JMC student photojournalists and photojournalism instructors won 12 awards – including Best of Show – last week at the Ohio News Photographers Association's (ONPA) 2012 annual contest, making 2012-2013 the most award-winning year for JMC's photojournalism program in the last 30 years.JMC photojournalists have already won significant awards in the Hearst, College Photographer of the Year and Society of Professional Journalists competitions.
"The number of overall wins is the fruit of a lot a labor and vision from a lot of people, beginning with [former JMC Director] Jeff Fruit's commitment to growing the program, [current JMC Director] Thor
Wasbotten's commitment to excellence and competitive spirit to be the best, and [photojournalism instructors] Gary Harwood and David Foster's numerous contributions of time and money to ensure that students are prepared and able to enter competitions. Harwood led the way with the ONPA entries and set the example with his year-long 'Tiger Legacy' project," said David LaBelle, JMC photojournalism program coordinator.
"It was a special weekend for our JMC photojournalism students," Harwood said of the ONPA contest. "This is a very difficult competition because our students are facing the best work from professional photographers throughout Ohio. We've not won 12 awards before in this competition, and we didn't expect it. We've never had a weekend like this."
Senior photojournalism major Chelsie Corso won the Best of Show award, the top honor among all professional and student entries in the contest, for "Sisters," which also earned the top prize
in the Feature photo competition. "This photo was difficult for me to produce. It wasn't just a photo subject, but my own family in it. When I won best of show it meant more to me than just a contest. It had personal value to me."
Among the other honors JMC received were the Ohio Understanding Award and the Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship. The list of awards includes:
Best of Show: "Sisters" by Chelsie Corso
Student Photographer of the Year: Second Place:Hannah Potes; Third Place: Coty Giannelli
Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship: First Place: Hannah Potes
James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award: "Tiger Legacy," in collaboration with the Massillon Museum, featuring contributing photographers Gary Harwood,David Foster, Adrianne Bastas, Chelsie Corso, Coty Giannelli, Matt Hafley, Jenna Watson, Jessica Whiteand Caitlin Bourque of the School of Visual Communication Design.
Feature: First Place: Chelsie Corso
Illustration: Third Place: "Exorcism," Brooke DiDonato
Award of Excellence: "Mother Nature," Brooke DiDonato
News Picture Story: Third Place: "College Fest," Coty Giannelli
Pictorial: First Place: "Balloon," Alexis Pfeifer; Third Place: "Family Exit," David Foster
Spot News: Second Place: "Fight," Matt Hafley