On The Field, Through The Lens

Aiden Wieprecht

     From elementary to high school, sports are an impactful part of many students’ academic careers. With this significance, comes a task: ensuring those moments are frozen in time. 

     As students grow up, it’s too easy to get caught up in what is next. We never take the time to soak in the moments—like the sun beaming on the turf, or pom pom chaos in the gym. Over the years, Palmyra R-1 School district has been blessed with not only an amazing employee, but an honorable photographer: Mrs. Alicia Deming. 

      From taking calls in the office to shuffling between SD cards, Alicia is truly a super hero. One perk of her job: watching her students grow up—in person and through the lens. 

     When requested for an interview during the 2025 Football Jamboree, Alicia asked if her job was really ‘that honorable?’. Her response demonstrates two things: her true humbleness and her heart’s devotion to what she does. Every time she paces the sideline or crouches for the perfect angle, the crowd knows: Deming is more than passionate about her job. 

     In fact, Alicia was geared up and ready before the Jamboree even began. Despite the weather, Deming put in her all and didn’t let anything distract her— even the heat. 

     However, Alicia’s passion for photography doesn’t just reach the football team, but the entirety of our student athletes and student body. In an interview conducted with Deming during the 2025 Jamboree, the PES Secretary reflected on her years serving Palmyra Athletics: “Watching our student athletes grow up through the years will always be one of my life's core memories. Watching them become great human beings really makes my heart happy.”

     Year after year, Alicia captures hundreds of core memories through the lens. But it’s much deeper than that. She’s not just taking pictures; she’s freezing key life moments into something that can be cherished forever. Alicia has served these students throughout their lives—both behind a desk and while angling a camera. This job can become very full circle, especially tying being the secretary into it. The players transform from elementary schoolers waving, ’Good morning Miss Alicia’ to  to upcoming stars dominating the field. Alicia commented: “The freshmen this year were my first fourth graders as the secretary, so year after year, this will only get more memorable for me.”

Time has a way of slipping past us. From buzzing Friday night lights, to the ringing of the last bell; it can be so easy to get caught up in the moment, often letting memories slip away. But through the lens, Deming has captured more than just touchdowns and crowd chants. She’s captured the first games of nervous starters, the sweaty hugs between parents and teammates, and the smiles of students who love their school. Alicia Deming is so much more than a photographer—she’s an artist. And years from now, when the uniforms feel too tight and the gym seems smaller than we remember, Deming’s work will remind us exactly what it feels like to be a Palmyra Panther.