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Laya Anand, 13, is blessed by her great-grandmother, Shyamala Sundaram, before her performance June 3 at Battle High School in Columbia. Anand was taught to dance by her mother, Smrita Dorairajan, who runs her own dance studio.
Augie Thall, 2, steals the mallets from a Centralia marching band student on Sept. 23 in Centralia. Thall watched the band perform its halftime show after being chased by his mom to return the mallets.
John Drzich flips off the diving board May 29 at Albert-Oakland Family Aquatic Center. Drzich is from Texas but is working in Columbia for the next three months. “I started diving six years ago,” Drzich said. “Having a coach has really helped me progress.”
The Rock Bridge dance team performs during halftime at Rock Bridge High School on Sept. 30 in Columbia. The dance choreography was inspired by the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes and featured the iconic line kick sequence.
Madison Rapp, 10, cuddles with Snow White in the downtime before the show to help calm her nerves Aug. 13 at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. Snow White was born in January and Rapp takes care of her every day after school.
From left, Vincil Butner, 11, Paul Settle and Mark Butner gaze out the windows of a World War II-era B-25 Mitchell Bomber on July 2 at Jefferson City Memorial Airport. The inside of the bomber was decorated with World War II items including dog tags from actual soldiers who died in service. “The guys who didn’t make it back, this is how we honor them every time we go up,” Settle said.
Lyla Brite, 15, plays the guitar with her band, Dusk N Dawn, on July 16 at The Blue Note. Director Violet Vonder Haar emphasized to the crowd that the bands were formed on Monday, wrote their own songs in five days, recorded the songs for SoundCloud and were ready to perform on a real stage in less than a week, all with a group of musicians they had never played with before.
Participants in the Virginia Tech 3.2 for 32 run on Washington Street in remembrance of the 32 lives lost in the 2007 shooting.
An edible gardens tour participant touches an elderberry blossom on June 4 in Columbia. Elderberries are native plants and, when mature, can be used to make tea, among other things.
Taurell Davidson, 3, takes a break atop a basketball while the Double Helix band plays in the background at a Juneteenth celebration June 19 at Douglass Park. Taurell was given the basketball to play with by the MU basketball team, which attended the event.
Candids
Centralia sophomore Lily Colwell paints Elijah Hill’s face before the Panthers’ game against Monroe City on Sept. 23 in Centralia. Hill played in the marching band at halftime.
King Parker, 7, has his long summer curls shaved off by barber Roy Lovelady, left, while his dad George Parker watches on Aug. 20 at Albert-Oakland Park.
Rock Bridge senior Samantha Vavra waves a white towel in the student section at Rock Bridge High School on Sept. 30 in Columbia. Vavra and other senior Rock Bridge students showed out to support the Bruins for Senior Night.
The Rock Bridge High School student section does the wave Sept. 30 in Columbia. The seniors led their classmates all night long in chants, routines and traditions to support the football team.
Nora Caldwell, 2, licks her melting popsicle off of her hand while her mom, Maggie Cauffman, asks if she needs a napkin July 9 at Rose Music Hall. While kids enjoyed popsicles, parents stopped by the bar inside for a refreshing pint of beer.
Annie Corpening, right, holds her niece, A’Raea Bradley, 1, before the Juneteenth Parade on June 17 in downtown Columbia. Corpening was part of the Dancing Divas parade float.
Sraavya Gudavalli enjoys golden hour at the Claytor Lake State Park public beach. Gudavalli and her friends host a yearly cookout at the state park to get together and have fun.
Sraavya Gudavalli, a junior at Virginia Tech, poses in front of Claytor Lake in the New River Valley. Claytor Lake is located 20 minutes from Virginia Tech's campus and is a popular destination for students.
The Rock Bridge High School marching band prepares to perform during halftime at Rock Bridge High School on Sept. 30 in Columbia.
Liam Koester, 12, is congratulated by fellow Blair Oaks High School band members following a solo performance during half-time Nov. 11 in Wardsville. “It was pretty intense playing tonight, but all my friends were cheering me on,” Koester said.
From left, Courtney Sparks, Paige Stark, Riley Howell and Ness Montgomery watch the Venture Out instructor climb up the first challenge of the Odyssey high ropes course on July 31 at Venture Out. The participants learned about proper safety practices on the course such as the green, yellow and red system. Green meant feeling comfortable, yellow meant feeling slightly uncomfortable and red meant not comfortable at all. Instructors checked in with each participant throughout to course to see how they were feeling.
Sports
Jaleah Brookins (45), a sophomore forward at Battle, shoots a free throw after a foul under the basket. Brookins was a standout rebounder throughout the game and helped secure several second chance points for the Spartans.
Attempting to come from behind, Battle point guard Tayla Robinson (3) blows by two Grain Valley defenders on her way to the basket. Robinson held her own against a generally taller Grain Valley team and ended the game with 15 points.
Kaelyn Johnson (24) catches her breath after a foul call stopped the game during the second half while her team was losing despite attempts to turn the tide. Johnson, along with fellow seniors Maliyah Miller (2) and Alaina Shettlesworth (20), helped lead the Spartans to a 20-7 season – the best record in program history.
Alexah Liles struggles to free herself from Naomi Allen’s hold during a Show-Me State Games event Saturday, July 22, at Lange Middle School in Columbia. Each match lasted three minutes and saw the fighters attempt to get their opponent to the ground to earn points. The Games return Friday for the second and final weekend of events across Columbia.
A referee leans in to watch for a touchdown Oct. 14, 2022 at Dr. Larry K. Noel Stadium in Moberly. Mexico secured a touchdown on the next play, but it was not enough to secure the win.
Mexico’s Zach Williams, left, and Tucker Hutchison warm up with the defense Oct. 14, 2022 at Dr. Larry K. Noel Stadium in Moberly. Mexico lost to Moberly 28-14.
Moberly senior Hunter Boots stands on the sidelines Oct. 14, 2022 at Dr. Larry K. Noel Stadium in Moberly. The Spartans will face off against Jefferson City High School on Oct. 21.
Alex, a student at Virginia Tech, skateboards near Newman Library between classes. Skateboarding on campus has been a point of contention in the place with the University attempting to ban it in certain locations.
Tolton sophomore Madison Taylor, left, is cheered on by teammate Macie Parmer after scoring the Trailblazers’ fourth and final goal against Laquey on Saturday, May 27 in Columbia.
A referee calls the field goal no-good during the game between Cardinal Ritter and Helias Catholic on Sept. 17, 2022 at Helias Catholic High School in Jefferson City. Cardinal Ritter beat Helias Catholic 40-14.
Helias junior Trey Bexton (86) takes on two Cardinal Ritter defenders in search of the ball Sept. 17, 2022 in Jefferson City. Cardinal Ritter beat Helias Catholic 40-14.
Zach Meiners, 20, rushes against defenders during an intramural flag football game at Virginia Tech. Meiners and his team tried to win the intramural championship for four years and were finally victorious in 2023 during their last season before graduating.
Graduates
