2001 ONPA Pictures of the Year

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Distelhorst / Ohio University

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Distelhorst / Ohio University

United States Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Richard Bridgett of Springfield Ohio stands amongst a sea of American Flags at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, September 15, 2001 during the "Show You Care for the Victims and their Families" rally.

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Distelhorst / Ohio University

Police Officer Guy Grinstead (left) along with fellow officers from the Whitehall Police Department salute as the casket carrying slain Officer Terry L. McDowell moves through Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens to his final resting place, August 29, 2001.

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Distelhorst / Ohio University

Kara Bauman (left) and Kory Crabtree participate in a candlelight vigil on the steps of the Athens County Courthouse, October 8, 2001 to honor victims of hate crimes and those who have taken their own lives due to the effects of anti-gay discrimination.

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Distelhorst / Ohio University

Ballroom Dancing instructors Robert Archer and Pat Hoessli dance after classes inside the Baker Center Ballroom, January 29, 2001.

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Distelhorst / Ohio University

Joseph Equizi looks in a mirror while creating the illusion he calls Alexis Fontaine, Equizi is a drag queen who dresses like a female to entertain in downtown Columbus nightclubs.

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Distelhorst / Ohio University

Artist Jeff Stevenson (right)and his partner Ross Peplow share a moment at the Lindley Cultural Center gallery during a reception for the Ohio University graduate featured during Big Gay Love Week in Athens, February 14, 2001.

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Distelhorst / Ohio University

Grove City junior Josh Goody pulls in the ball in the end zone while Piqua defenders Derrick Fry (right) and Brad Valentine attempt to stop him during the second quarter, August 25, 2001.

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Distelhorst / Ohio University

The definition of the American Family is constantly changing. Results of the 2000 census showed that homosexual couples live in nearly every county in the United States. These couples are raising families despite laws that make it difficult to do so. This is the story of two mothers. Their situation is not uncommon and their type of family is not difficult to find. Wendy Nilsen (left) and her partner Judy Miller take their children, Ben and Amy, for a walk in their hometown of Athens. The two have been together for seven years.

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Distelhorst / Ohio University

Judy sits with Amy while Wendy and Ben look at an eye chart during a visit to the doctor. Wendy is a physician working part time in the emergency rooms of O'Bleness Hospital in Athens, Ohio and Camden Clark Hospital in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Greg Ruffing / Kent State University

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Greg Ruffing / Kent State University

Family members of Army Commander William Ruth grieve over his flag-draped coffin during his funeral in Alliance. Ruth worked in the Pentagon and was killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Greg Ruffing / Kent State University

Michael Velez, 21, of Queens, quit his job as a registered nurse the day after the September 11 terrorist attacks and went to work at the ground zero site as a volunteer for the Salvation Army. After difficult experiences on the search and rescue team and as a nurse--including finding severed body parts in the debris and watching helplessly as a firefighter died in front of him--he walked away from the site after two weeks and subsequently had a nervous breakdown.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Greg Ruffing / Kent State University

Volunteers tend to a woman who was severely burned when an antique steam engine exploded at the Medina County Fairgrounds. Four people were killed and dozens were injured when the steam engine exploded as it entered the fairgrounds for an exhibition the day before the fair was scheduled to open.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Greg Ruffing / Kent State University

Miranda Barnhart, 11, of Avon, checks out the new length of her hair after having 12 inches cut off (seen in her right hand) to donate to a wig program for kids suffering hair loss due to illness.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Greg Ruffing / Kent State University

Christy Wood (left) and Nicole Santavicca, both sophomores at Center (Pa.) High School, react to having to eat a surprise food (a prune, in this case) as part of a game played during the school's Road Rally, a program designed to show students that they can have fun without using drugs or alcohol.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Greg Ruffing / Kent State University

A student descends a patch of sunlit stairs on his way into the law building on the University of Pittsburgh campus.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Greg Ruffing / Kent State University

Cleveland Browns tight end Aaron Shea (back) reaches for a touchdown pass over San Diego Chargers defender Rogers Beckett during the first quarter of the Browns 20-16 victory. The pass was incomplete and Shea was called for a face mask penalty on the play, forcing the Browns to settle for a field goal on the drive.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Greg Ruffing / Kent State University

Despite a diving tag attempt by Monaca (Pa.) High School catcher Billy Marshall, Union (Pa.) High School's Jimmy Cox scores a run in the fifth inning of Monaca's 8-3 victory.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Greg Ruffing / Kent State University

Nicole Rhoads, 5, yawns after reaching first base on a hit while head coach Mike Cogar gives a thumbs-up to another player for reaching third base on the play. The softball team is comprised of girls ages 4-7 who are getting their first taste of competitive sports. Coaching is also a first-time experience for Cogar. In dealing with new players, Cogar says the emphasis is not on winning, but rather on sparking an interest in the sport and developing the players' abilities.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Greg Ruffing / Kent State University

Like many other kids his age, eight-year-old Bobby Ellis of Seville attended camp in the summer of 2001. However, his camp was slightly different. Bobby was burned on his legs in an accident on his family's farm in the summer of 2000. After making a relatively quick recovery, he now wears protective stockings on his legs. Bobby is hosed off by a firefighter during Fire Truck Day for campers at the Akron Rotary Camp, a one-week summer program for kids who are burn victims.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Greg Ruffing / Kent State University

Bobby gets a goodbye hug from his father, Pat, as his parents prepare to leave him at the camp. This is Bobby's first time away from home for an extended period of time.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Greg Ruffing / Kent State University

Bobby looks out the window at other campers going swimming in the lake while he and camp counselor Agnes Dyduch sit in the arts and crafts room. While many of the other kids had been attending the camp for years, this was Bobby's first year. At first he had a hard time making friends and consequently withdrew himself from some activities.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Greg Ruffing / Kent State University

At the encouragement of a few newfound friends, Bobby takes a plunge into the lake.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Greg Ruffing / Kent State University

Bobby runs away from camp counselor Drew Kennedy after stealing the ball from him during a basketball game. Despite his burns, Bobby is very active in sports, which has helped him regain strength in his legs.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Greg Ruffing / Kent State University

Bobby and camp counselor Carl Wargo goof around with "gak" (a slimy clay-like substance) during an arts and crafts class.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Greg Ruffing / Kent State University

Bobby is playfully dunked into a sea of foam by Akron firefighter Mark Harper during Fire Truck Day on the last day of camp.