First Place
John McDonnell, The Washington Post
Candle Light Vigil: Friends and family attend a candle light vigil for Marckel Ross, who was shot and killed walking to Central High School on Sept. 11, in Capitol Heights, Md.
Third Place
Evan Vucci, The Associated Press
Shooting Victim: The parents of Trayvon Martin, Sybrina Fulton, right, and Tracy Martin, talk to family lawyer Benjamin Crump, left, and Rev. Al Sharpton as they watch a news conference with special prosecutor Angela Corey announcing charges against George Zimmerman on April 11, 2012, in Washington.
Award of Excellence
Brendan Smialowski, Agence France-Presse
School Return: A school bus takes students to Newtown High School on Dec. 18, 2012, in Newtown, Ct., as students in Newtown, excluding Sandy Hook Elementary School, return to school for the first time since the shooting at Sandy Hook.
Award of Excellence
Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images
Sisters Mourn: Two of movie theater shooting victim Gordon Cowden’s daughters embrace one another as another daughter leave messages on a cross at the makeshift memorial built across the street from the Centry 16 theater on July 23, 2012 in Aurora, Colo. Two of Cowden’s teenage daughters were with him in the theater when he was killed.
Award of Excellence
Linda Davidson, The Washington Post
Rolling Thunder Salute: Christian Slayton, 12, prays for all veterans both living and fallen at a makeshift memorial manned by Ret. Marine Staff Sgt. Tim Chambers at the Rolling Thunder event in Washington.
Award of Excellence
Linda Davidson, The Washington Post
Same Sex Marriage: Six-year-old Cardel beams as his two adoptive parents, Kelly Vielmo and Jack Montgomery are married by Rev. John Beddingfield in Washington. The same sex couple legally adopted Cardel along with his two sisters Ravyn and Raine earlier in the day.
Award of Excellence
Matt McClain, The Washington Post
Aurora Shooting: Amanda Lindgren, left, is consoled during a community vigil for those killed and injured at the Century Aurora 16 movie theater shooting on July 22, 2012, in Aurora, Colo. Lindgren’s boyfriend, Alexander Teves died while protecting her during the shooting.
Award of Excellence
Patrick Smith, freelance for Getty Images
Eye on the Lion: Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky looks over at the media as he leaves the Centre County Courthouse after jury selection begun in the Sandusky child sex abuse trial on June 5, 2012, in Bellefonte, Pa. A jury convicted Jerry Sandusky of 45 charges of child sex abuse on June 22, five-months to the date of Joe Paterno’s death.