First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityBessie Hardrick, grandmother of Kwatez Hardrick, a Vandercook Lake High School senior who drowned a few weeks prior to graduation, hugs Sergeant Michael Monroe of the Army National Guard who accepted her grandson's diploma to honor his dream of being a soldier. Hardrick's memory was honored and his last high school essay were read during Vandercook Lake's graduation ceremony.
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityJackson High School sophomore Javon Greca, 15, waits on the sidelines during a 7x7 passing scrimmage at Dungy Field in Jackson, MI.
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityOllie Deaton-Turner, 77, kisses the forehead of her former sweetheart Roscoe Terry, 88, at Nim Henson Geriatric Center in Jackson, Ky. Turner visits Terry at least once a week to bring him hot meals and the latest news.
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityA baby filly was born to Ustealmysunshine at 10:15am Friday morning at Snow Ridge Farm in Clark Lake, MI. In a year and a half, that filly will begin training to race.
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityDavid Nyssen, 18, holds his family cat Baby close after being reunited with him at Michigan State University's Veterinary Clinic in East Lansing, MI. Baby was shot in the head with a crossbow in the Nyssen family's neighborhood in Jackson, MI.
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityDarrell Gray, 42, had his left eye removed in January after doctors discovered he had melanoma. Gray has been driving forklifts for almost 20 years and management at Begley Lumber never questioned his ability to drive a lift after the removal of his eye. "I run into stuff sometimes," Gray said. "But it's alright."
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityA Hanover Horton High School football player sprints across the field during a 7x7 passing scrimmage at Dungy Field in Jackson, MI.
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityZach and Chelsea Ellis met in high school. From the beginning, their relationship was riddled with complications. Chelsea's father, a strict disciplinarian and alcoholic, controlled his daughter's every move. He never approved of Zach. More than half of their relationship was kept a secret from her father. This wood, located in Fredericktown, OH, is one of the places they would meet in secret whenever possible.
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityEmma Stanton, 5, smiles up at her grandmother Kaye Richardson after receiving a sparkling pink manicure at His & Her Family Salon in Jackson, MI. Richardson, who brought her granddaughter along to her hair appointment, told Emma she looked like a princess with her shiny new nails.
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityAmanda Erb, 23, and her fiancé Mel Martin, 29, of Piqua, Oh, embraced after sharing wedding vows at a mock gay marriage ceremony in Cleveland. Erb and Martin had been together for five years before deciding to marry.
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversitySergeant Keith Mack, 31, rests outside before the deployment ceremony for the 1461st Transportation Company at Parkside Middle School. This will be Sergeant Mack's second tour overseas.
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityChloe Rowland, 5, of Jackson, MI, played in the sand of an Ella Sharp Park softball field after watching her father play for Lansing Avenue Baptist's softball league.
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityChistopher Klavon, 53, of Jackson, MI, is a burn survivor. His family van, with his wife and four kids inside, was broadsided by a drunk driver on May 31, 1991. Klavon's wife and mother of their four children, Kay, died on impact. Klavon was trapped in the burning vehicle and sustained severe burns over 75% of his body. Despite his injuries, Klavon uses his experiences to help others and save lives.
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityKlavon holds a slide of a photo taken right after his accident. Seventy five percent of his body was severely burned. Doctors say it is a miracle he survived such a horrifying accident.
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityKlavon catches up with burn survivor and former camper turned counselor Lee Eicher, 27, of Colon, MI, during the welcome procession at Great Lakes Burn Camp. Klavon started Great Lakes Burn Camp in the 90's to help young burn survivors find the strength to live in their new bodies. Eicher was a camper during the first few years of GLBC in the late 90's and remembers Klavon as one of his counselors.
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityKlavon shares his story with a group of first-time offender drunk drivers at Village Hope Church on Cooper St. "I've done this so many times, but I still get a little nervous," Klavon said. "Every time I share my story, it's still hard."
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityKlavon eats a father's day meal with his second oldest son, Corey, left. At the time of the crash, Corey, 8, and his older brother Allen, 9, pulled their unconscious sister Erin, 4, from the burning vehicle, saving her life. Corey and Allen were the only passengers of the vehicle not injured in the crash.
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityKlavon danced with new friend Carly Bernard during a fast song at the first Jammin' in Jackson concert event of the season. Klavon considers himself a ladies man through and through.
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityKlavon rests against the side of his daughter Erin Klavon's truck after a long day at Great Lakes Burn Camp. It had been five years since Klavon, it's founder, had stepped foot on the grounds of the camp. "I think it bothers Dad that he's not so involved anymore," Erin said. "But he loves the place anyway. I think he's just happy he can help kids like him."
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityKlavon changes the bloody bedding from his father Walter's bed after wounds from a difficult oral surgery tore open in the middle of the night. He cares for Walter every day, cooking him three balanced meals a day. “I was 13 years old at the time, so I was thrust into the position of being the man of the house,” Klavon said. “So I’ve been taking care of the home here for many years.”
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityKlavon places his father's favorite Detroit Tigers hat on his head during a visit to Allegiance Health Center where Walter was recovering from excessive blood loss after oral surgery.
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityDespite all Klavon has endured, he maintains a positive outlook in life and tries to pass that message on to those he meets. "It's really important to be happy with yourself and to help others when and where you can," Klavon said. “I do know that everything happens for a reason; the only thing you can control is how you think and react to things in life.”
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityMary Maske, a 76-year old retired social worker, was evicted from her home at Silver Oaks Place in Kent, OH, along with hundreds of other senior citizens.
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityMaske walked the halls of the Silver Center, the community building at Silver Oaks, for the last time after collecting a pile of old library books. Maske loved the sense of community and togetherness she felt living at Silver Oaks.
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityMary comforted a friend and neighbor before her move in the Silver Center library.
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityMaske and a group of her neighbors formed a coalition to fight Capstone Development Corps., the Alabama-based housing company that bought Silver Oaks in order to transform it into student housing.
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityMaske discussed their fight against Capstone with a friend at the Respect Your Elders Rally in Kent, OH. Townspeople, retirees and prominent community figures gathered together to rally support for the Silver Oaks cause.
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityThe stress of being forced to move at the age of 76 took a toll on Maske’s emotional well-being. “It’s like I’m always on the verge of tears,” Maske said.
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityMovers hauled Maske’s life away in boxes on her moving day. The stress of packing and moving to a new place was emotionally and physically painful for her.
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityMaske signed documents to take ownership of her new apartment in Streetsboro, OH, a town 7 miles north of Kent. Although her new residence is closer to her only son, David, Maske was reluctant to leave her friends and sense of belonging she felt at her home in Silver Oaks.
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityThe stress of moving day and her new environment broke Maske down after an hour in her new apartment. The neurological damage caused by Post-Polio makes her feel stress and worry more deeply than most.
First place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Hannah Potes / Kent State UniversityMaske was one of the last seniors to leave Silver Oaks Place.
