, received the ESU Athletic Director’s Honor Roll Award, was crowned Miss Sunflower, was chosen for Sigma Alpha Lambda for leadership and service, was a member of the ESU Educational Theatre Company, and starred in the annual ESU musicals and dance show revues, as well as being two-time Black Student Union Step Show champion. During college, she also reigned as Miss Southeast Kansas in the Miss America Organization. Since moving to New York she has worked as a day nanny, has been cast in two off-Broadway musicals, has recently auditioned for “American Bombshells” and been hired by NY Promotional Modeling Staffing Agency. She is also an adjunct dance teacher and choreographer at Spotlight Dance Academy in Ottawa and at Supernova Dance Authority in Iola.
Wesley and Marah will be married in a 4 p.m. ceremony at The Hilton Hotel President in Kansas City on Sept. 24, 2016, with a cocktail hour, reception, dinner and dance to follow at that venue.
