2003 ONPA  Annual Contest Winners

George S. Smallsreed Photographer of Year
1st – Dale Omori, The Plain Dealer
2nd – Greg Ruffing, Freelance
3rd – Fred Squillante, The The The Columbus Dispatch
Award of Excellence – Michael E. Keating, The Cincinnati Enquirer

James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award
1st – Dale Omori, The Plain Dealer, “Cleveland’s Kids”
2nd – Bob DeMay, Akron Beacon Journal, “Fighting For a Miracle”
3rd – Andy Morrison, The (Toledo) Blade, “Broken Secrets”

Best of Show
1st – Dale Omori, The Plain Dealer, “Autism”

Robert Coon Student Photograph of Year
1st – Haraz Ghanbari, Kent State University
2nd – Scott R. Galvin, Kent State University
3rd – Robert Caplin, Ohio University

Picture Usage (Under 100,000)
1st – The News Journal
2nd – ThisWeek Newspapers
3rd – The News Herald

Picture Usage (Over 100,000)
1st – The Plain Dealer
2nd – Akron Beacon Journal

Staff of Year (Under 100,000)
1st – The News Journal & The Repository
3rd – This Week Newspapers

Staff of Year – (Over 100,000)
1st – The Plain Dealer
2nd – The The The Columbus Dispatch
3rd – The Cincinnati Enquirer

Assigned Feature
1st – Michael E. Keating, The Cincinnati Enquirer, “Pool Time”
2nd – Fred Squillante, The The The Columbus Dispatch, “Therapy”
3rd – Lori King, The (Toledo) Blade, “Smells Like Chicken”
Awards of Excellence – Dale Omori, The Plain Dealer, “Big Sister”
Dale Omori, The Plain Dealer, “Rough Playground”
Craig Ruttle, The Cincinnati Enquirer, “Faceless Beauty”

Enterprise Feature
1st – Michael E. Keating, The Cincinnati Enquirer, “Kilt”
2nd – Bill Sinden, The Marion Star, “Frost”
3rd – Lori King, The (Toledo) Blade, “Free Handout”
Award of Excellence
John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer, “Sketch”

Feature Picture Story
1st – Dale Omori, The Plain Dealer, “Autism”
2nd – Dale Omori, The Plain Dealer, “Robert’s Story”
3rd Greg Ruffing, Freelance, “Institutionalized Children in Ukraine”
Awards of Excellence – Daniel Melograna, The News Journal, “Luke”
Fred Squillante – The The The Columbus Dispatch, “Dog Therapy”

General News
1st- Michael Keating, The Cincinnati Enquirer, “Tears”
2nd – Ed Suba Jr., Akron Beacon Journal, “Protest”
3rd – Bill Kennedy, The Plain Dealer, “Water World”
Awards of Excellence – Dale Omori, The Plain Dealer, “Ministers Protest”
Lynn Ischay, The Plain Dealer, “Wet Wait”
Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer, “Exotic Dancer”

Issue Illustration
1st – Andrea Levy, The Plain Dealer, “Fall Arts Guide”
2nd – Andrea Levy, The Plain Dealer, “Death in the Season of Light”
3rd – Andrea Levy, The Plain Dealer, “Veil of Freedom
Awards of Excellence – Andrea Levy, The Plain Dealer, “A Home at Last&rdquo
Andrea Levy, The Plain Dealer, “Learning to Give”
Andrea Levy, The Plain Dealer, “Insiteful Insight”

Product Illustration
1st – Mary Circelli, The The The Columbus Dispatch, “Daffodils”
2nd – Mary Circelli, The The The Columbus Dispatch, “Radishes”
3rd – Chris Stephens, The Plain Dealer, “Squash”
Awards of Excellence – Chris Stephens, The Plain Dealer, “Makeup”
James A. Ross, The Plain Dealer, “Nuts”

News Picture Story
1st – Glenn Hartong, The Cincinnati Enquirer, “Firefighter Down 1”
2nd – Carrie Cochran, Pulse-Journal, “Workplace Shooting”

Pictorial
1st – Ken Love, Akron Beacon Journal, “Light Pole”
2nd – Dipti Vaidya, The The The Columbus Dispatch, “Ruins”
3rd – Dipti Vaidya, The The The Columbus Dispatch, “Beach”
Awards of Excellence – Bill Lackey, Springfield News-Sun, “Cold Construction”
Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer, “Smokestacks”
Scott Shaw, The Plain Dealer, “Geese Fly”

Portrait/Personality
1st – Greg Ruffing, Freelance, “Unemployed Roma”
2nd – Bruce Strong, Ohio University, “Little Girl in a Tough Town”
3rd – Dave Polcyn, The News Journal, “Praise the Lord”

Sports Action
1st – Scott R Galvin, Kent State University, “Falling for the Finish”
2nd – Lew Stamp, Akron Beacon Journal, “Referee”
3rd – Ed Suba, Jr., Akron Beacon Journal, “Pittsburgh Pull”
Awards of Excellence – Bob DeMay, Akron Beacon Journal, “Marathon Man”
Scott Heckel, The Repository, “Facemask”
James E. Mahan, Urbana Daily Center, “Helmets Away”

Sports Feature
1st – Scott Heckel, The Repository, “They’ve Got Legs”
2nd – Greg Ruffing, Freelance, “Derby Rain Storm”
3rd – Joe Maiorana, This Week Newspapers, “Regional Champs”
Awards of Excellence – Dave Polcyn, The News Journal, “Near Miss”
Neal C. Lauron, The The The Columbus Dispatch, “Jump”
Tim Revell, The The The Columbus Dispatch, “Kiss”

Sports Picture Story
1st – Fred Squillante, The The The Columbus Dispatch, “Women’s Football”
2nd – Phil Masturzo, Akron Beacon Journal, “LeBron James”
3rd – David Distelhorst, Akron Beacon Journal, “Bond of Silence”

Spot News – (Under 100,000)
1st- Carrie Cochran, Pulse Journal, “Workplace Shooting”
2nd – Aaron Rudolph, The Morning Journal, “Salem China Burns”
3rd – Abigail Bobrow, Port Clinton News Herald, “S.W.A.T. Team”
Awards of Excellence – Matthew Hovis, The Gazette, “Burning Car”
Bill Lackey, Springfield News-Sun, “Accident”
Matthew Hovis, The Gazette, “Horse Rescue”

Spot News – (Over 100,000)
1st – Mark Duncan, Associated Press, “Hostage Rescue”
2nd – Jeff Swinger, The Cincinnati Enquirer, “Jumper”
3rd – Steven M. Herppich, The Cincinnati Enquirer, “A Mother’s Grief”
Awards of Excellence – Mike Levy, The Plain Dealer, “Burned Out”
Dale Omori, The Plain Dealer, “Father and Son”

Team Picture Story
1st – The Cincinnati Enquirer, “Firefighter Down 1”
2nd – The Plain Dealer, “Blackout”
3rd – The Plain Dealer, “Shakira”
Award of Excellence – The News Journal, “Luke”

War in Iraq
1st – Eric Albrecht, The The The Columbus Dispatch, “Goodbye For a New Bride”
2nd – Chris Stewart, Dayton Daily News, “Love From the Front”
3rd – Mike Levy, The Plain Dealer, “Home Again”
Awards of Excellence – David I. Andersen, The Plain Dealer, “Recruit”
Lynn Ischay, The Plain Dealer, “Cold Goodbye”
Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal, “Solemn Goodbye”