Lunchtime serenade: Lawrence Children’s Choir gave a special performance April 17 at KFC, 701 Wakarusa Drive. The choir was given a $1,000 grant from KFC. Earlier this year, the chain issued a letter to choral organizations across the country, asking them to describe how they could make beautiful music in a KFC near them. More than 140 choirs submitted nominations and 11 choirs have been awarded $1,000 and the opportunity to sing at a local KFC. From left, are director Janeal Krehbiel, Jacob DiVilbiss (hidden), David Stubbs, Abbey Ladner, De’Ja McGee, Celine Nguyen, Drew Cheek, Abby Ilardi, Katie Rorick, Karen McCain, Naomi Grant and Anna Miller.

Camping trip: Brownie Troop 1915 from Schwegler School participated in its first troop camp out and zip line training April 16-17 at Camp Timberlake in Stilwell. Stacey Lane submitted the photo.

Free-throw shooter: Cooper Simon, the son of Dan and Heidi Simon of Lawrence, finished second in the fourth- and fifth-grade division in the inaugural Wayne Simien Free Throw Challenge held April 9-10 at Allen Fieldhouse. Cooper made 17 out of 21 free throws. Dan submitted the photo.

Chess champs: The chess team at Sunflower School won first place in the K-6 division at the state tournament March 12 in Wichita. Back row, from left, are John Ely, Ilya Schaeffer, Apramay Mishra, Brian Myers, Paul Loupe and Andrew Anderson; front row, Jeffrey Wilson and Anna Jian. Coaches, not pictured, are Karen Ely and Davis Loupe. The team was recognized by the school board at April 25 meeting. Karen Ely submitted the photo.

Beating the heat: Jackson Simon, 7, Lawrence, cools down with a popsicle April 9 during McCollum Hall’s Battle of the Bands. Jackson won a prize for best dancer and shook his money-maker all afternoon, to the delight of the attendees. He is the son of Dan and Heidi Simon, Lawrence. Dan submitted the photo

Top Prospects: The 2011 Missouri Valley AAU District Championship was held April 10 in Independence, Mo. Members of the Lady Prospects Basketball Club captured the 11th-grade girls championship and have now qualified for AAU Nationals, which will be July 10-15 in Orlando, Fla. The basketball club is a nonprofit girls basketball program based in Lawrence. Vincent and Christie Garcia submitted the photo.

Wingfield grandkids all home for Easter The grandchildren of Dick and Waynie Wingfield, Lecompton, were home for Easter, April 24. From left are Lily Wingfield, 4, Gleason, Wis.; Kayla Washee, 13, Lecompton; Jacob Wingfield, 12, Gleason; Wyatt Eastman, 7, Lecompton; and Carter Wingfield, 10, Lecompton. Norraine Wingfield submitted the photo.

Family tradition: Spc. Alan Sneegas, United States Army, left, graduated from Army basic training April 28 at the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning, Ga. He is a 2005 graduate of Free State High School and a 2009 graduate of Kansas University. Also attending the ceremony wer his mother, Barbara Sneegas, father Lt. Col. Stanley Sneegas, U.S. Air Force, retired, and brother Capt. Andrew Sneegas, U.S. Army Reserve. Stanley submitted the photo.

Passage to India: Lawrence High School student Megan Flory will spend the 2011-2012 academic year in India studying the Hindi language. Flory is the recipient of a scholarship sponsored by the U.S. government, through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. Flory currently studies Spanish and Latin. Arla Jones submitted the photo.

Centennial celebration Gina Halsey, Lawrence, left, is with Hazel Halsey Pugh, Michigan City, Ind. Pugh, born April 14, 1911, celebrated her 100th birthday April 9 at a party given by her family at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Michigan City. She was raised in Independence and earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Kansas University 1932. Her family has plans for a garden in her honor, on the shores of Lake Michigan in Long Beach, Ind. Halsey, Pugh’s first cousin twice removed, submitted the photo.

Sixth birthday: Jayden Phillips celebrated his sixth birthday May 2. He is the son of Rex and Staci Phillips, and the grandson of Orville and Mary Jane Church, all of Lawrence. Orville and Mary Jane Church submitted the photo.

Employee of the month: Celebrating JobLink’s May Employee of the Month, from left, are Becky Tammen (Steak ‘n Shake assistant manager), Tyler Tenpas (JobLink Employee of the Month) and Reece Wiley (JobLink consultant). Kari Bentzinger submitted the photo.

Studio preview: Sarah Brengarth, Kansas University architecture graduate student, gives New Generation Society of Lawrence members a sneak preview on May 2 of Studio 804’s current project, The Center for Design Research. Susan Osborn submitted the photo.

Character in Motion: Fourth-grade student council students at Schwegler School organized a drive from April 25 to April 29 to collect items for The Salvation Army. The school collected 438 items and delivered them to The Salvation Army on April 29. Back row, from left, are Cole Shupert, Bailey Sanborn, Beatrice Lopez, Emily Johnson, Eddie Connolly, Ben Urban, Ben Farney and Alicia Thomas; front row, Rylee Harris and Rejjin Jackson. Kea Wormsley submitted the photo.

photo by: Shelly Thornton

Ball boys: Jayhawk basketball fans, from left, Parker Alexander, 2, Cooper Alexander, 5, and Austin Alexander, 2, are the sons of Christina and David Alexander of Gardner, the grandsons of Shelly and Larry Thornton of Lawrence, and the great-grandsons of Betty and Bill Bunce of Linwood. Shelly Thornton submitted the photo.

Checkmate: Lawrence chess team members, from left, Eddie Wilson and Sam Beaulieu (both of Central Junior High School), David Blair (coach), Apramay Mishra (Sunflower School), and Kaustubh Nimkar (Southwest Junior High School), competed at the second annual Intercontinental School Chess Teams Championship held April 1-3 in McPherson. The Lawrence team tied for first with a Russian team from St. Petersburg, and finished second on tie-breakers competing in the U16 Division. Nancy Wilson submitted the photo.

A big hit: The Lawrence Bomb Squad own second place at the 3&2 baseball complex in Shawnee. Back row, from left, are Jacob Mills, Cauy Stallard, Alex Haynes, Cameron Stussie, Peyton Garvin and Jake Morris; front row, Conner Phillips, Cameron Hodge, Nate Munsch, Jackson Rau and Harrison King. Amy Garvin submitted the photo.

Super Tuckers: The Fraternal Order of the Eagles No. 309, 1803 W. Sixth St. in Lawrence, held an April 16 fundraiser with the theme “Super Tuckers” for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Tucker Wagner, the grandson of Marilou Bond, has been receiving treatment at St. Jude’s. With the help of community donations and membership participation on a silent auction, raffles, poker, Wii bowling tournaments and a dinner, they raised over $6,700. From left are members, Rheva Drummond (fundraiser organizer), Lawrence, and Bond, Tonganoxie. Dana Laudick submitted the photo.

Making history: Seven Central Junior High School students won their regional competitions and took five projects to the Kansas History Day Competition held April 23 at Washburn University. Three won their divisions and will represent Kansas at the national competition June 12-16 in College Park, Md. Advancing to nationals are: Ayesha Vishnani, junior individual documentary, second place; Sadie Keller, junior individual performances, first place; and Josie Naron, senior individual documentary, first place. CJHS students, from left, are Keller, eighth grade; Naron, ninth grade; and Vishnani, seventh grade. Judy Keller submitted the photo.

KU’s smallest fan: Jett Rood, 2 months, gives a fist bump in his KU gear. Jett is the son of Zaq and Trish Rood of Lawrence. Trish submitted the photo.

Taking a bite out of arthritis: Ad Astra Area Aquatics swimmers pose with McGruff the Crime Dog at the Lawrence Arthritis Walk at South Park. The Lawrence swim team volunteered in support of their teammate Carter Stacey. From left, are Sydney Sirimongkhon-Dyck, Claire Campbell, Stacey, McGruff, Mary Reed-Weston, Daniel Christie and Steven Johnson. Jolisa Buchner submitted the photo.

Book smarts: Free State High School held its 14th annual book awards ceremony on May 12. Eight outstanding college-bound juniors who excel in academics, extracurricular activities and community service were honored. Pictured with the awarding school, from left, are Alexandra Hoopes (Brown University), Adelle Loney (Mt. Holyoke College); Nina Keizer (Bryn Mawr College); Alan Shi (Dartmouth College); Sisira Srisutiva (Harvard University); Ruben Ghijsen (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute); and Maryanne Smith (Smith College). These awards are sponsored by local alumni clubs, with Brown University and Mt. Holyoke College alumnae making the presentations in person. Not pictured, Meixi Wang (Columbia University). Julie Miller submitted the photo.

Frozen treat: Parker Simon, 4, Lawrence, enjoys frozen yogurt April 2 at Orange Leaf, 4801 Bauer Farm Drive, Suite E, Lawrence. Parker is the son of Dan and Heidi Simon, Lawrence. Dan submitted the photo.

Humane Society visit: Brownie Troop 1915 visited the Lawrence Humane Society, 1805 E. 19th St., April 21. While there, they were given a tour and explained how the Humane Society provides for the community. The troop also made cat toys and brought other supplies to aid the Humane Society. Lani Mann submitted the photo.

On a roll: From left, Emma Warren, Emilie Rodman, Jillian Decker and Skyler Scrivner, all of Lawrence, won first place in the March 13 Classic Bowling Tournament in Topeka. Dutch Heffner, Emilie’s grandmother, submitted the photo.

500 Years Of Marriage: Five Lawrence couples celebrated 50 years of marriage with a dinner May 4 at the Oread. The men are all members of the Lawrence Breakfast Cosmopolitan Club, four of whom were charter members more than 42 years ago. From left, are Joan Whitenight, Peter Whitenight, John Michel, Lori Michel, Vernis Flottman, Larry Flottman, Joyce Rankin, Larry Rankin, Sherry Catt and George Catt. George L. Catt submitted the photo.

Striking a chord: Alex Wilson, left, and Maya Pavlyak, right, both of Lawrence, pose with their piano instructor, Anna Smith, Overland Park, after their May 5 piano recital. Prudence Wilson submitted the photo.

A big hit: Remingtin Mae Turner, 3, takes a swing at T-ball practice on May 17. She is the daughter of Eric and Brandi Turner, Perry. Brandi submitted the photo.

Bless this pet: Eudora United Methodist Church had a Blessing of the Animals on May 1. The Rev. Michael Tomson-DeGreeff blesses Snickerdoodle, a Brittany owned by Jeff and Shirley Busche of De Soto. Connie Meyers submitted the photo

Signing day: Bishop Seabury Academy college scholarship athletes attend a signing day reception held May 19. From left are Nick Lutz (Kansas University — spirit squad), Skyler Malone (Ottawa University — basketball), and John McDermott (Illinois College — basketball). Jacquie Krueger submitted the photo.

photo by: The Crystal Image

Performing arts preview: Attending the April 29 Lied Center’s annual Season Show Announcement Party, back row, from left, are Judy, Nelson and Jacquie Krueger; and front row, Charlotte and Katherine Stineman. The event previewed more than 25 shows offered by the Lied Center for performing arts for next year so Friends of the Lied Center may select which programs wish to attend. Nelson, a Friends of the Lied board member, submitted the photo.