Margaret Epperly ('75) developed a passion for photography shortly after attending West Virginia University School of Dentistry as a dental hygiene student.
She began capturing images at weddings and baby showers and slowly gravitated toward nature and outdoor photography.
Epperly's classmate, Susan (Bickel) Stentz, encouraged Epperly to participate in a statewide photography competition.
This year's 98th annual State Fair of West Virginia began August 10, 2023 and marked the fourth year Epperly entered the contest.
A picture of a magnolia blossom, Epperly's first entry in the black and white photography category at the fair, resulted in a Best of Show ribbon. She captured the image in her front yard in North Carolina. In previous years, Epperly earned first and third place ribbons.
Epperly has participated in several photography workshops at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont in Tennessee and the Penland School of Craft in North Carolina.
In 2018, she established the Margaret J. Epperly scholarship at West Virginia University School of Dentistry for a well-rounded, compassionate hygiene student who is a West Virginia resident.