Mr. and Mrs. Cortlandt Spencer Stark of Montgomery, Alabama, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Lauren Elizabeth Stark, to Dr. Gabriel Hamilton Hester, son of Radford and Connie Hester, of East Franklin, Alabama.

The bride-elect is the granddaughter of the late Edwin and Margaret Jordan of Montgomery, and the late Colonel Smylie and Judy Stark of Montgomery. Miss Stark is a graduate of St. James High School in Montgomery and a 2008 graduate of Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science. She was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority while in attendance at Auburn. Miss Stark earned her Master of Science degree in occupational therapy in 2011 from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. She is currently employed as an occupational therapist at Restore Therapy services in Birmingham.

The prospective groom is the grandson of Grace Hester and the late John B. Hester Jr. of Belgreen, Alabama, and the late Herbert and Lurra Williams of East Franklin, Alabama.

Dr. Hester is a graduate of Fayette County High School and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 2004. Dr. Hester earned his doctorate from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham in 2009. He completed a residency in internal medicine with the Baptist Health Care System in Birmingham. Dr. Hester is a partner in Summit Internal Medicine in Birmingham.

Vows will be exchanged July 16 at the Highlands, North Carolina.