Great gorillas: The fourth-grade Gorilla football team won the 2011 Nysso Kick-Off Classic on Aug. 28 in Basehor. Coaches are Lance Flachsbarth, Allen Corcoran, Phil Bentzinger, Doug Woods and Darin Lutz. The team later celebrated its victory with a breakfast at IHOP with their families. Michelle Hack submitted the photo.

World champ: Vincent Baccus of Lawrence was named the 201 lb Men’s Novice Ringside World Champion. Baccus fights out of Haskell Boxing Club. He is pictured with his son, Malakhi. The tournament was Aug. 15-20 at the KCI Expo Center. Melissa Haag submitted the photo.

Happy campers: Den 1 from Cub Scout Pack 3059 of Lawrence, sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church, and its adult leaders attended Webelos Camp on July 17-19 at Camp Naish in Bonner Springs. Back row, from left, are Bill Lane, Jay Kennedy, Nick Kennedy, Alex Lane, Will Eagleman and Kent Eagleman; front row, Steve Harrington, Avery Harrington, Kalin Remer and Alex Remer. Not pictured are Dave Nigro and Charlie Nigro. Jodi Kennedy submitted the photo.

Tea time: Attending an Aug. 20 tea party at Bella Sera, from left, are Abby, 7, Nola, 9, Adia, 9, all of Lawrence; Jaden, 11, of Eudora; and Brady, 9, and Olivia, 9, both of Lawrence. Amy Sanchez submitted the photo.

Fresh fish: Lauren McHardie, 8, caught her first fish while enjoying an afternoon of fishing with Lake Peet, 7, on July 28 at Lake Perry Golf Course. Lauren is the daughter of Eric and Angela McHardie, Topeka, and the granddaughter of Pete and Linda McHardie, Perry. Lake is the son of Colby and Tad Peet, Ozawkie, and the grandson of Vince and Lana Meier, Topeka. Lauren’s aunt, JoAnna Maples, submitted the photo.

America’s favorite teacher: Brandi Crum Turner, Perry, left, nominated Leslie Campbell, Lawrence, center, for Run & Hug’s America’s Favorite Teacher Contest. Leslie received over 47,000 votes and won a trip for herself, Brandi and two guests to New York City. Their trip was from July 29 to Aug. 3 and their guests were their daughters, Jaedin Turner, 7, Perry, front center, and Sally Campbell, Lawrence, right. Leslie was Brandi’s second-grade teacher. They are both now librarians. Brandi is at Perry-Lecompton Elementary School and Leslie is at Prairie Park School. Sally submitted the photo.

Meadowlark ribbon cutting: The Lawrence Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 30 for Meadowlark Estates Retirement Community, 4430 Bauer Farm Estates, in Lawrence. Forty-three Chamber members were present, including commissioner Hugh Carter, Lon Dehnert, Tom Kern, Meredithe McCormick and Adam Handshy. A grand opening is scheduled for Oct. 2. John Kavanagh submitted the photo.

Fellowship award winner: Sherry Wright, Ottawa, won the National Annual Vietnam Veterans of America Fellowship Award at the 15th AVVA Conference held Aug. 17 in Reno, Nev. Wright, the AVVA Kansas State Representative, is pictured with Kansas State Council VVA President Ron Zink of Topeka, who escorted her to the podium. She was nominated for the award by Kathy Lee, Ottawa Kansas AVVA Chapter 912 and received the award from AVVA National President Nancy Switzer. Wright submitted the photo.

Ready to run: Bishop Seabury Academy’s cross country team gathered Sept. 3 for its first meet of the season at Hayden High School in Topeka. Back row, from left, are coach Christi Douglas, Michael Kressig, Brandon McCaffrey, Thomas Westbrook, Georgi Funtarov, Heidi Dumesich, Patrick Gutierrez, Marcus Allen, Alison Chi, assistant coach Kristin Vint, Gary Kim and Eilish Gibson; front row, Hannah Gibson, Addie Graham, Maddie McCaffrey, Kate Albrecht, Jamin Yoon, Jun Ha Hwang, Ibrahim Iskandarni and Kit Rice. Margie Lawrence submitted the photo.

Open house birthday: Mary Elizabeth Elzea, center, celebrated her 90th birthday with an open house July 16 at the Lawrence Visitors Center, 402 N. Second St. Many family and friends were in attendance. From left, are Mark Elzea (son), Susan Elzea (daughter-in-law), Evan Elzea and Eric Elzea (grandsons), Amy Elzea (granddaughter-in-law), and Patrick Elzea (grandson). Amy submitted the photo.

Beach vacation: Houstyn Carnagie, 2, is chillin’ on the beach June 27 while on vacation in Perdido Key, Fla., with his parents and Gram and Pop Sanders. They were visiting Houstyn’s great uncle and aunt, Eddie and Sheree Waters. His parents are Allison and Brent Carnagie, Eudora. His grandparents are Richard and Regina Sanders, Lawrence, and Dale and Susan Carnagie, Eudora. Regina submitted the photo.

Rio trip: Lawrence residents Gary Smith, second from left, and Sarah Stern, center, and Kansas University graduate Carlos Beltran pose for a picture in Rocinha, the largest favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, while photographing the impoverished gang-led community in June for a book/movie project. Also pictured are Fernanda Renilux, left, and Luciana Mota, right, Rocinha residents who hosted Beltran, Stern and Smith. Janet Cinelli submitted the photo.

Exchange meeting: This year’s Kansas participants in the June 3 Lawrence-Itapúa High School Exchange meet the governor of Itapúa, which is a department in the southern region of Paraguay. Back row, from left, are Linda Catlin and Holly Catlin, both of Oklahoma, Erika Pelzer, Tomás Ayala, Nick Allen (behind), Trey Vanahill, Harrison Helmick, Kaitlyn Mosher, Karen Hyde (LHS Spanish teacher and chaperone) and Juan Eudes Afara Maciel, the Governor of Itapúa, Paraguay; front row, Alba Ayala, Nora Elbayoumy, Anna Dietz, Amber Hicks, Katy Thellman, Erin Ice and Adelle Loney. Arla Jones submitted the photo.

Employee of the month: Celebrating JobLink’s September Employee of the Month, from left, are Jack Leipzig, JobLink consultant, Terry McMechan, employee of the month, and David H. Clark, general manager at Applebee’s, 2520 Iowa, Lawrence. Kari Bentzinger submitted the photo.

Airman of the Year: Kali Conrad Ackles, Senior Class Airman of the 62nd AMXS, received the Honor Guard “Airman of the Year” award Jan. 12 from her supervisor, Lt. Col. Christopher May, at McChord Air Force Base in Seattle. Ackles is a 2008 Free State High School graduate and the daughter of Angela Conrad, Lawrence, and Dale Conrad, Houston. Angela submitted the photo.

Warm welcome: Julie and Gary Hammer of Lawrence welcome their first grandchild, Aviana Raine Ecklund, daughter of Rachel and Drew Ecklund, Moses Lake, Wash. Aviana, who was born June 6, 2011, is also the great-granddaughter of L.B. Hammer, Lawrence. Julie submitted the photo.

Three of a kind: From left, Bridget, Declan and Portia Carroll take a walk in a garden in Newton, Mass., in July. The triplets, age 3, are the children of Claire Masinton and Jim Carroll of Newton, and the grandchildren of Jerry and Martha Masinton of Lawrence. Martha submitted the photo.

Toying around: On Sept. 2, Carmen Madonado, Merriam, and her uncle, Ryan Murphy, Lawrence, browse for just the right present for Carmen’s 4th birthday on Sept. 11 at The Toy Store, 636 Mass. Carmen is the granddaughter of Michelle and Charles Heller, Lawrence. Michelle submitted the photo.

Ready to march: Second-grade Brownie Troop 229 from Quail Run School prepare to march Sept. 10 in the 2011 Kansas University Band Day Parade. This was the troop’s first time participating. From left are Ella Marshall, Avery Qualseth, Emma Day and Rachel Klingler. At right are Audrey Cornell, Emily Fischer, Ashley Edwinson and Rorie Sturgeon. Susan Marshall submitted the photo.

Sunny disposition: Erin Grosdidier, 10, stands in front of her grandpa Clete Grosdidier’s sunflowers on Sept. 4. Both are of Eudora. Erin’s grandmother, Mariann Bradley of Eudora, submitted the photo.

Aquahawks potluck: The Annual Aquahawks Fall Potluck was held Aug. 29 at Centennial Park. Swimmers on the gold team, from left, are Ainsley Krug, Maddie Dean, Payton Gunderson, Richa Joshi and Payton Krug. Kirsten Krug submitted the photo.

Cool aunt: Ella Shafer, 6 months, spends Labor Day weekend in Ottawa with her aunt Sara Spratt, who taught her to sleep in, read the paper and drink out of big-girl cups. Melissa Spratt, Ella’s grandma, also of Ottawa, submitted the photo.

Spring in her step: Marian Frick, 9, performs “In My Daughter’s Eyes” at the 2011 Lawrence Dazzlers Spring Show on May 27 at Free State High School. Marian is the daughter of Carol Casteel and Warren Frick, Lawrence. Warren submitted the photo.

Face to face: Kaylee Faith Clancy, 3, daughter of Donnie and Rebecca Clancy, of Lawrence, got her face painted Aug. 7 while visiting the Strategic Air and Space Museum in Ashland, Neb. The museum was having a kids fair inside. Donnie submitted the photo.

You gotta be kiddin’ me, ref! From left, Oliver Townsend and Maddie Webster-Stoppel, both 3, attended the Kansas University football game Sept. 3 against McNeese State with their parents and grandmother. Oliver is the son of Chris and Meghan Stoppel, Lawrence. Maddie, who doesn’t agree with the call by the referee, is the daughter of Dr. Jon Stoppel and Alaina Webster, Olathe. Their grandmother, Nancy Stoppel, of Washington, submitted the photo.

Baby rock chalk! Thomas Jacob Shafer, born June 16, 2011, in Oklahoma City, gives a fist pump for the Jayhawks. Thomas has a family history of proud Jayhawks: grandparents Derek Shafer (Kansas University ’71) and the late Karen Shafer (KU ’76), of Topeka; grandfather Todd Hottman (KU Law ’92), Olathe; parents Ashlee Hottman Shafer (KU ’05) and Zack Shafer (KU ’03, KU Med School ’08). Lowell Hottman, of Lawrence, Thomas’ great-grandfather (University of Missouri-Kansas City ’60, KU fan by choice since 1961) submitted the photo.

90th birthday: Ruth Miller, of Eudora, left, celebrated her 90th birthday July 16. Her daughter, April Bascom, visited her from Tucson, Ariz. Karla Pierce submitted the photo.

Anniversary cruise: Donna and Wayne Osness, Lawrence, front center, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in June on an Alaskan cruise with their five children and their spouses. They were married Sept. 15, 1951, in Green Bay, Wis. Also pictured are Patrick Osness and wife Barbara, Lynne Buckley and husband Owen, Karen Thompson and husband Stan, Cinda Peck and husband Rod, and Deena Osness. Donna submitted the photo.

Baby bunny: Alyssa “Ellee” Leming rests after celebrating her first Easter, April 24, 2011. Her outfit and bunny ears were a gift from her neighbors, Jack and Bobby Oglesby. Ellee, the daughter of Patrick and Crystal Leming of Lecompton, was given her nickname after being born in an elevator at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in February. Crystal submitted the photo.

Flower child: Juliette Lee-Ingham, 20-month-old daughter of Grace Lee and Chris Ingham of Lawrence, plays in the sunflower fields Sept. 9 off U.S. Highway 24-40 in Lawrence. Grace submitted the photo.