Noah Riffe
Second Place
Pennsylvania State University
$2,000 Scholarship
- A family member of Flight 93 first officer LeRoy Wilton Homer Jr. puts her hand on the head of a child along the Wall of Names at the Flight 93 National Memorial, on Sept. 11, 2021 in Shanksville, Pa.
Family and friends of the victims of the 2001 attack attended a 20th anniversary memorial event at the National Memorial which featured speakers President George Bush and Vice President Kamala Harris as well as a visit from President Joe Biden.
United Airlines Flight 93 was hijacked and crashed into a field outside Shanksville, Pa. with 40 passengers and 4 hijackers aboard on Sept. 11, 2001. Rather than cede control of the plane, many of the passengers attempted to retake it from the hijackers, which resulted in its crash location. - No. 1 seed Penn State men’s soccer lifts the Big Ten Tournament trophy after defeating No. 3 seed Indiana University in the Big Ten Tournament final at Jeffrey Field on Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021 in University Park, Pa. The Nittany Lions defeated the Hoosiers 3-0 to win the tournament. The win marked the first time in 16 years the Nittany Lions won both the regular season championship and the tournament championship.
- Mason Smith (left) ices his head as Anabel Bendt (middle left), Aleeya Hart (middle right) and Hailey Landingham (right) talk while waiting for results of the Solo Dance Individual event during the USA Roller Sports Roller Figure Skating Indoor National Championships, Saturday, July 9, 2022, in Lincoln Neb. Smith placed fourth after a fall that required him to restart his routine and be evaluated by medical staff.
Solo Dance is the only individual event where men and women compete against each other. During the event, contestants perform their own original dance set to music. - Penn State forward Jalanni White (14) fouls Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Eric Curry (1) during an NCAA basketball game between Penn State and Minnesota at the Bryce Jordan Center on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2021 in University Park, Pa. The Nittany Lions would defeat the Golden Gophers 76-70.
- Kooper Barnes (28) dances in front of her team before a softball game between Lincoln East and Norris in the Lincoln Public Schools Softball Classic, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022 in Lincoln, Neb. Lincoln East’s pregame dance routine was a tradition started in 2021 during a practice that has evolved into a way for the team to release pregame nerves.
- Nebraska's Kaitlyn Hord (23) hits the ball past a defender during a University of Nebraska women's volleyball scrimmage, at Devaney Center on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022 in Lincoln Neb. Hord made her first appearance for Nebraska as a transfer from Penn State in the 3 set win.
- Kyle Martsching stands behind an art piece made by Jessica R., an artist with Down Syndrome, during a gallery show hosted by LiveYes Studios, Friday, Aug. 5, 2022 in Lincoln, Neb. LiveYes Studios is a community arts center that supports and funds artists with physical and mental disabilities, allowing them to create and exhibit works under the direction of art professionals.
Jessica’s exhibition featured a mix of mediums including many painted baby dolls. The inspiration for many of these works comes from Jessica’s inseparable bond with her own baby doll she is frequently carrying around and caring for. - The Nittany Lion, Penn State’s Mascot, points to fans during an NCAA football game between Penn State and Auburn on Sept. 18, 2021 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pa. The Nittany Lions defeated the Tigers 28-20 in the team’s annual White Out game. The White Out is a tradition at the Pennsylvania State University during select home football games, where all spectators come dressed in white. 109,295 fans attended the first White Out since the beginning of the spread of coronavirus.