James Lee Britt, 77, bends down to say hello to Janine Vandenberg’s cat, One Sock, and chats with Vandenberg before he heads back into his apartment at Melrose Towers on Wednesday, June 17, 2015. Britt had just returned from picking up some food items downstairs at the weekly food delivery through the Joint Residents Council of the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority and the Melrose Towers Council. Fitted with dentures last month after not wearing any for 15 years, Britt says he is more social now and talks more with his neighbors and friends. “I thought they would forget the poor people, but they’re not. That’s why I’m kind of speechless. I’m getting everything that I didn’t get before. And I’m happy about it,” Britt said.

Angela Jeffries, center, and William Anderson, right, sit in disappointment while waiting in line for Saturday’s Slide the City event in Hampton. Jeffries stated she had been waiting in line for over two hours.

Mark Stark tends to his horse as he prepares them to haul canons down to the battlefield for a demonstration during the sesquicentennial at the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park in Appomattox, Va. on April 10, 2015.

Sweet Briar students Taneal Williams (left), Ally Booth and Christina Seat comfort each other during the silent protest on Friday, a month after the school made the announcement it is closing.

Maya Mercer, left, holds a rose as Newport News police officers wait to place the Flag, Boots and Hat during Thursday’s candlelight memorial service to remember the 11 police officers who have died on duty and to honor those who serve today.

Newport News inmate Gregory Washington talks on the phone at the jail annex as he prepares for a GED graduation ceremony. Three inmates participated in the ceremony inside the jail.

Tonnette Bennett stands kisses 18-year-old Patrick Lucas, Wednesday afternoon. Lucas has Fragile X Syndrome, which causes him to function at 3-year-old level. He was enrolled in a special-needs after school program before it was suspended in December. The city of Newport News is planning to eliminate the program.

Byron Grove-Humphries, an electric vehicle engineering instructor at the Shenandoah Valley Governor’s school, stands for a portrait reflected in the painted hood of a battery powered Porsche that his students are fixing up on April 12, 2015.

Rear Admiral Heivé Blejean of the French Navy stands on the pier after the French tall ship Hermione docks at Yorktown Friday morning.

Wilson Memorial’s Isaac Hummel pitches against Riverheads during their baseball game on May 7, 2015.

Lafayette High celebrates after winning the 3A state championship beating Loudoun Valley 5-4 in Liberty University.

Warhill’s Keely Rochard tries to tag out Brookville’s Elexas Jefferies as Jefferies slides safe into home base during the Group 3A softball semifinals at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.

Team Marine’s Chuck Sketch competes in the 50-meter backstroke during the 2015 Warrior Games at Freedom Aquatic Center in Manassas, Va., on Saturday, June 27, 2015. Sketch is blind and had both legs amputated and competed in swimming, cycling and shooting.

Re-enactors wait to march into the Appomattox Court House National Historic Park early Thursday morning for the reenactment of the Battle of Appomattox Court House during the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War. Re-enactors from all over the country and world came to Appomattox to celebrate the historic five day event participating in battles, camp life and educational programming.

The Union Army battles with the Confederate Army during a re-enactment of the Battle of Appomattox Court House on Thursday morning during one of the real time events held at the National Park.

The Union Army loads a canon during battle with the Confederate Army during a re-enactment of the Battle of Appomattox Court House on Thursday morning during one of the real time events held at the National Park.

Confederate soldiers lay dead during the Appomattox Historical Society’s re-enactment of the Battle of Appomattox Court House.

Mike Lafferty of the 7th Maryland places returns to camp with the American flag on Saturday after the Appomattox Historical Society’s reenactment of the Battle of Appomattox Court House.

Re-enactor Brady Vail from the 20th Indiana sets up a tarp over his tent in preparation of the expected rain on Friday at the Appomattox Historical Society’s “Long Road Home” program at the Appomattox Center for Business and Commerce on Friday.

Lucas Woody and his sisters Lauryn (left) and Lainey of Appomattox watch the opening ceremonies for the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War on Thursday.

Members of the 11th Virginian Company G and 5th Virginian Infantry talk by the fire at their camp at Appomattox Court House National Historic Park.

Russell Chu with the 11th Virginia Company G draws a photo of Gen. Robert E. Lee in his notebook at the Confederate camp.

Color Sergeant Larry Harris (left) and Michael Schaffner with the 41st U.S. Color Troop watch the National Historical Park’s “Footsteps to Freedom” program on Saturday night.

Robert Ford with the 41st U.C. Colored Troop stands in silence during the Bells Across the Land, 150 years after the end of the Civil War.

Baylee Hart steps up in her truck, which has matching eyelashes, to look over the mud hop course before the start of the Muddin’ at the Moose event on Saturday, April 11, 2015. Hart would race in one run at the event before switching gears to attend her senior prom that night at nearby Broadwater Academy.

Baylee Hart transfers her white prom dress to a nearby camper where she will prep for her senior prom after competing in the Muddin’ at the Moose mud hop on Saturday, April 11, 2015.

Baylee Hart, 18, bites her lip as she patiently waits for her turn to race in the Muddin’ at the Moose mud hop on Saturday, April 11, 2015. Hart began racing in mud hop events at age 16 and is often one of a few female drivers in the racing field.

G.W. Hart gives his daughter Baylee Hart a last-minute pep talk before she reaches the starting line for her first and only run of the day in the Muddin’ at the Moose mud hop in Belle Haven, Va. on Saturday, April 11, 2015. Hart signed up for three races that day but had to cut two out to get ready for her senior prom at nearby Broadwater Academy.

A pair of 2X4s and some other scrap lumber help Baylee Hart push the gas pedal all the way to the floor while racing in mud hops. Hart has been racing in mudding events since she was 16 and is often one of only a few women drivers in the field.

Baylee Hart participates in her first and only race in the Muddin’ at the Moose mud hop in Belle Haven, Va. on Saturday, April 11, 2015. Hart, a high school senior, and the only female driver in the field that day, had to cut two races out for the day to switch gears and get ready for her senior prom that night.

Baylee Hart sits back as her stylist Rachel Britton puts the finshing touches on her eye makeup in preparation for Hart’s senior prom.

Baylee Hart bites her nail as she waits for her stylist Rachel Britton to finish her hair for her senior prom at Broadwater Academy.

Baylee Hart smiles as friends adjust the back of her prom dress. Hart spent the morning preparing for her only mud hop race then began to prepare for her senior prom at the race track.

Baylee Hart makes her way through the mud hop pits after getting dressed for her senior prom with an entourage of younger girls in tow.

Baylee Hart dances after getting dressed in the camper where she prepared for her senior prom.

G.W. Hart covers the seats of his daughter’s mudding truck with bed sheets to protect her prom dress from any mud in the cab of the truck as he escorts her to her senior prom at Broadwater Academy on Saturday, April 11, 2015.

Baylee Hart arrives at her senior prom in her mudding truck after completing a race earlier in the day.

Baylee Hart (right) smiles as she talks with friends during the Broadwater Academy senior prom. Earlier in the day Hart competed in the local Muddin’ at the Moose mud hop.

Baylee Hart (right) dances with her friends during the Broadwater Academy senior prom. Earlier in the day Hart competed in the local Muddin’ at the Moose mud hop.

Hand in hand, Sweet Briar senior Charlotte Hopkins (right) and junior Nadirah Abdus-Sabur make their way around the quad during the yearly tradition of lantern bearing on May 6. Each senior picks an underclassman to make her a lantern. During the evening, the pair will walk around the quad three times symbolizing the years spent at the college before the seniors break off and take their final lap on their own. It was announced in March that Sweet Briar College, an all female college founded in 1901, would be shutting it’s doors at the end of the school year after a vote to close to school was made by the board of directors. The all girls school was one rich with tradition and legacy. A somber feeling was present during these once joyous traditions as they would be experienced for the final time.

Members of the Sweet Briar equestrian team pause between drills during an early-morning practice April 8. “Not everyone has to do it but a lot of people chose to because of how fabulous our riding program is,” said senior Jenny Mix.

Junior class president Megan Shuford wipes away a tear while the sophomore class sing to them at Step Singing.

Claire Hamrick goes over her solo during a practice with the Sweet Tones, an a cappella group on campus that also is a tap club. Unlike the other tap clubs, the girls can audition to become members instead of being selected. Members of the taps clubs are known by their decorated hats made by their “mom,” an upperclasswoman, which they receive upon becoming a member of the group.

Sophomore Tory Fairman hugs senior Amanda Gande after Fairman surprises Gande on April 16 by revealing she has been her “secret sophomore” for the year. Once a month, the sophomores leave presents for the seniors in the dining hall without revealing who they are from until the end of the year, helping to foster relationships between the classes.

Sweet Briar equestrian seniors on May 13 take part in the yearly tradition of senior ride, during which the students are allowed to take their horses on campus and run freely. “It feels like the best way to end our year,” says senior Julie Moran.

Sweet Briar junior Charlotte von Claparède announces Lauren Passaretti into the Paints ’n Patches tap club during a late-night tapping on April 30. Paints ’n Patches is the oldest tap club on campus, founded in 1909. It started when the president encouraged the students to start a theater club for entertainment at the secluded campus. To be a member of Paints ’n Patches, students must be involved in the theater program in some capacity.

After the final spring choir concert on April 28, Allie Raifsnider hugs Professor Marcia Thom-Kaley. There are three choirs on campus, the largest one with more than 50 girls. “I made up my mind that our last concert would be a celebration — of pink, green and pearls and the wonderful young women we are so very privileged to teach,” says Thom.

The senior class, escorted by the juniors, take four laps around the quad during the yearly tradition of Lantern Bearing.

The Sweet Briar senior class raises their glasses on May 13 after a toast made by Sweet Briar President James Jones on the balcony of the Sweet Briar House, a tradition followed each year during Senior Week.

Judged by Geoff Hansen, Sarah Priestap and Kristen Zeis at the Valley News, Lebanon, N.H.

Thank you for asking us to judge your contest! We love to see what photojournalists are up to from other parts of the country. It inspires us in our daily work. Here are the winners, with notes from our discussion:

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FEATURE – A very interesting category with a reasonable number of entries. We appreciated it wasn’t clogged with tons of “wild art,” something we commonly find when judging.

1.) Erica Yoon/The Roanoke Times

We loved that the photographer found a feature that goes beyond the surface, with the opportunity to be a deeper story. Community journalism is being out in the community, finding stories to tell even if it’s just one photo. The well-written caption speaks to this as well.

2.) Jonathon Gruenke/Daily Press

This photo looks at the less-than-obvious moment in this situation, something that speaks more to the truth to the moment, than the expected.

3.) Autumn Parry/The News & Advance

While the super wide angle doesn’t add to the photo at all, we were still drawn to the expression and the moment of this photograph.

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NEWS – The winners in this category were rewarded for being there and ready for the moment. We were disappointed to see entries from mock events like disaster drills

1.) Jill Nance/The News & Advance

This frame is successful due to the fullness of the frame – it’s a many-layered image. There’s good, real emotion, and questions that make you want to read the caption and the story. It is evident the photographer was right in the middle of this frame, and that feeling only adds to the image.

2.) Jonathon Gruenke/Daily Press

This is a strong image, both for the light, the moment, and the composition. This photo would have been a first place contender, if not for the caption, which fails to give context to the greater event at hand. What ties the subject to the event?

3.) Rob Ostermaier/ Daily Press

While the caption for this photo isn’t strong, the symbolism, access, and composition of this photo contribute to its success.

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PORTRAIT – A fun category to judge, because we discussed what is an effective portrait? Sitting for the photographer, or documenting the subject as they go about their lives?

1.) Jonathon Gruenke/Daily Press

A successful portrait should reveal something about its subject, and this photo absolutely does that. The caption adds to the portrait as well, giving it further context. The image isn’t technically perfect, but the moment is what propelled the image to first.

2.) Griffin Moores/The News Leader

A graphically-interesting, well-seen photo!

3.) Jonathon Gruenke/Daily Press

An interesting portrait, definitely would have been stronger without the uber wide-angle lens.

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SPORTS – While there were a lot of strong action and reaction photos that reflected fierce competition in this category, we also wanted to see entries that showed what’s happening away from the diamond or playing field.

1.) Griffin Moores/The News Leader

The color, composition, and moment of this photo make it an incredibly effective photo. It’s a strong image that was our first pick from the beginning.

2.) Rob Ostermaier/Daily Press

The fabulous moment is helped by good lens choice and composition.

3.) Autumn Parry/The News & Advance

A good, decisive moment that asks the question, “What will happen next?”

Honorable mention – Mike Morones/Military Times

An interesting subject that could’ve been improved with better, cleaner composition.

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MULTIPLE – Only five entries in this category. We feel fortunate to have a weekly photo page at our newspaper. While it can be a struggle to maintain momentum, editors and publishers should know readers love to look at lots of photos!

1.) Jill Nance/The News & Advance

The visual craftsmanship is what drove this package to first place. While there isn’t much of a narrative here, it’s a solid photo page with some beautiful imagery with excellent composition.

2.) Jay Diem/Eastern Shore News

This is a great find, both the subject and the events around her and her truck are interesting. This could’ve been a first place contender with a tighter edit, as some of the repetitive photos weakened the story, and with some better composition of photos (and less ultra wide-angle photos).

3.) Jill Nance/The News & Advance

While there’s a good sense of place in this story, as well as an interesting subject, it could’ve been a stronger story with more focus (i.e., following the same student or group of friends through the event of the closing.)