Timothy Hussner sits in his room at home in Liberty, New York on Oct. 11, 2014. A janitor for the local school district at night, Hussner has spent the last several years pursuing his goal of becoming a graphic designer through classes at a local community college.

After seven hours in chest-high flood waters, Gerda Mae Thompson's last memory before losing consciousness was her husband of 65 years, Edward Thompson placing his head on her shoulder and breathing his last breath. Shortly after, rescue crews saved Gerda from the home that she had shared with Edward for 48 years by pulling her through a window and away from the flood waters that ravaged much of Rainelle and other communities across West Virginiam in late June.

Ava Cota, 13, of Fenton, Mich. sits for a portrait in a park in downtown Fenton, Mich. on Thursday, June 18, 2015. Cota, is best known for her appearances with her mother Jeanette Cota in the last few seasons of the Lifetime network show "Dance Moms" which causes many to assume she's from a large city such as Pittsburgh and not the much smaller Fenton.

Along with her honors of being Miss Benton Harbor among many others, Kalabrya Gondrezick has been recognized as one of Michigan's best basketball players as a finalist in the state-wide Ms. Basketball competition, an honor her mother also received during her senior year at Benton Harbor High School.

Carson Owens stands with the remnants of an apple pie after winning the children's pie-eating contest at the Genesee County Fair in Mt. Morris, Mich. on Aug. 26, 2015. Owens did not eat his entire pie but ate the most of any of the other competitors.

Joey Phan cradles one of his pet roosters in his arms outside its chicken coop in his backyard in Garden Grove, Calif. on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013. Phan breeds and trains rosters and hens for pedigree shows that judge the birds on color, pedigree and temperament.

Ashton Silva, of Long Beach, Calif. pauses during a break between rounds of training for his first boxing tournament at Long Beach Boxing and Fitness in Long Beach, Calif. on Oct 25, 2013.

Former CSU-Long Beach basketball player DeAnthony Langston at Inglewood Unified High School in Inglewood, Calif. on Thursday, January 2, 2014.

Joey Spencer, 15, is a Genesee County boxer that will be representing the United States at the upcoming AIBA Junior World Championship in Russia in September. A Junior Olympic champion, Spencer trains in his home's garage, which has been converted into a small gym, with other local youth.

Current George Washington High School basketball player Justin Phillips II, right, stands with his father, Justin Philips, and grandfather Levi Phillips as three generations of basketball greats at the local level and beyond.

A man stands for a portrait in Flint, Mich. on Wednesday, June 10, 2015.

Standing roughly ten feet away from the spot along the motorcade route and still wearing the same trilby hat, Ernest Brandt, 86, of Dallas witnessed the assassination of President John F. Kennedy 49 years ago and has returned to the spot to meet with other witnesses, those there to pay their respects and conspiracy theorists at an unofficial 49th anniversary remembrance ceremony in downtown Dallas on Nov. 22, 2012

Juanita King stands on her front porch after receiving a meal from the Lincoln County Opportunity Company which distributes meals to seniors across the county in order to provide nutritious options to those limited by mobility and access to grocery stores in rural communities.

Rev. Welton Pleasant II, pastor of the Christ Second Baptist Church, sits for a portrait at his church in Long Beach, Calif. on Sunday, February 9, 2014. As other churches have seen dwindling numbers, Christ Second Baptist continues with a sizable congregation and remains an important part of the African-American community in the city.

Seth Dugan, a high school senior and finalist in the state-wide Mr. Basketball competition, at Otsego High School in Otsego, Mich. on Tuesday, February 24, 2015. Dugan has already committed to playing for Western Michigan University but still has one more basketball post-season with his high school team and chance at a state title.

Bret Rife is one of 12 players on the Genesee County Special Olympics team that won gold at the Special Olympics World Games hosted in Los Angeles.

William Kirby sits on the porch of his new home with his dog Little Bit in Bowling Green, Ky. on Feb. 25, 2012. Kirby says he moved across town to the new residence because all his friends had either passed away or moved away to other places themselves.

Keith Perry-Alexander III during a practice with the All About Speed track team at Flint Northern High School in Flint, Mich. on Wednesday, July 8, 2015. Perry-Alexander won silver in the 100m, bronze in the 200m and was a finalist in the 400m at the AAU region 12 qualifier meet which qualified him for the AAU Junior Olympics track meet that will take place in Norfolk, Va. representing Michigan AAU District 12.

Flint City Councilman Eric Mays, after explaining his belief that the First Ward is being neglected due to efforts by those who disagree with him and his mayoral candidacy during a press conference, stands in an overgrown field at Hilborn Park in Flint, Mich. on July 15, 2015. Mays was removed from a July 8 city council meeting after refusing to stop speaking during a dispute that started with discussion about city services and grass cutting and was subsequently charged with disorderly conduct. The grass in the park was cut the next day although city officials said the maintenance was unrelated to Mays' press conference.

Vic Cegles, the new CSU-Long Beach athletic director, outside and under the Pyramid on the CSU-Long Beach in Long Beach, Calif. on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013.

Bevo, the University of Texas mascot, stands for a portrait with his four handlers in an undisclosed location in Dallas County on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. To avoid any unforseen problems before big games against rival schools such as upcoming game against Oklahoma for the Red River Rivalry, Bevo’s location is kept secret and he will be escorted to the game with a security detail including a Dallas County Sheriff deputy.