Allison Hess of Fulshear places seventh in Hearst photo competition

2016 Apr 6

Allison Hess, a senior journalism major in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications, placed seventh in the Hearst Journalism Awards Photo II/Photo Picture Story/Series competition.

She is a semifinalist and will submit additional photography work to compete for a finalist place at the championship in San Francisco in June.

Hess, a native of Fulshear, Texas, placed for her story "Test of Faith," which tells the story of a 7-year-old Ecuadorian girl's battle with brain cancer and the toll it took on her family.

Five years ago, doctors in Guayaquil, Ecuador, misdiagnosed a tumor in Michelle Gallego's skull as benign. After numerous surgeries, the tumor remained, causing her to be blind and nearly deaf. To help take care of her, her mother, Johanna, was forced to quit her job. In contrast, her father, Ricardo, would frequently walk home from work, delaying the situation that awaited him.

The couple's relationship was put to a test when their daughter was diagnosed, with concerns they might have to sell their home to pay for her treatment. Over time, Michelle's cancer brought her family together to help fight the battle. Michelle considered her tumor a test of her own strength from God. She died on Dec. 17, 2015.

Hess produced the piece as part of the Global Eyewitness program, which gives students the opportunity to travel to places of great human need and document the stories of the people there.

She is also a senior photographer at The Daily Nebraskan, the university's student newspaper, and had internships at ELLE Magazine, the Lincoln Journal Star and FotoFest International.

The 2015-2016 Hearst Journalism Awards Program is held in 108 member colleges and universities of the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication with accredited undergraduate journalism programs. The awards program consists of five writing, two photojournalism, one radio, two television and four multimedia competitions. The program awards up to $500,000 in scholarships, matching grants and stipends annually.