Colleen Mason and adopted son Austin Mason show their scars from surgeries on Wednesday, March 3, 2021, in Rapid City, S.D. Because he was not a match for his mother, Austin participated in a kidney swap program so that his mother could receive a kidney while he donated his to someone else who needed it. Both underwent surgery in October at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Melinda Grimsley-Smith stands for a portrait on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, in Bowling Green, Ky. Grimsley-Smith recently completed a Half-Ironman competition consisting of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run. Grimsley-Smith said training for the race took discipline and commitment. "It's not about setting the world on fire everyday. It's about practicing discipline and learning to be faithful to your goals by working towards them in small increments," Grimsley-Smith said. 

Mark Skogerbo, dressed as former President Abraham Lincoln, stands for a portrait outside Rapid City Hall on Monday, Nov. 30, 2020, in Rapid City, S.D. Skogerbo spoke about the importance of freedom, which is part of the reason he opposed the mask mandate.

LaVonne Roach stands outside her son's home on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in Rapid City, S.D. Roach spent 23 years in three federal prisons before being released due to a commutation from President Donald Trump. Roach was 33 when she was sentenced to 30 years in prison for dealing methamphetamine. “All of my time I fought to get out. I did deserve to do some time but not 30 years,” Roach said. 

Friends Kayden Jones (from left), Micah Jurisch and Kolton Vetter stand together with their scooters at the Rapid City Skate Park on Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, in Rapid City, S.D. The three said they have been "scooting" together for several months. "We get made fun of for [scooting] a lot," Jurisch said.

Linda Moore of Stanwood, Wash. talks to another Sturgis Motorcycle Rally attendee while wearing a decorative helmet on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020, in Sturgis, S.D. Moore drove 1200 miles to get to the rally.

Angelina Desersa holds dog Cinnamon at the 12th annual Great Downtown Pumpkin Festival on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, in Rapid City, S.D.

Siblings Bonny Flemming (right) and Dylan Flemming (left) stand with James Randle in the "Lazer Vault" at Game-on! on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020, in Rapid City, S.D. The three co-owners said their new local arcade and virtual reality business was supposed to open in March, but the opening was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Sharon Bald Eagle holds a photo of her daughter Tessa Curley, a Box Elder woman who was found stabbed to death in her apartment, on Oct. 11, 2020, in Rapid City, S.D. Bald Eagle wished to hide her face but hoped that sharing her daughter's story would help the police catch her killer.

Chuck Beatty (right) and  husband Chad Turner pose for a portrait at their home in Covington, Ky. on Wednesday, June 24, 2020. Five years ago to this day, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality. "I think this is important to celebrate but remember that we still have some work to do," Beatty said. 

Melinda Edwards, 69, of Forest Park poses for a portrait on Thursday, June 11, 2020, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Edwards is a front-end clerk at Kroger and has worked there for over 43 years. Edwards said she worries about the fact that Kroger is ending bonus pay for its workers despite the continuing pandemic. “Whether or you believe that it’s real or not, time will tell, but right now we have lost too many lives so it’s real," Edwards said.

Christian Gill, 31, executive chef of Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey in Pendleton, stands for a portrait in his restaurant on Thursday, June 4. Gill, who has made several appearances on the Food Network, became the sole owner of Boomtown Biscuits in January of 2020 just before the coronavirus pandemic hit. Gill says COVID-19 continues to negatively affect business."We continue to adapt and overcome but it's a journey," Gill said.

Peter Bernasco (left) and wife Kelley Bernasco listen to speeches at Washington Park during the "Cincinnati March For Racial Justice II"  on Sunday, June 28, 2020, in Cincinnati, Ohio. The demonstration was in response to the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.