First Place, Feature - Madeleine Hordinski / Ohio UniversityThe veiling ceremony evoked introspection at Woman Camp in Neville. The camp is run by Crossroads, a group of Christian churches in the greater Cincinnati area. During this ceremony, each woman is given a veil. The veil serves as a metaphor for obstacles that discourage one’s individuality. After each individual decides to eliminate an obstacle, the veil is destroyed.
Second Place, Feature - Erin Clark / Ohio UniversityMary Jonas enjoys an evening on her stoop with granddaughter Emily (left) and friend Emma. The two sisters, along with the Jonas’ grandchildren, often spend weekends with Mary and her husband, Mike. The children enjoy the freedom and independence that the Jonas’ give them to explore around the farm and their ability to learn and be involved with the Jonas’ herd of over 50 boar goats.
Third Place, Feature - Lisa DeJong / The Plain DealerMerah, a three-year-old orangutan, celebrates her birthday by catching bubbles on her tongue at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Merah looked more like a human kid as she reached out her long limbs to catch them. Zookeepers also gave Merah a bag of goodies and strung colorful streamers across her exhibit inside the Rainforest area.
Award of Excellence, Feature - Andy Morrison / The BladeSecond grader Bismah Gill laughs as she shaves the head of Frank Elementary School Principal Chad Warnimont in Perrysburg. Students earned the semester incentive of shaving his head by earning Jacket Way tickets for being respectful, responsible and ready.
Award of Excellence, Feature - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateJoesph Woods dances with his daughter, Landynne, 10, during the song 'Butterfly Kisses' at the Daddy Daughter dance Saturday night at Licking Heights Elementary South. The dance was organized by YMCA Western Branch, and is their biggest fundraiser for the year.
Award of Excellence, Feature - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocatePhoenix screams out as techs at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, prepare the electrodes on her head for an EEG. Phoenix recently had a couple of grand mal seizures. Phoenix is mostly non-verbal and fall on the Autism spectrum. It is common for people with Autism to have epilepsy.
Award of Excellence, Feature - Kyle Robertson / The Columbus DispatchCatarina Carrau, 3, tries to follow her mother, Silvia, during a Mom and Me ballerina class taught by Tina Ferreira at Training Grounds in Dublin. Catarina has a speech delay and both Sivia and Tina work with Catarina while practicing her ballerina skills.
