First place, Feature - Chelsie Corso / Kent State UniversityChristina Marten is comforted by her older sister Sarah, at a nursing home in Hollywood, California. Suffering from stage 4 colon cancer, Sarah died just days after this image was taken.
Second place, Feature - Brooke LaValley / The Columbus DispatchAaron Sullivan helps his dad Chris Sullivan apply the ketchup while his brother Ryan Sullivan (in the green and white hat), 8, takes a bite and his other brother Connor Sullivan, 10, helps garnish the rest of the dogs during dime a dog night at Huntington Park in Columbus. The Columbus Clippers were playing the Charlotte Knights, the family (all 4 boys and their dad Chris along with their mother, Shellie) had traveled from their home in Bexley to watch the game.
Third place, Feature - Marvin Fong / The Plain DealerAn Amish child wipes his face after washing his hands at his school in Bergholz, OH. Several children in this school have parents convicted and sentenced for federal hate crimes involving beard and hair cutting attacks. The community ponders a future without them.
Award of Excellence, Feature - Amy E. Voigt / The (Toledo) BladeAnn Schlosser, hugs her daughter Megan Schlosser, left, after Megan had her head shaved for a fund raiser for St. Baldrick's Foundation, which funds childhood cancer research grants. Ann Schlosser, from Canton, has stage 4 cancer and was given 3 months to live by her doctors. Four years later Mrs. Schlosser is still fighting. "I will always have it but I'm here!" Mrs. Schlosser said.
Award of Excellence, Feature - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunMore than 400 Kenwood Elementary students stepped up to the plate Friday to throw pies in the face of Principal Vicki Hudepohl and Kenwood Student Support Facilitator Jamie Hood as a reward for winning a reading challenge bet of over 115,000 minutes in a three-week period.
Award of Excellence, Featrue - Eric Albrecht / The Columbus DispatchAlysha Wood 10 of Newark wraps up a evening of trick or treating in Newark during the annual Halloween on the square with her mom Tina Wood trailing her on the way back to their truck.
Award of Excellence, Feature - Fred Squillante / The Columbus DispatchQuan Ragland, left, and Ishmael Bowers, right, get a close look at Mango, an albino burmese python from the Columbus Zoo at Dodge Recreation Center. The zoo animals were part of a bicentennial birthday party for the city of Columbus held at the recreation center. (There were personnel from the zoo nearby.) Live music and other entertainment were provided to help celebrate.
Award of Excellence, Feature - Lynn Ischay / The Plain DealerTwelve year old Haley Otto of Mentor gets into full 'Mary' mode while entering the ring with her "little lamb," quarterhorse mare Glory. Haley got some help from her mother, Jennifer, in glueing more than 3000 cotton balls to Glory's blanket and face muzzle. "We cleaned out Giant Eagle," said Jennifer. Haley and 18 others competed in the walk-trot single costume class. Haley and Glory took first place, walking the ring to the tune of "Mary Had a Little Lamb."
