THEFREEPRESS
Awaiting the crowning ceremony, the crowns and tiaras rest on the podium for the
Ossen
ABOUT THE COVER
To put our best foot forward on this new project, we aimed to showcase our publication’s strongest work on the cover. Our photo and design editors selected from a gallery of images that our photographers have placed in regional, state and national competitions. However, outstanding photography extends beyond the cover. From sports and academics to environmental and portrait photography, our photographers demonstrate their talent in every issue, and we wanted that talent to shine in every spread. Design by Abbie Veeder and photos by Sydney Brozik, Miles Beaty, Nathan Friedman and Nathan Kramer
Veeder
Shryock
Andrade
Gigous
Brozik
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Holding up a sign, sophomore Cleo Green yells at the ICE walkout on Jan. 27. Photo by Kinley Gigous
Everpresent, the Douglas County Government office stands on Massachusettes Street.
Photo by Ceci Bennett
Shaking hands, junoir Roz Swimburne Romine and freshman Morgan McClorey celebrate at the Varsity Girl’s Basketball game on Dec. 2. Photo by Miles Beaty
dance.
Photo by Nathan Kramer
Preparing the set, set designer senior Kennedy McDonnell moves the “Addams Family: School Edition” tree into place. Photo by Baila Love
Laying in his kennel, Color Pop is one of the cats available for adoption at the Lawrence Humane Society.
Photo by Kinley Gigous.
LETTER
PHOTO EDITORS FROM THE
2025-2026 photo editors explain the inspiration behind the photo issue
Welcome to our first-ever photo issue! It highlights the images our photographers have captured this year at Free State and throughout Lawrence – and we’ve been busy! From sidelines to auditorium seats and everywhere in between, we’ve shot thousands of photos for the paper, yearbook, website and (of course) Instagram.
As seniors, we know that so much of high school life flashes by. That’s why our work is more than just “taking pictures.” It’s photojournalism, telling stories and preserving the moments in this community. You can see that effort on the front and back covers, which feature photos that have earned national recognition. Those award-winning photos “bookend” the issue, but they’re a reminder of everything in between as we tell the Free State story.
In this issue, we run the gamut from formal (congrats to Rakshan, one of our photogs!) to action-packed winter sports and conditioning to quiet moments around Lawrence. As you flip through, we hope
you take a moment to find yourself in these pages. Cherish high school because it will be gone in a flash. So take a moment. Look through every photo in detail. Try to find your friends, classmates or teachers.
We hope that every photo can spark a memory you have of
want to thank our photographers. For the rainy nights, long hours and endless editing, we thank you for making past, present and future issues possible. Lastly, we would like to thank you (yes, you!) for contributing to school spirit and participating in our photos.
Sincerely,
Design by Kinley Gigous
Standing together, News Photo Editors junior Ceci Bennett, senior Nathan Kramer and senior Julia Velasco pose with their cameras. Photo by Leonna Randall
04 WINTER FORMAL
Sophomore James Green, lead singer for James and the Beanstalks, plays "Creep" by Radiohead. The band also includes seniors Anders Benson, Annah Steele and Miles Beaty.
Photo by Nathan Kramer
In the crowd during the live performance, Formal Court member senior Cami Lee cheers on the band as they perform “Creep” by Radiohead. Photo by Nathan Kramer
Arms in the air, seniors Javi Grosko, Taryn Jones, Claire Hull, Libby Easter, Cara Jeffries and Brady Morgan dance at formal. Photo by Nathan Kramer
Putting their hands in, students dance to Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” at formal. The song is traditionally the final song played at school dances. Photo by Nathan Kramer
Crowned Winter Formal royalty, seniors Colby Stutler and Rakshan Ossen pose for the camera on Jan. 10. Photo by Nathan Kramer
Walking down the stairs, students enter the “Starry Night” formal. Photo by Cecilia Bennett
Smiling, freshmen Kale VanPelt, Harris Babar, Owen Mcginnis, Jaeah Kim and Justin Weishaar celebrate the evening at Winter Formal. Photo by Nathan Kramer
Jumping for the ball, senior Bennett Nagel plays in the varsity game against Junction City on Dec. 2. Photo by Sydney Brozik
Holding the basketball over her head, senior Addie Fulscher searches for a teammate to pass to during the varsity game against Olathe East on Jan. 16. Photo by Leona Randall
Bradley Syd Dave Breloom Scar Roxette
Chardonnay Dean
Sitting together, Breloom, Scar and Roxette share an enclosure at the Lawrence Humane Society on Jan. 15.
Photo by Kinley Gigous
Lounging on a shelf, Bradley is a cat up for adoption from the Lawrence Humane Society being hosted at Espurresso. Bradley is a two-year-old male and has been looking for a home since Dec. 19. Photo by Nate Willems
Sitting on a stack of records, Chardonnay looks across the store. Love Garden is a vinyl and CD store located in downtown Lawrence, whose mascot is the cat Chardonnay.
Photo by Nate Willems
Laying in bed, Dave the house cat from Wonder Fair scowls while in bed. Wonder Fair is an art gallery, art supply and design shop located on Massachusetts Street.
Photo by Nate Willems
Sitting in the sunlight, Syd the house cat of Espurresso perches on a cat tree. Syd was adopted in October 2023 by the store and is said to be social, helping under-socialized kittens acclimate. Photo by Nate Willems
Walking around, Dean the cat from The Ravens Bookstore greets bookloving customers on Jan 16
Photo by Charlie Last
CATS OF LAWRENCE
All of the cats found on Mass Street
Perched on the counter, Sammy stares down customers shopping for books. Sammy is one of the resident cats of The Raven Bookstore, which has been open since 1987. Photo by Nate Willems
Scan for more photos of the walkout from our website!
WALKOUT
Students organize a walkout protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement
With signs in their hands, seniors Sammi Smith, Harper Graham, freshmen Eloise Frye, Liam Christian and senior Jonah Frye participate in the walkout against ICE on Jan. 27. Photo by Ceci Bennett
Design by Evie Chancy
Sitting on senior Eli Stone's shoulders, senior Emi Stone holds up a sign at the ICE walkout on Jan. 27. Photo by Julia Velasco
Walking down Wakarusa Drive, senior Harper York holds her sign in the air to defy the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Photo by Evie Chancy
Holding a sign, senior Chloe Perkins yells into the Kansas City Midland Broadcasting Company camera. Photo by Kinley Gigous
Waving the Mexican flag, junior Jonah Martin participates in the school-wide walkout against ICE on Jan. 27.
Photo by Julia Velasco
WALK LAWRENCE THROUGH
Landmarks and nature found in Lawrence, KS
Sitting on top of Mount Oread,
The Oread Hotel By Hilton can be seen on the University of Kansas campus. Photo by Rakshan Ossen
Looking to its horizon, an American Robin perches quietly in Marvin Grove on the University of Kansas campus.
Photo by Rakshan Ossen
Located on Massachusetts and 11th Street, Sylas and Maddy’s Homemade Ice Cream has been operating since 1997.
Photo by Ceci Bennett
Located in Marvin’s Grove, the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium is home of the KU Jayhawk football team. Photo by Addison Powers
On Jan. 10, Free State Theatre performed "The Addams Family: School Edition" to an audience of about 2,000 people at the Kansas Thespian Festival. The Free State Theater Department transported every set-piece, cast and crew member, as well as its very own accompanying orchestra in order to replicate the performance at the Century II Auditorium in Wichita, Kansas.
While the core fundamentals of the show remained the same, freshman Rosella Betancourt said changes to the choreography and blocking had to be made to adjust for the larger stage and smaller ensemble.
“There were a lot less people… and some role changes,” Betancourt said. “I was in more songs so I had to learn different dances.”
Less than 30 minutes after the show concluded, stage manager junior Harper Finck said the cast and crew was responsible for breaking down the set and loading it into to be transported two hours back to Lawrence.
“After the show, they said that I had shown a lot of leadership that they usually didn't see, and said that if I ever was in Wichita, they would love to have me on their staff,” Finck said.
Thespian Festival
Free State Theatre nominated to perform at Kansas
Story by Aleia Kemp
CALL CURTAIN
Dancing across the stage, seniors Mimi Wood and Owen Börk rehearse their tango choreography at the Century II theater. The actors portrayed Morticia Addams and Gomez Addams, respectively. Photo by Nathan Friedman
Before the show, the set pieces sit backstage in order to be ready for the run crew to move them into place. Photo by Nathan Friedman
Finalizing plans, show
and
a set
and then
the
Caking his face, senior Evie Chancy uses white face paint to make senior Owen Gerrish become Uncle Fester for the Kansas Thespian Festival performance of "The Addams Family: School Edition" on Jan. 8.
Photo by Balia Love
Wrapping string lights around the backdrops, junior Abel Hegeman helps to set up the Century II Performing Art & Convention Center mainstage for “The Addams Family: School Edition." Photo by Evie Chancy
director
theatre teacher Bryce Jones works with a Century II theater stagehand on a fly rail layout. “To travel the show, we had to adjust a number of the show's technical elements and collaborate with professional technical personnel at Century II,” Jones said. Photo by Nathan Friedman
Gathered around
piece, actors and backstage crew members work together to assemble the crypt, a key part of the graveyard scenery. The crypt was disassembled completely for transport purposes
reassembled in
loading dock of the Century II theater. Photo by Nathan Friedman
Securing a spotlight, senior Piper Northrop translates her original lighting design for the Kansas Thespian Festival performance. Photo by Evie Chancy
