Melissa Ann Needles and Justin Ryan Tesser have announced their engagement. 

Melissa is the daughter of Theresa (nee Pieper) Needles of St. Louis and the late Martin Needles of St. Louis. She is the granddaughter of Barbara and the late Eugene Pieper of Saint Louis, and Mondell and Jack Needles of Boynton Beach, Fla.

Justin is the son of Dr. Paul and Lori Tesser of Chesterfield. He is the grandson of Barbara and the late Martin Cohn of West Palm Beach, Fla., and Sydell and the late Herbert Tesser of Merrick, N.Y.

Melissa and Justin both graduated from Parkway Central High School and both earned bachelor’s degrees from the University of Missouri. Melissa works as a Customer Experience Manager at quip in Brooklyn, N.Y. Justin received a Master of Education degree from Hunter College in New York. He is currently Principal of Endeavor Elementary School in Brooklyn.

Justin proposed in Central Park on the Gastop Bridge in May. An October 2020 wedding is planned.