YEAR IN PHOTOS: August 2016

The Ocoee High School varsity cheerleading squad performed along with the band as part of the launch of Observer Media Group' s Observer Preps website. Published Aug. 25.

Jonathan and Rebecca White with their 5-year-old son, Trooper. Jonathan became the new pastor of West Orange Church of Christ. Published Aug. 18.

Motivational speaker Bob Wieland, who lost both legs in 1969 while serving in the Vietnam War, spoke in Winter Garden. Published Aug. 25.

Orlando Ballet School' s South Campus allows students of all levels to get dance training from highly trained instructors — right in Dr. Phillips. Published Aug. 4.

News 13' s Political Connections host Ybeth Bruzual emceed the West Orange Chamber of Commerce' s 2016 Hob Nob and Straw Poll. Published Aug. 11.

Huckleberry Finn, played by Dustin Russell, celebrated the freedom of Jim, played by Michael Morman, at St. Luke' s United Methodist Church' s production of "Big River." Published Aug. 18.

Ryder Bax, a fifth-grader, was walked to school by his mother Jennifer Schatte, and siblings Reid, 2, and Rebe, 1. Ryder was among the first students at Bay Lake Elementary. Published Aug. 18.

Ashton Allen was born at 23 weeks. Now, he is a healthy 2-year old boy, and his family, who owns Allen' s Creamery in Windermere, hosted a fundraiser for Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies. Published Aug. 25.

Reg Lyle and his fellow bagpipers brought a little Celtic fanfare to West Orange during the eighth annual Orlando New World Celts Summer event. Published Aug. 25.

Gregory Person, a 2016 Windermere Preparatory School graduate, was one of the nation' s 100 Fund II Foundation UNCF Stem Scholars. Published Aug. 11.

Maxey Elementary second-graders enjoyed a trip to the media center on the first day of school. With books in hand and full backpacks, Kinon Bastian, left, Yariel Reyes, Jayci Massey, Iyana Louis and Makenzey Strain were ready for the new school year.

Rosie Patel dressed as Supergirl, while her friend, Sylvia Fiori, pretended to be a cat, at Summerport' s End-of-Summer Bash. Published Aug. 11.