Gallery: Snapshots summarize Ohio State, Columbus summer

Graduating students line up to receive their doctoral degrees in Ohio Stadium during the 2014 Spring Commencement on May 4. Credit: Jon McAllister / Asst. photo editor

Regine Chassagne of Arcade Fire performs at the Schottenstein Center on April 29. Credit: Jon McAllister / Asst. photo editor

A fan crowd surfs during the Rock on the Range weekend held at Columbus Crew Stadium May 16-18. Photo credit: Jon McAllister / Asst. photo editor

President Michael Drake talks to the media and members of the OSU community on June 30. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

ComFest draws a crowd at Goodale Park. The festival took place June 27-29 and is known to be the largest volunteer-run and administered fest in the United States. Credit: Muyao Shen / Lantern reporter

Bastille lead vocalist Dan Smith sings to a sold-out crowd at the LC Pavilion on May 27. Credit: Chelsea Spears / Multimedia editor

A Pride parade marcher. The annual parade, which took place June 21 on High Street, was part of Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival. Credit: Muyao Shen / Lantern reporter

Torchbearers Jessie Jirousek, 22, from Cleveland Metropolitan Schools (left) and Chrissy Motz, 21, from Streetsboro prepare to light the flame at the Ohio Special Olympics Opening Ceremonies on June 27 in OSU’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium Credit: Muyao Shen / Lantern reporter

Former 'American Idol' winner Phillip Phillips performs for an audience at the LC Pavilion on June 17. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

Runners are doused with colored pigment on July 19 during Columbus’ 5k Color Run. Credit: Muyao Shen / Lantern reporter

Katy Perry finishes a song on her setlist as the lights dim during a Prismatic World Tour performance at Nationwide Arena on Aug. 13. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

Pelotonia riders make their way out of the starting gate at Columbus Commons in downtown Columbus on Aug. 9. More than 7,200 riders participated in the annual bike tour, which raises money to help fund cancer research at OSU’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

O.A.R. bassist Benj Gershman (left) performs for an audience during a show at the LC Pavilion on June 17. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

OSU senior quarterback Braxton Miller (5) carries the ball during practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Aug. 9. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

Magic Man lead vocalist Alex Caplow performs for an audience at the LC Pavilion on July 29. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

Panic! At The Disco lead vocalist Brendon Urie performs for an audience at the LC Pavilion on July 29. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

A note from fellow Bob Evan's patrons who picked up former marching band director Jonathan Waters' bill during an interview with The Lantern on Aug 7. It reads, "Jon: We stand with you! Breakfast on us." Credit: Aaron Yerian / Lantern TV Asst. sports director

Neon Trees lead vocalist Tyler Glenn performs to a sold-out crowd at Newport Music Hall on June 30. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

Fairgoers take in an aerial view of the festivities beneath them from cable cars on Aug. 3 at the 2014 Ohio State Fair. The fair ran from July 23 to Aug. 3 at the Ohio Expo Center. Credit: Andrew Todd-Smith / Lantern reporter

OSU redshirt-freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett scans the field during practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Aug. 9. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

The sun sets on the fairgrounds July 27 at the 2014 Ohio State Fair. The fair ran from July 23 to Aug. 3 at the Ohio Expo Center. Credit: Muyao Shen / Lantern reporter

A group of Pelotonia riders make their way toward the starting gate at McFerson Commons in downtown Columbus Aug. 9. The starting location, along with Columbus Commons, were both used as sites to release the annual bike tour’s 7,270 riders in various shifts through the morning. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

Passenger, whose real name is Mike Rosenberg, performs for a crowd at Newport Music Hall on Aug. 19. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

For as long as I can remember, ESPN’s “SportsCenter” has set aside a few minutes at the close of its year-end show to air a short compilation of highlights from that particular year in sports. This heavily-anticipated mash-up is simply coined “Images of the Year.”

Maybe you’ve seen one or two of them before. From the highest, most celebratory plays, down to the somber, most controversial moments, these compilations serve up the most buzzworthy stories the sports industry has to offer in one condensed, delicious bite.

I don’t claim to be the biggest sports fan I know, nor do I incorporate ESPN’s flagship program into my daily morning routine as many of my friends do, but I never miss this annual tribute. I get chills every year I watch it. And I know I’m not the only one.

And sure, we can chalk that up to some fancy editing backed by a Billboard “Hot 100” hit, but maybe it’s more than that. Maybe it’s because looking at something in hindsight gives us the opportunity to have a fresh, new perspective ­— to reanalyze and appreciate the small details we didn’t notice before. Maybe watching history unfold right before our eyes ultimately conjures up a sense of pride that we had the privilege of being there in the first place. Maybe it just serves as a welcome reminder that the human story is a captivating one, full of limitless potential and moments that reshape the world we live in.

And it’s not just in sports. These moments are happening everywhere, all the time. Ohio State and the city of Columbus made a lot of noise this summer. Did you hear it? Spectacular concerts were played, a new president started work, millions were raised toward the goal of curing cancer and social media outright exploded around the news concerning former marching band director Jonathan Waters’ firing and senior quarterback Braxton Miller’s season-ending injury. These events have positioned us on the cusp of potentially the most compelling Fall Semester in this city and this campus’ history.

It’s my goal as photo editor to give you chills at some point this year. I hope you’re looking forward to seeing our images each week as much as I am.

And just think — when April ultimately rolls around, we’ll have our very own “Images of the Year.”

In the meantime, enjoy some of our favorite images of the summer.