Nebraska softball player MJ Knighten poses for a portrait at the Alex Gordon Complex. KRISTIN STREFF, Journal Star

Fifth-grader Lily Lautenschlager rises from her wheelchair rehearsing her dance routine for the talent portion of her Miss Amazing Pageant competition during a lesson at Madonna Proactive. The 11-year-old suffers from a rare congenital vascular disorder called Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome which affects the development of blood vessels, soft tissues, and bones in the lower half of her body. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star

Local artist Ann Williams paints leaves onto doors for the Doorways to Hope community art project at her home in east Lincoln. The doors will be strung together to form a 24-foot wall on which the community can paint their own leaves during the Doorways to Hope Day celebration next weekend. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star

Will Gillen, 12, looks out the living room window just before settling in for an afternoon nap at his home in Bellevue. Will, who suffers from Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy resulting in various types of seizures multiple times in a single day, must wear a helmet with an attached faceguard to protect himself from injury. In an effort to legalize the medical use in Nebraska, Will’s parents are trying to educate legislators on the benefits of hemp oil extract as treatment for their son’s condition. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star

Using a long needle and sturdy thread, Ramin Shafaian repairs and restores a Navajo rug in his basement at his Lincoln home. KRISTIN STREFF, Journal Star

LINCOLN, NEB – 09/22/2016 – High school student Alek Duncan heads down the hall after class on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, at Lincoln Southwest. KRISTIN STREFF, Journal Star

Preschool teacher Theresa Phan (center) works with her students, including Cecilia Solorio (right) and Sawyer Wasserburger, on creating patterns in her classroom at Bright Horizons Family Solutions at Centennial Mall in downtown Lincoln. KRISTIN STREFF, Journal Star

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – 09/28/2016 – Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stands in the shadows before addressing a crowd of supporters during a campaign rally on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016, at the Mid-America Center. KRISTIN STREFF, Journal Star

Frances Stall and her sister Jeanie exchanged a Valentine’s Day card every February since 1949. Jeanie passed away in November. Frances smiles for a portrait with the card at her home in Eagle, Neb. KRISTIN STREFF, Journal Star

HENDERSON, NEB – 09/20/2016 – Running back Austin Stuhr stands for a portrait before practice on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, at Heartland Community School. KRISTIN STREFF, Journal Star

Leyna, 2, gets a spin on the merry-go-round from her parents Mitchell and Karri Ahlschwede at the playground at Porter Park. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star

Neil Piper rehearses her dance for the 60th annual Nite of Knights performance on stage at the Lincoln Southeast High School performing arts center. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star

Je’Kerra Hopper looks to the future with aspiration on the front steps of her alma mater, Lincoln High School. Having overcome both of her parents’ incarcerations, losing her grandmother, and having been raised solely by her grandfather, Hopper has earned a full ride scholarship to Peru State College to study criminal justice and will be the first member of her family to attend college. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star

21-year-old Sydney Olson of Sutton, Neb. lives with alopecia, an autoimmune skin disease resulting in hair loss, and recently published a children’s book, “The Curse of the Fates,” in an effort to help others and to promote awareness of the disease. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star

Rosemary and Mel Thornton flip through a family photo album in their home office at their home in central Lincoln. KRISTIN STREFF, Journal Star

Elite gymnast Jordan Bowers, 11, practices on the uneven bars at Solid Rock Gymnastics. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star

Lincoln Stars head coach Chris Hartsburg stands for a portrait along the boards before practice at the Ice Box. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star

Members of the Lincoln Journal Star Super-State Girls Basketball team McKenzie Brown of Northwest (from left), Chatrice White of Shelby, Jessica Shepard of Fremont, Kianna Ibis of Benson, and Maddie Simon of Pius X pose for a portrait at Pinnacle Bank Arena. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star

Songwriter Ashton Combs. KRISTIN STREFF, Journal Star

Members of the Lincoln Journal Star Super-State Boys Basketball team Khyri Thomas of Benson (from left), Tre’Shawn Thurman of Omaha Central, Mitchell Hahn of Fremont, Malik Hluchoweckyj of Bellevue West, and Kevin Metoyer of Omaha Westside pose for a portrait at Pinnacle Bank Arena. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star

Nebraska shot putter Toni Tupper of Lincoln poses for a portrait at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. KRISTIN STREFF, Journal Star

Carnival employee Gene “Gums” Johnson shows off his favorite face outside the Lancaster Event Center. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star

LINCOLN, NEB – 10/04/2016 – Senior linebacker Anthony Magor sits for a portrait before practice on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, in the locker room at Lincoln High. KRISTIN STREFF, Journal Star

Nostalgic for his first car, 91-year-old birthday boy Roy Standen (left) gets a ride from Boyd Ready in a restored 1947 Plymouth courtesy of the team at Family & Implant Dentistry on S 4th St. and Rebels Auto Club. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star

WAHOO, NEB – 08/01/2016 – Senior quarterback Noah Verdal sits for a portrait on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016, at Bishop Neumann High School. KRISTIN STREFF, Journal Star

Musician and author John Walker practices “Buckets of Rain” by Bob Dylan after recently recovering from shoulder surgery in his home in Lincoln. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star

World travelers Jayne Wilkinson and David Turner smile for a portrait next to their Land Rover outside the Lincoln Luxury Inn. On a worldwide adventure, the couple made a stop in Lincoln after criss-crossing six continents and exploring more than 50 nations in their custom-built Land Rover, which they call Lizzybus. KRISTIN STREFF/Lincoln Journal Star