2012 ONPA Pictures of the Year

First Place, George A. Smallsreed Jr. Award, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

A U.S. Navy F/A-18 breaks out of a visible condensation cloud at the Cleveland International Air Show on Sept. 3, 2012. The cloud phenomenon occurs at subsonic speeds under certain atmospheric conditions.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Bootsy Collins smiles during a performance of his Funk Unity Band at the Beachland Ballroom. The Parliament Funkadelic bassist and showman was back in Cleveland helping kick off the 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction festivities.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Kirtland's Damon Washington unabashedly cries as his team is brought to the awards stand to receive their state runner up trophy in Division VI football. Kirtland, the state champion in 2011, was defeated this year by the same team they defeated the previous year, Coldwater.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Rocky River's Madi Connelly, takes a tumble as she loses her footing on the rain soaked track in the girls 800 meter run in the regional track finals. Connelly was leading the entire race when she fell and was passed by Anna Boyert, of Medina, who won.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Gwyneth Neitenbach, 15 months, holds a bouquet of yarrow picked by her mother, Pamela, on the family farm. The Neitenbach's run Neitenbach Farm, a Countryside Conservancy farm in the Cuyahoga Valley. The farm specializes in vegetables and medicinal herbs. The flowers will be used for a yarrow tincture, which has many medicinal properties.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Brook Rohrer, a senior at Malone College, meets the lion while eating lunch at Li Wah restaurant. The Lion Dance, performed by the Kwan family helped usher in the Chinese Year of the Dragon.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Karen Cheshier, of Azure Stained Glass, cleans the frame of the stained glass window at St. Timothy Missionary Baptist Church. The window was being repaired from storm damage earlier in the year.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Jonas Gingrich waits in the Sperry Sugar House as sap is boiled to make maple syrup. Gingrich has been making maple syrup for 43 years.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Twinsburg's Nichole Mabry goes airborne past Reynoldsburg's Destini Cooper as the two battle for a loose ball during the Division I state basketball semifinal game.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Lorain's Jocelynn Rogers crosses the finish line in a flurry of hair in the girls 4X200 meter relay in the regional track finals. The Titans finished first but were disqualified for a bad baton exchange.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

El Sistema is the celebrated music-education program started in Venezuela that takes youths off the streets and teaches them to play in symphony orchestras. El Sistema @ Rainey is Cleveland's version of the program, started by Cleveland Orchestra violinist Isabel Trautwein. Destiny Star White practices singing the "Rainey" song for an upcoming performance during El Sistema. The song describes the Rainey Institute and its artistic mission.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Xavier Haddon dances and plays his paper violin during group time at El Sistema @ Rainey. El Sistema requires students to build paper violins so they can become acquainted with the instrument. They are then given their permanent violins in a paper violin graduation ceremony and concert.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Instructor Brittany Kubiak demonstrates the bunny bow during class. The grip helps to build dexterity in the young musician's hands.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Isaac Neal tunes his violin before El Sistema @ Rainey while teacher Isabel Trautwein writes the day's lesson on the board. Neal is one of the older students in class and one of it's most talented. He will attend Interlochen this summer to study violin.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Saria Neal plays the Pachelbel Canon in the home of her instructor, Isabel Trautwein. Trautwen, a violinist with the Cleveland Orchestra, is the artistic director of El Sistema @ Rainey. Trautwein will bring students to her home if she thinks they will benefit from the special attention.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Courntey Bonifant, a teacher, with El Sistema @ Rainey, pulls MaiLonnie Walton out of the group to talk with her. Walton had been inattentive and disruptive to the other students so Bonifant took her aside to get her to refocus on her music.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

MaiLonnie Walton watches as Brendan O'Malley of the folk group Honeybucket plays along with El Sistema @ Rainey. Musical groups from all over the city come to Rainey weekly to perform in front of the orchestra.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Sharon Young tries to quiet a giggle as she and Candace Johnson wait for the famed pianist Gabriela Montero to perform for El Sistema @ Rainey. El Sistema @ Rainey has become a destination for world class musicians who want to expose students to their particular brand of music.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

A mix of El Sistema kids, Cleveland Orchestra members and orchestra children perform together on stage at Severance Hall as part of the Martin Luther King Day festivities. Artistic Director Isabel Trautwein's connection to the Cleveland Orchestra has give musicians from El Sistema @ Rainey opportunities unavailable otherwise.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

MaiLonnie Walton participates in the violin up chant in preparation for positioning the violin during the Paper Violin Graduation Ceremony and Concert. The young musicians received their real violins during the ceremony.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Sheila Sudberry videotapes her granddaughter, Jamiyah Dotson, during a Thursday afternoon performance of El Sistema @ Rainey. The youth orchestra performs weekly to give the students confidence to play in front of an audience.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Instructor Darnell Weaver plays his viola while the students of El Sistema @ Rainey dance in the halls. Weaver brought out his viola to show the students the difference between violin and viola and allowed the children the opportunity to play another kind of instrument.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Three years ago Bishop Richard Lennon closed 50 churches as part of the downsizing of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. Eleven of those churches appealed their closing. In March, in an unprecedented move, the Vatican council reversed the bishop's closing of 11 churches, saying the parishes must be restored and the sanctuaries reopened for worship. Andrew Moreno holds a sign celebrating the reopening of St. Casimir Catholic Church as parishioners flock to the church the evening the announcement came they would reopen. Parishioners have held vigil outside the church every Sunday, for three years, fully believing the church would reopen.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Colleen O'Shaughnessy, left, and her daughter, Kathleen tie balloons on the fence before the final vigil outside the closed St. Casimir Catholic Church. The vigil marked the 140th consecutive Sunday outside the church since the closing on November 8, 2009.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Patricia Schulte-Singleton cracks the doors open of the shuttered St. Patrick Catholic Church for the first time in over two years. Schulte-Singleton led the Endangered Catholics movement which brought the appeal of the 11 churches to the Vatican council.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Antoinette Polk, who works for A&V Cleaning, mops the altar of St. Barbara Catholic Church in preparation for it's reopening. St. Barbara was ordered reopened by the Vatican after Bishop Richard Lennon closed it during the Catholic Church downsizing.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Fr. James Ols puts on his vestments before the reopening mass of St. Patrick Catholic Church. St. Patrick was one of three churches to open Sunday after the Vatican overturned Bishop Richard Lennon's order to close it. Ols returns to the parish where he grew up after serving 26 years at St. Vincent de Paul in Elyria.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Linda Gamble greets a longtime friend with a hug at the entrance of St. Adalbert Catholic Church before the reopening mass. St. Adalbert is the city's oldest black Catholic congregation. The reopening mass was the eighth of 11 churches to be reopened.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Mary Zrebiec, tears up as she prays at the altar of St. Casimir Catholic Church with her friend, Christine Cummings, for the first time in more than two years. Zrebiec was born, baptized, made her first communion and married in the church.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Bishop Richard Lennon puts on his mitre before the processional at St. Adalbert Catholic Church. Bishop Richard Lennon installed Fr. Gary Chmura as pastor of St. Adalbert during morning mass.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Alex Chura, holds the crucifix as he waits to lead the procession for the reopening mass of St. Wendelin Catholic Church. St. Wendelin closed May 23, 2010, as part of a diocese-wide downsizing.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Fr. Sandor Siklodi blesses the people with holy water during the reopening mass of St. Emeric Catholic Church. Siklodi, the former pastor of the church, was brought back from Chicago to shepherd the church. St. Emeric is the final church of 11 to reopen.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Zaneta Haikal kneels in the foyer outside a packed St. Casmir sanctuary, as her son, Sebastian, 3, plays. A capacity crowd turned out for the reopening mass.

First place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Kristina Moreno carries a portrait of the Black Madonna that was part of the procession for the reopening mass of St. Casimir Catholic Church. Moreno carried the portrait out of the church when it was closed and brought it back for the church's reopening.

Second Place, George A. Smallsreed Jr. Award, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - MIchael E. Keating / Freelance

Second place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - MIchael E. Keating / Freelance

President Barack Obama in a Town Hall meeting inside Cincinnati's historic Music Hall Grand Ballroom.

Second place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - MIchael E. Keating / Freelance

The World Choir Games in Cincinnati celebrated the second rounds of the awards for performance in the US Bank Arena in downtown Cincinnati.

Second place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - MIchael E. Keating / Freelance

Cincinnati Museum Center

Second place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Michael E. Keating / Freelance

Cincinnati Police and a Hamilton County Deputy Sheriff close in on an anti-abortion protestor in an act of "civil disobedience".

Second place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Michael E. Keating / Freelance

Yevette Hooten, mother of Mark Hooten who was gunned down in a South Cumminsville Street in 2009, visits the shooting scene. A suspect in her son's murder was indicted yesterday.

Second place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - MIchael E. Keating / Freelance

Photographs of Your Encore gathering and experts in and around Cincinnati on December 13, 2012

Second place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - MIchael E. Keating / Freelance

Cincinnati Reds host the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park.

Second place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - MIchael E. Keating / Freelance

Photographs of Your Encore gathering and experts in and around Cincinnati on December 13, 2012

Second place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - MIchael E. Keating / Freelance

Photographs of Your Encore gathering and experts in and around Cincinnati on December 13, 2012.

Second place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Michael E. Keating / Freelance

Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

Third Place, George A. Smallsreed Jr. Award, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

Sean Greissing,17, remembers his four Brunswick high school classmates, victims of a fatal car crash on Boston Rd. in Columbia Township.

Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

Serena Hert, 5, embraces the right arm of her stepfather Jessie Nicholson as they walk to Louisa May Alcott school in Cleveland,OH. They were participating in "Fathers walk", where men involved in the lives of their kids, took them to school.

Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

Shena Hardin was ordered by a Cleveland judge to stand with a sign that reads: "Only an idiot would drive on the sidewalk to avoid a school bus. Hardin's license was suspended for 30 days and ordered to pay a $250 fine for failing to stop and using a sidewalk to pass the bus.

Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

Former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora uses his coat to shield himself from cameras and rain as he enters the Federal Courthouse for his racketeering trial in Akron, OH.

Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

Cows bask in the warm glow of sunrise and foggy haze in Richfield, OH.

Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

Kentucky Wildcats forward Anthony Davis (23) is fouled underneath by Louisville Cardinals guard/forward Wayne Blackshear (25), in the first half of their NCAA FInal Four semifinal game in New Orleans, LA.

Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

Dejected Kansas Jayhawks , Thomas Robinson (0), Tyshawn Taylor (10), and Kevin Young (40) are stunned after losing to Kentucky at the NCAA Final Four Championship game in New Orleans, LA.

Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

Kimberly Black, charged in the stabbing death of Sharice Swain, sheds tears with her attorney John Luskin as she enters guilty pleas on multiple counts in Cleveland, OH.

Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

Overview- Samuel Mullett and 15 members of his Amish community were found guilty of hate crimes involving beard and hair cutting attacks within their Bergholz, OH settlement. With prison sentences ranging from 15 years for Mullet to a minimum of one for others, this community ponders a future without them Their reclusive lifestyle appears content as they attempt to understand the intrusion of the federal justice system on their lives.
Amish women view the skyline of downtown Cleveland, OH, through windows of the high-rise Federal Courthouse. They were attending the federal hate crimes trial of Sam Mullet, who was accused of leading a series of beard and hair cutting attacks in the Amish community.

Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

Amish women break during the jury selection of Sam Mullet's federal hate crimes trial involving beard and hair cutting attacks.

Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

Various Amish community members arrive to see the federal hates crimes trial of leader Sam Mullet and several other Amish, accused in a series of beard and hair cutting attacks.

Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

Amish leader Sam Mullet's mailbox and barn are seen in Bergholz, OH. Community members ponder a future without Mullet and his followers who were convicted in the federal hate crimes trial for beard and hair cutting attacks.

Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

Teacher Elizabeth Mullet stands with Amish children outside their school in Bergholz, OH. Her father Sam Mullet was convicted and sentenced to 15 years for leading a series of beard and hair cutting attacks.

Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

Susie Mullet, 8, third grade, reads inside her Amish school house in Bergholz, OH. Her grandfather Sam Mullet was sentenced to 15 years in prison and father Johnny Mullet received 7 years, for their convictions in beard and hair cutting attacks.

Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

Amish children play outside their school house in Bergholz, OH. Several of the children have parents who will be serving prison time for their convictions in beard and hair cutting attacks. The community ponders a future without them to help raise the children and handle farm duties.

Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

An Amish child wipes his face after washing his hands at his school house in Bergholz, OH. Several family members convicted and sentenced for hate crimes involving beard and hair cutting attacks, have kids at this school.

Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

Eli Shrock sweeps the barn owned by his grandfather Sam Mullet in Bergholz, OH. His father Emmanuel Shrock was sentenced to 5 years in prison and Mullet received 15 years for their roles in beard and hair cutting attacks.

Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

An Amish man and child walk through their Bergholz, OH settlement. Several members of this Amish community were convicted for federal hate crimes involving beard and hair cutting attacks and will go to prison. Community members say they will band together to endure this difficult time

Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

Overview- Student T.J. Lane shot and killed three students and injured three others. The violent incident shocked the small town of Chardon, OH. The community unified through the experience and refused to let the shootings define them. Chardon High School juniors Halle Tierney, left, and Maddy McCluskey, right, console each other outside the school where shootings took the lives of 3 students and injured three others.

Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

Nervous parents pick up their children at Chardon Middle School after shootings took place at nearby Chardon High School. Three students died and three others were injured.

Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

Law enforcement officials investigate property along Wilder Road in Chardon, OH. They are looking for evidence connected to T.J. Lane, the suspect in the Chardon High School shootings.

Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

T.J. Lane rubs his eyes during his bindover hearing in Geauga County Juvenile Court. Judge Timothy Grendell ruled that he will be tried as an adult in the Chardon high school shootings.

Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

Chardon High School students and parents wearing support pins, walked to their school and re-entered the building for the first time since the shootings that killed three students and injured three others.

Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

Chardon High School students joined by parents and supporters, march from the town square to the school. Students re-entered the school for the first time since the shootings that killed three students and injured three others.

Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

Chardon High School students joined by parents and supporters, march from the town square to the school, proclaiming unity and to take back the town. Students re-entered the school for the first time since the shootings that killed three students and injured three others.

Third place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer

Chardon High School students, joined by parents and supporters, pause to remember the three students killed at their school.

Award of Excellence, George A. Smallsreed Jr. Award, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

Cleveland Browns receiver Carlton Mitchell eyes a pass to his hands May 22, 2012 during the Browns off-season workout program in Berea.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

Friends and classmates of Chardon High School student Daniel Parmertor grieve after saying goodbye to Daniel for the last time leaving his gravesite after the internment ceremony at All Souls Cemetery March 3, 2012 in Chardon. Daniel is one of three that were killed in the school's cafeteria February 27, 2012 during a shooting rampage by another teenager.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

Members of the "Chardon Crazies," the school's vocal and creative student section, form hearts with their hands during Thursday's Division I sectional semifinal against Madison at Euclid High.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson places his head covering on as he prepares to play against the New York Giants October 8, 2012 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

Kent's Michael Porrini celebrates his score and he was fouled on the drive to the basket against Akron in the second half March 9, 2012 during the quarterfinals of the 2012 MAC Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Akron went on to win the game,78-74.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

Mogadore receiver Hunter Van Camp is flipped up in the air as he is hit by Newark Catholic's Patrick Oehlman on an incomplete pass in the first quarter November 23, 2012 at Woody Hayes Quaker Stadium in New Philadelphia during Division VI semifinal game.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

Ohio State's Aaron Craft gets on the floor under the legs of Cincinnati's Yancy Gates to knock the ball from his hands in the second half during the regional semifinal game March 22, 2012 at the TD Garden in Boston, MA.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

A young supporter for President Barack Obama is silhouetted with the Obama Forward sign in the crowd during a campaign stop October 25, 2012 on the tarmac at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

The late afternoon sun peaks out of the mostly cloudy sky and to briefly lightl the ice that formed on the trees along the breakwall near Edgewater Park January 18, 2012 in Cleveland.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

Francesca Longano, 9, gets her wings fastened to her angel costume with the help of Betz Meluch before the Feast of The Assumption procession August 15, 2012 in the Little Italy neighborhood in Cleveland. Francesca will ride on the float with the Virgin Mother Mary icon float.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

Ben Christy and Christy Campbell hug as they visit the gravesite Christy Campbell's oldest son Tyler January 26, 2012 at the Violet Cememtery in Pickerington, Ohio. Tyler died in July of 2012 from a heroin overdose. Ben Christy was one of Tyler's best friends and is joining the Campbell family's nonprofit foundation, Tyler's Light, designed to equip youths in Pickerington and throughout Fairfield County with the resources to help them choose a drug-free life.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

A young girl looks up at the Barberton Queen Mum, Karen Vinez of Barberton, as she walks under the arch made of mum plants while Denny Ott plays the alto saxophone September 29, 2012 during Barberton's Mum Festival at Lake Anna Park in the city's downtown.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

The shadows of a baton hand off of the St. Joe's 4x200m relay team May 18, 2012 during the Division I District Track & Field Tournament hosted at Lakewood High School. St. Joseph Academy won the event with a time of 1:44.90.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

Ohio State head coach Thad Matta celebrates a three-point score late in the second half against Syracuse with the arms of an assistant coach behind Matta during the 2012 NCAA men's basketball East Regional final at the TD Garden in Boston.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

Cleveland Browns receiver Travis Benjamin flips his hair back as he waits his turn to get back into offensive drills August 22, 2012 during training camp at the Browns' headquarters in Berea.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

St. Edward head coach Rick Finotti leaps into the arms of Lavonte Robinson after the Eagles secured a fumble out of the hands of St. Ignatius quarterback Michael LaManna in the third quarter October 27, 2012 at Byers Field in Parma.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

President Barack Obama talks with patrons at Ziggy's pub and restaurant in Amherst during a bus campaign stop July 5, 2012 en-route to Parma.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

Eastern Michigan players pile on Paige Redditt after she scored the winning basket with a few seconds left on the clock against Central Michigan during the Mid-American Conference championship game March 10, 2012 at Quicken Loans Arena.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

Scott waits outside the lobby of Fairview Hospital for his ride home after taking a series of tests in his arms checking nerve damage. Fedor, on vacation with his wife Kristi at her parent's lake cottage in Michigan, decided to take a quick dip in the lake before dinner on a hot Summer evening. Unaware of the drop in the lake level, he dove in hitting his head on the bottom severing his spinal cord and changing his world forever.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

Kristy Fedor kisses her husband a few months after his accident while he’s in rehab to learn how to breathe without a ventilator. Scott had the same breathing device implanted in his chest that the late actor Christopher Reeve used so he could breath without mechanical help. But Scott regained so much use of his diaphragm that he was breathing on his own in about four months and had the device removed a year and a half after that.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

Trying so hard he gives himself a headache, Scott attempts to move his paralyzed arm in February 2010, while at the Rae-Ann Westlake nursing home. It doesn’t budge.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

After Scott Fedor dove into a lake and broke his neck, his mother, Bobbi Fedor took over much of his care, driving him to doctor’s appointments, paying his bills, running his errands, cooking for him, feeding him and serving as his aide for 8 or 12 or 16 hours some days.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

Scott’s sister, Lindsey (right), his mother, Bobbi(left) and a family friend joke with him at a fund-raiser in August 2010. The few thousand dollars they raised helped pay for a $30,000 van and exercise therapy, which are not covered by Medicaid.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

Exhausted both Scott and Kristy Fedor relax in the handicap van after the fund-raiser.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

In January, 2011, Scott and Kristy Fedor along with their lawyer, appear in court before Judge Cheryl Karner. Six minutes later, the hearing is over. They are no longer married. A few months later, Kristy moves out of state and on with her life.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

Kristy and Scott Fedor cry after the annulment of their marriage in court before Judge Cheryl Karner. A few months later, Kristy moves out of state and on with her life.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

About a year after his accident, and before he had voice-activated software installed on his computer, a family friend created a ball cap with a stylus for Scott, so he could navigate the web, watch a movie or type a short email message.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

Scott struggles at the gym to hold himself upright and sit without help. His determination has paid off. About a year ago, after weeks of repetitive exercise, he was able to lift his feet off the floor on his own — just a bit — for the first time.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

Scott with the aid of occupational therapist Holly Widder stands in a device used to get patients with leg disabilities up in the body's natural position. Standing, even with the help of a machine, builds muscle strength, improves bone density and prepares people with spinal cord injuries for the day they hope they will walk again.

Award of Excellence, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer

Students and teachers at St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Scott’s alma mater, give him a standing ovation after one of the motivational speeches he delivers once or twice a week. He tells audiences about the hard times, but he also lets them know that he serves on the board of LEAP, an organization that helps people with disabilities live independently; and undergoes experimental treatment so doctors can better help others who are paralyzed. Helping Scott with speech is his sister, Lindsey.