Second place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Steven Turville / Ohio UniversityIntroduction: After Century Aluminum closed the doors of its Ravenswood, West Virginia, smelther in 2009, they soon informed retirees of the plant that their health benefits had been terminated. Running under the slogan,"No peanuts for Century retirees," they soon joined the occupy movement and entered the political sphere in hopes of regaining their healthcare. Gloves and a bowl of peanuts sit on a table inside the Occupy Century Aluminum tent in Ravenswood, West Virginia, on February 22, 2012. Century Aluminum closed the doors of its Ravenswood smelter in 2009 and, within months, notified retirees of the plant that they would not be receiving their contractual health benefits. A movement soon formed among many of the retirees, resulting in the occupy site and numerous political proceedings.
Second place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Steven Turville / Ohio UniversityCentury Aluminum retirees gather inside the Occupy Century Aluminum tent as night falls on the site. Retiree Mike Gorrell, foreground left, said, "If somebody would’ve told me fifteen years ago this was gonna happen, that they was gonna try to beat us out of our benefits, I would’ve had a hard time believing it."
Second place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Steven Turville / Ohio UniversityRetiree Bill Stephens laces up his boots shortly after arriving at the Occupy Century Aluminum site.
Second place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Steven Turville / Ohio UniversityRetiree Gene Nutter of Parkersburg, West Virginia, who spent thirty-four years working at the Ravenswood plant, reclines as the day fades at Occupy Century Aluminum. The occupy site was built in a median along the same road many of the retirees previously took to work.
Second place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Steven Turville / Ohio UniversityWife of retiree Mike Gorrell, Karen, sits on her back porch alongside her grandchildren in Mineral Wells, West Virginia, on April 30, 2012. Gorrell has taken on a position of leadership among the retirees. "My dad used to say, you gotta stand for something or you’ll fall for anything. And this is just something I decided I had to stand for."
Second place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Steven Turville / Ohio UniversityA picture frame sits on the living room shelf inside the home of Karen and Mike Gorrell in Mineral Wells, West Virginia.
Second place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Steven Turville / Ohio UniversityRetiree Lesley Shockey takes a moment to rest after an afternoon of meeting with politicians inside the West Virginia State Capitol Building in Charleston.
Second place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Steven Turville / Ohio UniversityKaren Gorrell speaks with West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin inside the state capitol in Charleston, West Virginia, on March 10, 2012. The retirees garnered support from many of the state's representatives, which proved to be invaluable as Century Aluminum began to seek state-granted energy subsidies in hopes of reopening their Ravenswood operations.
Second place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Steven Turville / Ohio UniversityRetiree Ron Dixon looks on during a Public Service Commission hearing regarding the reopening of Century Aluminum's Ravenswood smelter in Charleston, West Virginia, on July 30, 2012. Through political support, the retirees were able to reach a deal that would reinstate some of their health benefits, should Century accept the state's subsidies necessary for the reopening.
Second place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Steven Turville / Ohio UniversityKaren Gorrell and Sonia Lovejoy pin a teeshirt used by the retirees during public events and appearances on a wall inside the Ravenswood United Steelworkers Union, where the retirees hold regular meetings. The retirees have already lost members of their cause since starting the movement. "There’s not anybody feeling like we wanna jump up and down and celebrate because it’s just not done yet," Gorrell said. "You know, there’s always doubts, we always have skepticism, and we just wanna see it done."
Second place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Steven Turville / Ohio UniversityEmma Call of Ironton, Ohio, stands inside the lemon shake up stand she runs alongside her husband, Benny, at the Circleville Pumpkin Show in Circleville, Ohio, on October 21, 2011. The couple does business at various public events across the region.
Second place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Steven Turville / Ohio UniversityA boy sips a drink as he walks through the Coney Island, New York, subway station.
Second place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Steven Turville / Ohio UniversityParty goers take to the streets during the annual Halloween block party in Athens, Ohio.
Second place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Steven Turville / Ohio UniversityA couple kisses during Dave Rave at The Union Bar and Grill in Athens, Ohio. The black light themed dance is one of the most well-attended electronic dance parties in Ohio.
Second place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Steven Turville / Ohio UniversityCrowds look on at the Albany Independent Fair Demolition Derby in Albany, Ohio. The derby attracted drivers and spectators alike from throughout the region.
Second place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Steven Turville / Ohio UniversityThe Ohio University Women’s Crew team practices in the early morning mist of Dow Lake in Athens, Ohio. Practice typically starts well before sunrise, leaving only the moon and stars for light.
Second place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Steven Turville / Ohio UniversityAn emergency response team member lies in the freezing water of Dow Lake in Athens, Ohio, before the start of the annual Polar Bear Plunge. The event raises money for the Ohio Special Olympics.
Second place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Steven Turville / Ohio UniversityA polar bear at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium as seen through the thick glass of its enclosure.
Second place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Steven Turville / Ohio UniversityA boy floats atop the water of an attraction at the El Paso County Fair in Calhan, Colorado,.
Second place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Steven Turville / Ohio UniversityMason Wileder, 11, of Athens, Ohio poses on his freestyle BMX bicycle at the Athens Skate Park . Wileder spends time in the park after school not only to bike, but to spend time with friends. When asked about his mohawk hairstyle, he simply responded, "My favorite color is blue."
Second place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Steven Turville / Ohio UniversityKent State University senior Ross Tice, bottom, works to pin down Ohio University's Miles Chapman during their meet in Athens, Ohio. The Ohio University Bobcats lost to Kent State 23-9 overall.
Second place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Steven Turville / Ohio UniversityShadows of on-looking goats are seen as Annie Warmke works inside the barn at Blue Rock Station in Philo, Ohio. With the large amount of livestock on the property, daily labor is necessary to keep operations running smoothly.
Second place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Steven Turville / Ohio UniversityOhio University senior Shareyna Spears competes in the long jump competition during the Ohio Women's Challenge in Athens, Ohio. Spears finished in 11th place.
Second place, Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship - Steven Turville / Ohio UniversityJosh Coen of Nelsonville, Ohio, wipes the sweat from his forehead as he is towed back into the pit after the Albany Independent Fair Demolition Derby in Albany, Ohio. Coen has participated in numerous derby events throughout southeast Ohio. “It’s fun when ya win, but it’s fun when ya lose, too,” he said.
