Study Abroad Photo Contest 2025!
– Chase Chiswell
Miyajima, Japan
Religion and Peace in Kyoto and Hiroshima
The Office of Education Abroad is proud to share that the winners of the 2025 Study Abroad Photo Contest have been announced! We welcome visitors to view the wonderful submissions via the above buttons or below links, and if you know any of the winning students, please extend a hearty “congratulations!”
– Josie Sheeler
Mürren, Switzerland
CEPA Summer Intercultural Leadership Program
Each year, EA invites study abroad alumni to submit photos in four competitive categories: Defining Moment, Landscape, Portrait, and Self-Portrait. There is also a fifth, non-competitive category, Traveling 49ers, which exhibits Niner Pride around the globe. EA had received over 200 captivating photographs from 50 talented students.
We’re extremely grateful for the help of this year’s judging panel, and we’d like to thank Elena Artsiukhevich, Grace Nyuon, and Shaun Stone for their time scoring so many submissions. We also want to give a special thanks to Sachiko Deguzman for being our final tie breaker judge! Despite their busy schedules, they ensured that the contest would be able to continue for another year.
We welcome future study abroad alumni to participate in next year’s iteration, as there are gift card prizes for winning participants!
Defining Moment Category – Winners
- 1st Place: “A Shadow of Time” – By Lori Áine O’Healy
- 2nd Place: “Camel Ride Through the Sands of the Sahara” – By Jaimy Hidalgo
- 3rd Place: “Carrara” – By Sydney Ly
- Honorable Mention: Memphis Inman & Krista Norris
Although this image conveys the illusion of a quiet, and empty space, there was a crowd of people gathered around this clock to take photos. As my friend and I waited in line for our turn, this composition came to my mind, and my friend ran up to the clock to look out over the vast city of Paris. I got my camera ready, and had only about thirty seconds to capture this photo before we had to move. This was a defining moment for both me and my friend as it was our second day in Paris, and we got to see the city from above for very first time in front of this beautiful clock in the Musée d’Orsay. Even though I only had mere seconds to take this photo, time seemed to stand still for a moment as I captured this once in a lifetime experience that will stay with me forever. As Brigitte Bardot once said, “A photograph can be an instant of life captures for eternity that will never cease looking back at you.” Musée d’Orsay, France
Lori Áine O’Healy – La Rochelle Academy
“This photo captures the defining moment of my study abroad experience in the country of Morocco. I rode a camel for the first time in the Moroccan portion of the Sahara Desert. This moment was surreal and was not only my first trip outside of the United States, but it also took me to a place that I have always dreamed of visiting. Although this photo was taken outside of my main study abroad location, it is a very important part of my journey within Morocco. The breathtaking desert landscape and the warm and welcoming locals made this an unforgettable experience.” Sahara Desert, Morocco.
Jaimy Hidalgo – Project GO!
Largest producer of marble in Italy” Carrara, Italy
Sydney Ly – Rome Semester Abroad Architecture
Landscape Category – Winners
- 1st Place: “Sunset Over Mont Saint-Michel” By – Lori Áine O’Healy
- 2nd Place: ” A Timeless Gaze into Perast” By – Richard Nuzzo
- 3rd Place: “Tower Bridge in Black and White” By – Melanie Ruggles
- Honorable Mention: Shion Morimoto & Juliana Card
As the sun sets over Mont Saint-Michel, a shadowed figure captures it’s timeless beauty. An abbey that has stood for 1,000 years still continues to draw visitors from around the globe to admire its majestic architecture and charm. The sky appears to glow with gold as it frames the island one last time before dusk.
Lori Áine O’Healy – La Rochelle Academy
“This photo captures a quiet, misty morning in Perast, Montenegro—a place that, though outside my original study abroad location, deepened my understanding of the region’s rich history and breathtaking landscapes. The floating church, Our Lady of the Rocks, stands as a testament to the town’s maritime heritage, while the rustic dock in the foreground reminds me of the simplicity and serenity found in travel. This defining moment symbolizes the beauty of slowing down, taking in the surroundings, and embracing the unexpected journeys that make studying abroad truly transformative.”
Richard Nuzzo – France and Croatia: Global Marketing Practicum
This photograph showcases the grandeur and elegance of London’s Tower Bridge, which stands proudly on the River Thames. More than 130 years old, Tower Bridge has long remained an iconic landmark. Known for its gothic Victorian architecture and sophisticated design, Tower Bridge is a tribute to the spirit of London and the city’s commitment to both history and modernity
Lori Áine O’Healy – International Career Exploration & Professional Branding in London, England
Portrait Category – Winners
- 1st Place: “Purification” By – Jacob Moore
- 2nd Place: “Reflections of History” By – Lisa Hampton
- 3rd Place: “TikTok Famous Father” By – Sarah Carson
- Honorable Mention: Juliana Card & Shion Morimoto
This scene is from Sensoji-temple, Asakusa. These visitors of the shrine are bathing themselves in the smoke rising from the Jokoro (an earthenware incense burner). Before entering the temple. These practitioners of Buddhism may believe the ritual brings them purification, healing, and good luck. Wafting the smoke from the Jokoro onto your head is said to make you wiser.
Jacob Moore – War and Peace in Hiroshima
Description: The reflection of a student looking at one of England’s oldest cathedrals through the glass of a train car.
Lisa Hampton- England and Scotland: Britain’s layered past
During one of our days in Rome, we visited the Santa Maria Basilica. When I walked in, the church priest was standing on the far end of the room, light illuminating his robe. He intensely examined something in his hand, which I initially thought to be his bible. We were than offered a tour of ruins below the church which were believed to be the remains of the first catholic church. After speaking with priest more we learned he was in fac TikTok famous and what had held his attention when we first saw him was a TikTok video that had recently gotten a lot of views!
Sarah Carson – Italy: Exploring Art and Culture in Rome & Venice
Self-Portrait Category – Winners
- 1st Place: “Standing Still, Looking Far” By – Richard Nuzzo
- 2nd Place: “Framing Mont Saint-Michel” By – Lori Áine O’Healy
- 3rd Place: “Milan Duomo” By – Sydney Ly
- Honorable Mention: Akshitha Ganta & Matthew Edwards
Standing before the towering mountains of Montenegro, I felt both small and infinitely connected to the world around me. Though outside my study abroad location, this journey expanded my experience beyond the classroom, immersing me in the raw beauty and quiet power of the landscape. This photo captures not just a place, but a feeling of wonder, reflection, and the thrill of exploring somewhere entirely new.
Richard Nuzzo- France and Croatia: Global Marketing Practicum
This photo was captured by my friend as I stood in the foreground of Mont Saint-Michel capturing its beauty with my camera.
Lori Áine O’Healy – La Rochelle Academy
Milan, Italy
Sydney Ly – Rome Semester Abroad Architecture
The photographs displayed on this page were submitted as part of the 2025 Photo Contest. We sincerely thank all participants for their contributions!