» 2018 Shaban Athuman – “Denise’s Journey”

<script src="/jbcore/juicebox.js"></script><script>new juicebox({baseURL: "/2018_Winners/Athuman/Denise_Journey/",containerId: "juicebox-container",galleryWidth: "100%",galleryHeight: "100%",backgroundColor: "rgba(34,34,34,1)"});</script><div id="juicebox-container"><noscript><h1>Denise's Journey</h1><p></p><p><img src="images/1184-Athuman_NPPF_Single_001.jpg" title="" alt="Hours after Denise Luke was born in Togo, a west African nation, her family thought they were looking at her for the last time. She was born a bit overdue, and had swallowed some bodily fluids during the birthing process. A man passing by asked what was going on and the family told him that she was dead. The man looked at her, then made a cut under both of her eyes and applied some material on the wound. Seconds later she was awake." /><br> Hours after Denise Luke was born in Togo, a west African nation, her family thought they were looking at her for the last time. She was born a bit overdue, and had swallowed some bodily fluids during the birthing process. A man passing by asked what was going on and the family told him that she was dead. The man looked at her, then made a cut under both of her eyes and applied some material on the wound. Seconds later she was awake.</p><p><img src="images/1185-Athuman_NPPF_Single_002.jpg" title="" alt=""Here, we are not prisoner," Denise says. "The [refugee] camp was surrounded with bushes." Since moving to Morehead in 2014, she started a garden that includes her infamous hot peppers." /><br> "Here, we are not prisoner," Denise says. "The [refugee] camp was surrounded with bushes." Since moving to Morehead in 2014, she started a garden that includes her infamous hot peppers.</p><p><img src="images/1186-Athuman_NPPF_Single_003.jpg" title="" alt="As they gather for dinner, Denise asks Vaillant (right) to lead prayers. Denise along with Vaillant are devout Jehovah's Witnesses. Emmanuel continues to watch television, she asks him to turn it off and he refuses. Seconds later, Denise tells Vaillant to grab the remote and turn it off." /><br> As they gather for dinner, Denise asks Vaillant (right) to lead prayers. Denise along with Vaillant are devout Jehovah's Witnesses. Emmanuel continues to watch television, she asks him to turn it off and he refuses. Seconds later, Denise tells Vaillant to grab the remote and turn it off.</p><p><img src="images/1187-Athuman_NPPF_Single_004.jpg" title="" alt="Denise plays with Daxter at home before attending a photo lab class at Morehead State University. She adopted Daxter from a former convict she worked with at the Community Recycling Center. Daxter was one of three puppies." /><br> Denise plays with Daxter at home before attending a photo lab class at Morehead State University. She adopted Daxter from a former convict she worked with at the Community Recycling Center. Daxter was one of three puppies.</p><p><img src="images/1188-Athuman_NPPF_Single_005.jpg" title="" alt="Denise enters the darkroom during her photo lab class at Morehead State. "It wasn’t easy," she says. "Everyone was ahead of me but the professor is amazing." Denise is scheduled to graduate in May 2018." /><br> Denise enters the darkroom during her photo lab class at Morehead State. "It wasn’t easy," she says. "Everyone was ahead of me but the professor is amazing." Denise is scheduled to graduate in May 2018.</p><p><img src="images/1189-Athuman_NPPF_Single_006.jpg" title="" alt="Denise receives photo printing advice from her professor, Robyn Moore, during a photo lab. "The first project was not easy," Denise says. "I put all my photos on the wall and [Robyn] was crying."" /><br> Denise receives photo printing advice from her professor, Robyn Moore, during a photo lab. "The first project was not easy," Denise says. "I put all my photos on the wall and [Robyn] was crying."</p><p><img src="images/1190-Athuman_NPPF_Single_007.jpg" title="" alt="Denise greets William Collin Alexander, manager at the Community Recycling Center, where she volunteers. "She’s a strong individual, but I told her that she needed to stay in school," William says. The two have become close friends after Denise supported William when his son was born premature." /><br> Denise greets William Collin Alexander, manager at the Community Recycling Center, where she volunteers. "She’s a strong individual, but I told her that she needed to stay in school," William says. The two have become close friends after Denise supported William when his son was born premature.</p><p><img src="images/1191-Athuman_NPPF_Single_008.jpg" title="" alt="Denise speaks about fleeing Togo to the neighboring country of Ghana. While in a refugee camp in Ghana, Denise helped support her family by styling her neighbors' hair." /><br> Denise speaks about fleeing Togo to the neighboring country of Ghana. While in a refugee camp in Ghana, Denise helped support her family by styling her neighbors' hair.</p><p><img src="images/1192-Athuman_NPPF_Single_009.jpg" title="" alt="Denise pauses in her doorway before leaving home for her photo lab. "The only way I can help people is to be educated," she says." /><br> Denise pauses in her doorway before leaving home for her photo lab. "The only way I can help people is to be educated," she says.</p></noscript></div>