Deseret News secures most first-place wins in Utah journalism contest

Third Place Photo Essay - Utah State Prison inmates Bobbie Widdison and Kerry Brown have been training Liberty for veteran Caleb Dunham in Salt Lake County Aug 26, 2014. A growing segment of veterans are battling post-traumatic stress disorder with the aid of close friends: canines who center them, respond to them and sometimes lead them home.

1st Place General News Photo - Cpl. Heather Miles hugs her daughters Caitlynn, Ava and Jaya, Monday, Feb. 17, 2014, in Salt Lake City. More than 120 Army Reserve soldiers assigned to the 420th Military Police Company said goodbye to their loved ones and friends after which soldiers will spend several weeks at Fort Bliss, Texas, before being mobilized to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for a scheduled deployment in support of military police.

2nd Place General News Photo - Arraya Castillo, 4, who lost her mother during an altercation with her father, holds on to her stepbrother Bobby Castillo during the vigil at their home on Monday, June 9, 2014, in Layton.

Honorable Mention General News Photo - Firas Al Ebadi kisses the American flag after taking the Oath of Citizenship in Salt Lake City on Friday, May 9, 2014. Al Ebadi is from Iraq, served in the army but worked for the Americans, and can no longer go home, even though that is where his family still lives. Seated next to Al Ebadi is Ola Okikiolu from Nigeria.

Honorable Mention General News Photo - Christi Barton, mother of fallen soldier Zachary Barton, get emotional while she lays a flower on the new Utah Freedom Memorial during its grand opening on Friday, May 16, 2014, at the Sandy City Hall in Sandy, Utah.

First Place Spot News Photo - Rescue personnel from multiple agencies work at the crash site of a helicopter that crashed into a building near Sky Park Airport in Woods Cross Tuesday Dec. 2, 2014.

First Place Sports Action Photo - Nick Lucena tries to save the ball Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014, as he and teammate Ryan Doherty battle Jake Gibb and Casey Patterson in the finals of the AVP pro beach volleyball tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City.

Third Place Sports Action Photo - A contestant prepares for impact in the Utah High School Rodeo final on Wednesday, June 4, 2014, in Heber City.

Honorable Mention Sports Action Photo - Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward celebrates hitting the game-winning shot over Cleveland Cavaliers defender Tristan Thompson with teammate Trey Burke, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City.

First Place Sports Feature Photo - Players from Pleasant Grove High School celebrate after winning the 5A volleyball state championship game against Lehi High School at the UCCU Events Center on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, in Orem. It was their third straight title.

Honorable Mention Sports Feature Photo - Three Delta players go up for a block against Enterprise during the 2A high school state championship volleyball match in Orem, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014 .

Third Place Feature Photo - Dancers wait backstage during a dress rehearsal of Ballet West’s “The Nutcracker” at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014. This will be the 59th season of the longest-running full-production Nutcracker in the world.

Honorable Mention Sports Feature Photo - A swimmer competes in a meet in 2014.

Second Place Photo Essay - 3-year-old Brylee Olson looks at a fire engine on a school field trip in Price, Oct. 17, 2013.