Freshman Brinley Holba quenches her thirst between sets during a Stillwater volleyball match at Pioneer Stadium. This photo gets an honorable mention as one of The Stillwegian's favorite photos of the year. – Photo by Chris Peters
Freshman Brinley Holba quenches her thirst between sets during a Stillwater volleyball match at Pioneer Stadium. This photo gets an honorable mention as one of The Stillwegian's favorite photos of the year. – Photo by Chris Peters
The Stillwegian has selected 20 photos from 2025 — 10 news and 10 sports — and is asking readers to determine the winners using ranked-choice voting.
How to vote: Readers rank up to five photos in each category, assigning 1st through 5th choices to create their personal ballot.
An email address is required to help with duplicate voting, but anyone can participate — voting remains open until February 1, 2026.
Why ranked-choice: Instead of picking just one favorite, the system lets readers express nuanced preferences while the vote redistribution process finds photos with the broadest support.
When no photo earns a majority, the last-place finisher is eliminated and those votes transfer to each voter's next choice until a winner emerges.
What's next: The Stillwegian plans to make this an annual tradition and hopes to eventually include work from other local photographers.
Winners will be announced after voting closes in February.
The bottom line: This low-stakes contest offers readers a chance to shape the visual record of 2025 while experiencing how ranked-choice voting works in practice.
Confetti covers the lawn of Block 34 during its grand opening celebration on July 26, 2025. Beaudie Beckstrom celebrates and poses for photographers. – Photo by Chris Peters Lester catches some air as he bunny hops his bicycle to stay within the lines while going as slow as possible during Dancing Turtle's Slow Bike Race. The winner is the last person to finish without stopping. – Photo by Chris PetersJune Stevens enjoys the sights as her father, Brett, pedals them around Block 34 during Dancing Turtles' bike parade on July 26, 2025. – Photo by Chris Peters The merry-go-round stayed busy during the 2025 Payne County Free Fair Aug. 30, 2025. – Photo by Chris Peters A young fairgoer holds on to his hat while taking a spin on the flying swings during the Payne County Free Fair Aug. 30, 2025. – Photo by Chris PetersCharlie Flanery receives instructions from his father Sean Patrick Flanery while filming a scene for the movie The Thirteen Folds at the Stillwater Pioneer Football Stadium on Dec. 10, 2025. – Photo by Chris PetersJake Lynn winks at the camera while drumming for Johnny Mullenax during the Block 34 Live concert series on Oct. 4, 2025. – Photo by Chris PetersHeather Spurrier gives Mazie a push on the new swing set at Myers Park on Nov. 7, 2025. – Photo by Chris Peters Buddy, a miniature horse at Turning Point Ranch, is one of four riderless horses paying tribute to Nash Lucas, who was lost in the 2015 Oklahoma State University Homecoming Parade tragedy. – Photo by Chris PetersThree years after his brother Grady Lambert was killed near a Texas interstate while running across the country to support healthcare workers, Stone Lambert completes a 54-mile run from Edmond to Stillwater in his honor. – Photo by Chris Peters
Stillwater sophomore Ivan McFarlin II stuffs a two-handed jam during a Pioneer blow-out victory versus Capitol Hill Dec. 2, 2025. – Photo by Chris PetersStillwater sophomore Khalia Moore went 8-of-8 shooting with a team-high 18 points in the matchup against Edmond Memorial Dec. 12, 2025. – Photo by Chris PetersStillwater's Grace Tonga makes a base hit during the Lady Pioneer win over Ponca City on Aug. 26, 2026. – Photo by Chris PetersStillwater Senior and long-time team manager Bonnie Rutherford steps up to the plate before hitting an unofficial in-field home run on the first pitch against the Norman Tigers Sept. 15, 2026, at Couch Park. – Photo by Chris PetersGraycie Murray takes off down the third base line towards home plate during Stillwater softball's epic slugfest victory against Southmoore on Oct. 9, 2025, earning the OSSAA Class 6A Regional title. – Photo by Chris Peters Jaelynn Wilhelm on deck during the Lady Pioneers' stunning comeback victory against the Moore Lions Aug. 14, 2025, at Couch Park. – Photo by Chris PetersSouthmoore's Lucely Kutz attempts to catch a line drive during the regional championship game against Stillwater on Oct. 9 at Couch Park. – Photo by Chris PetersStillwater senior Alyssa Thomas tallied 2 kills against Edmond North during the Lady Pioneers' annual PINK OUT match-up in Pioneer Fieldhouse on Sept. 23, 2025. – Photo by Chris PetersSenior libero Taylor Rattay and teammates celebrate Rattay's ace during the Lady Pioneers' upset of then #1-ranked Norman Tigers on the road. – Photo by Chris PetersAlumni, sports fans and the community meet Eric Morris, Cowboy football's new head coach. – Photo by Chris Peters
