Megan
VanVlack

John Gradwohl Jr., known as Professor Bubblemaker, puts on a bubble show for children at the Pawpaw Festival at Lake Snowden in Albany, Ohio, Sept. 15, 2023. He is a popular character at the Pawpaw Festival, making a yearly appearance, to show off what he calls "bubbleology."

The band Fat Bear of the Week performs as King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard at The Big Cover-Up at The Union on March 4, 2023, in Athens, Ohio. Several bands from around the Athens region performed a benefit concert for the Athens Humane Society, raising over $5,000.

A bull rider prepares to compete during the 100th Anniversary Maverick Rodeo in Cimarron, New Mexico, on July 4, 2023. He readies himself nervously before raising his hand to start the event. People from Cimarron anticipate this yearly event, even drawing people from surrounding counties and states.

Julia Sheppard wears pawpaw-themed face paint at Lake Snowden in Albany, Ohio, Sept. 15, 2023.

Members of the Athens community celebrate Holi together on Ohio University's South Green with colorful powder on March 4, 2023. 

Maya Kaufman (4) heads the ball at the game against Northern Kentucky University Sept. 3, 2023, at Chessa Field, in Athens, Ohio. The teams tie zero to zero. 

Quinn Bennett, playing Frank-n-Furter, performs during The Rocky Horror Picture Show at The Union, Oct. 21, 2023, in Athens, Ohio. After playing the character for two seasons, Bennett gives the audience an emotional end to the show. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a staple in Athens, ringing in the Halloween season, as people wait for hours, in a long line, to hopefully see one of the three shows the company does each season.

The parade of flags ends at Howard Park as people gather to listen to opening speeches for the International Street Fair on April 8, 2023, in Athens, Ohio. Part of the university's International Week, the event celebrates the different cultures of the student population with food, activities, and music.

Sophomore Emma Hoffner (7) catches a pitch at the game against Ball State on April 11, 2023, in Athens, Ohio. Ohio University wins with a score of three to two.

Barber Smitty Smith at Bam & Bros. Barbershop shaves the side of Blake Hyde's hair as he talks about the upcoming Fest Season at Ohio University on March 24, 2023.

The members of Ohio University's Marching 110 perform in the Homecoming Parade outside of Schoonover Center, Oct. 7, 2023, in Athens, Ohio. The name "Marching 110" originally came from the number of members in the band when it first started, but now represents the "110% effort" required at all times.

A member of Ohio University's Marching 110 makes a face as he performs during the 2024 Homecoming Parade on College Street in Athens, Ohio, Sept. 28, 2024.

Drag queen, Evelyn Everything, performs at the Welcome Week Drag Show in the Baker Center Ballroom, Sept. 1, 2023, in Athens, Ohio.

This photo won First Place for Photojournalism: News/Feature at the Fall National College Media Convention in Atlanta, Georgia in 2023.

Ohio University softball Head Coach Jenna Hall celebrates a run during a game against Kent State at Ohio Softball Field on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. Ohio University wins with a score of three to two. 

Participants race to eat pawpaw pulp during the pawpaw eating contest at the Pawpaw Festival at Lake Snowden in Albany, Ohio, Sept. 15, 2023. To start the contest, the crowd sings the song "Way Down Yonder in the Pawpaw Patch" together.

Satire politician, Vermin Supreme, shows his dental X-rays to a crowd during a show, as part of his campaign trail, at the Cannabis Museum, Sept. 29, 2023, in Athens, Ohio. "I'm the only presidential willing to show his dental records!" he says.

A horse bucks during the bronc riding event at the 101st Maverick Rodeo on July 4, 2024, in Cimarron, New Mexico.