{gallery}03_26_09/weekendofhope{/gallery}Northwest College photography student Mathieu Perry (center) takes a photograph of cancer survivor Norene Streicher as student Genna Boland assists in the shoot. NWC students are taking pictures of 20 cancer survivors from around the area, who will be featured in a series of portraits in the second Wyoming Weekend of Hope. Tribune photo by Carla WenskyNWC photographers contribute time, talent to projectNorene Streicher is one of the survivors.A breast cancer survivor since 2000, Streicher will be featured in the Wyoming Weekend of Hope, scheduled May 29-30 in Powell. The Weekend of Hope series of portraits will highlight the stories of around 20 cancer survivors from the area — ranging in age from 2 to 80.

On Monday night, she clutched sheet music for “One Little Girl,” that belonged to her aunt as Northwest College students snapped photographs of her.

Every Weekend of Hope cancer survivor is asked to bring a sentimental prop for the photograph — for Streicher, it was the sheet music. Streicher, a piano player, used to play with her father, a violinist and banjo player.

Northwest College students are taking all the photographs as part of the Photo Theme House community service project.

“It's driven by the students,” said Anthony Polvere, an assistant professor of photography at NWC. “They really jumped at this opportunity.”

Twelve photography students, mostly sophomores and a few freshmen, are involved with this year's Weekend of Hope portraits. This is one of the largest groups to participate in a service project.

“More and more people are deciding, ‘I want to do something above and beyond the curriculum,'” Polvere said.

The project helps them develop communication skills with adults in the community while also giving back, Polvere said. Many of the students use their peers as subjects for class assignments, but this project pairs students with community members of all ages.

“This is a real situation,” he said. “Not only do the students have to utilize their photography skills, but their interpersonal communication skills as well.”

Anita LaFleiche, who is helping organize the Weekend of Hope, said she appreciates the students' dedication.

“I can't give the college students enough credit. They have been so creative, kind and sensitive,” she said.

“They've done amazing work.”

LaFleiche said the photographs from last year's event have been featured at locations around the state, including medical centers and the Wyoming Capitol Rotunda.

“They've been on constant display since last year,” LaFleiche said. “When we get one display finished, someone else calls and wants them.”

She added that the photographs are such high quality that most viewers assume they were taken by professionals rather than students.

This year's photographs, along with a short biography of the cancer survivor, will be displayed around the Powell and Cody area — at banks and libraries — and then around the region.

The idea LaFleiche wants conveyed through the photographs is simple: Hope.

“The message is hope,” she said. “We don't want it to be dread. We want to give people hope.”

The weekend will feature oncologists, a Yale professor and other speakers from around the country.

For Streicher, she hopes the project communicates early diagnosis for breast cancer patients.

“I highly recommend mammograms,” she said. “I wouldn't have known the cancer was there otherwise.”

For Polvere, the project helps confirm why he loves teaching photography.