2006 ONPA Pictures of the Year

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Foster / Kent State University

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Foster / Kent State University

Gio Ingersol, 14, has his body dunked and baptized by Rev. Melford Elliott and Minister Terry Beasley in Lake Anna in Barberton.

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Foster / Kent State University

Two girls play on the swingset during recess at the Islamic Community Center in Cuyahoga Falls.

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Foster / Kent State University

57-year-old Glen Gammon is learning how to start a new life. Originally from Tennessee, Glen spent his early years pimping and stealing cars before entering the military and serving in Vietnam. The death of his wife to a drug addiction left Glen in Kent with only the change in his pocket. He spent six months in the Freedom House, a group home for homeless veterans. Through donations and veterans aid Glen is able to move out and give his life a fresh start. However; health problems, over medication, and alcohol abuse plague his everyday life.

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Foster / Kent State University

Glen walks through an empty parking lot after an unsuccessful look for employment. He walks with a cane due to a hip problem. Doctors say he will be 60 years old before he could get the hip replacement he needs to be mobile.

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Foster / Kent State University

Glen grabs the few remaining items left in his room that he shared with three other men. A donation center will help furnish his new apartment, just down the street.

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Foster / Kent State University

With help from Russ, a resident of the group home, Glen arranges his new apartment.

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Foster / Kent State University

During the move into Glen's new apartment he asks to stop to buy a bottle of vodka which he then drinks in the passenger seat of the truck. Glen admits to his excessive drinking but insists he does not do it to get drunk.

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Foster / Kent State University

Glen reaches for one of many bottles of medication on his table. "None of these do anything for the pain, it just makes me tired," Glen says.

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Foster / Kent State University

Grasping his chest Glen talks about the stomach problems the medication and beer give him. Due to his hip most days Glen is confined to his apartment.

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Foster / Kent State University

Glen shaves before taking a 30 minute bus ride to Ravenna to file for disability at the Veterans Service Office.

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Foster / Kent State University

Glen waits in the lobby of the Veterans Service Office to begin the process of filing for disability.

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Foster / Kent State University

With mounting health problems, and lack of medical and financial aid, Glen's future is uncertain, however; he hopes to attend Kent State University and begin to study art and drawing.

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Foster / Kent State University

Illustration on "The Great Unknown."

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Foster / Kent State University

Jermey Blue, 8, blows a bubble in the playroom of the Miller House, a half way house for individuals and small families, in Kent.

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Foster / Kent State University

69-year-old Walter Carkauff is the oldest and highest functioning member of the Mary Thomas Community group home in New Franklin. Walter has spent the last 17 years with the other three mentally handicapped men, pictured on the wall.

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Foster / Kent State University

Firestone defensive back Darshawn Ingol (bottom) breaks up a pass intended for Barberton wide receiver Tim Sims during the first quarter.

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Foster / Kent State University

Northwest defensive player Mark Gauer (right) smashes into Alliance quarterback Charles Babb after he released a pass in the first quarter. There was no penalty on the play.

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Foster / Kent State University

A man plays juggles a soccer ball at a campground in Manchester, Tenn..

First Place, Student Photographer of the Year - David Foster / Kent State University

A Tuslaw High School volleyball player passes by her fellow teammates on a stretcher after she was injured when the team bus collided with a van just blocks from Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy in Cuyahoga Falls.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Michael P. King / Ohio University

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Michael P. King / Ohio University

Introduction: Dorsel Bibbee of Coolville, Ohio, is digging for life. At the age of 72, Bibbee is one of the few remaining gravediggers in Southeast Ohio who still dig by hand. He began when he was 19. He suffers from arthritis and now has difficulty climbing in and out of the graves he digs. Most funeral directors now only hire men with mechanical digging equipment. Bibbee finishes a burial at Coolville Cemetery, Sept. 29, 2006. Bibbee serves more than 20 Southeast Ohio cemeteries at $350 for each grave he digs.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Michael P. King / Ohio University

Bibbee rests his weathered hands on a gravestone at Fairview Cemetery, north of Coolville, while digging on Oct. 3, 2006.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Michael P. King / Ohio University

Bibbee poses for a portrait at the home of friend Helen Findling in Alfred, Oct. 1, 2006.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Michael P. King / Ohio University

Bibbee rests on a gravestone while a township grounds crew mows at Fairview Cemetery, north of Coolville while digging on Oct. 3, 2006.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Michael P. King / Ohio University

Bibbee, unable to break through bedrock at the bottom of a new grave, oversees help from Delbert Smith (right) at Fairview Cemetery, north of Coolville, Oct. 3, 2006.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Michael P. King / Ohio University

Bibbee enters his trailer home near Coolville, Oct. 1, 2006. Because of the absence of running water in the trailer, Bibbee carries jugs of water home from his friend Helen Findling's house on a daily basis.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Michael P. King / Ohio University

Bibbee leases the land his trailer home sits on from a farm near Coolville. Shown is the inactive faucet and the bottle Bibbee urinates into in his kitchen, Oct. 1, 2006.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Michael P. King / Ohio University

Bibbee does not cook for himself and his trailer is unkept. His range area is shown Oct. 1, 2006. Bibbee placed a snakeskin on the counter, which he found in his bedroom shortly after waking-up earlier that day.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Michael P. King / Ohio University

Bibbee and his friend Helen Findling share lunch together at Findling’s log home in Alfred, Oct. 1, 2006. Joining them at the table is one of Findling’s cats, Blackie. Since 1978, the relationship between Findling and Bibbee has been reciprocal, helping meet each other’s daily needs while providing companionship. Bibbee, unable to cook, is fed. Findling, unable to drive, is taken where she needs to go. Bibbee has no running water in his rural trailer home and carries water in a jug from Findling’s house for coffee and hygiene.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Michael P. King / Ohio University

Bibbee rests on the couch at Findling’s home after lunch, Oct. 1, 2006. The friends routinely nap after their daily lunch together.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Michael P. King / Ohio University

Emily, 3, Allison, 5, and Trey Schneider, 6 months old, of Chilton, ride through the briefly barricaded streets of Hilbert, Wis., during the children's parade to kickoff Fourth of July celebrations on July 3, 2006.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Michael P. King / Ohio University

Staff Sgt. Scott Dickson of Cambridge, Wis., kisses his son Kyzer, 6 (left) after returning from Iraq with fellow soldiers of the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry, at Volk Field, Wis., Aug. 17, 2006. Approximately 300 soldiers from the unit were reunited with their families after about one year of duty in Iraq.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Michael P. King / Ohio University

Nathan Gebert, 6, hoists over his head the lawn sprinkler he and his friends were playing in at a neighborhood gathering on South Clara Street as part of National Night Out in Appleton, Wis., on August 1, 2006.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Michael P. King / Ohio University

For approximately three hours on Feb. 28, 2006, the Chauncey village council, mayor, and residents discussed the grave economic and divisive political issues confronting the Appalachian community. Shown, Colleen Phillips directs her impassioned remarks towards Chauncey mayor Fredricka Shover, far right, at the meeting held in the volunteer fire station's auxiliary room due to a large turnout.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Michael P. King / Ohio University

Green Bay Packers safety Nick Collins (36) lays a hit on wide receiver Jerome Pathon (82) of the Atlanta Falcons in the final minute of the second quarter of the preseason game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., Aug. 18, 2006.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Michael P. King / Ohio University

Jordan Mestemaker of Granville High School, foreground, and other swimmers compete in the final heat of the girls' 100-yard Breaststroke event at the Division II district competition at the Ohio University Aquatic Center in Athens, Feb. 18, 2006.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Michael P. King / Ohio University

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Doug Davis (49) buries his face in his glove as he walks off the field after the top of the first inning against the Houston Astros at Miller Park, Aug. 20, 2006 in Milwaukee. Davis walked Houston's Jason Lane with the bases loaded, allowing the first of several runs.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Michael P. King / Ohio University

Race judges Mitchell Rosenfeldt, 9, left, Josh Hietpas, 14, center, and Joel Leon, 12, right, all from Greenville, signal with flags at the finish line of the tanks during catfish races at the annual Great Catfish Extravaganza at Greenville Lions Park in Greenville, Wis., July 28, 2006.

Second Place, Student Photographer of the Year - Michael P. King / Ohio University

The Illinois Eclipse's Chelsea Grant cries out in pain after colliding with St. Louis Soccer Club's Gina Andress (bottom) at the US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional II Championships at USA Youth Sports Complex in Appleton, Wis., June 25, 2006. Comforting Grant is teammate Lindsey Thut. The players involved in the collision continued to play in the game.