Why do we Host a Photo Contest?

Each year, Penn State Global hosts a photo contest to acknowledge and commemorate our students who took or are currently taking the courageous leap to study away from their home country. No matter where you studied, you had a uniquely incredible and life-changing experience. We wish to share in just a small piece of your time studying internationally to show Penn State students and prospective international students considering participating in a global learning experience the immense importance of global education.

We ARE… eager to review the photos you captured during your experience!

What Happens to my Submissions?

When you submit to the 2024 Global Learning Photo Contest Submission form (opens in new tab), you are sending your photos to a panel of judges. Some judges are Penn State Global Learning staff, while others serve Penn State in different capacities. Regardless of their affiliations, all are excited to review your submission(s)!

After judges review your submissions, winners will be chosen for each category below. One category winner will be crowned the grand-prize winner of the contest overall. More information on how winners will be selected and prizes for each type of winner can be found in the next section.

Winners, as well as honorable mentions, may expect to find their photos across Penn State Global social media channels, on the Penn State Global website, and in other promotional materials. Our purpose is to show those considering pursuing a global learning experience at or through Penn State a small glimpse of what they can expect.

Contest Timeline & Categories

 Submissions Open: Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. (noon) (EST)

• Submissions Close: Sunday, March 3, 2024, 11:59 p.m. (EST)

• All entries must be submitted through the online Photo Contest Submission form (opens in new tab).

• One winner will be selected for each of the following categories. From those winners, one grand-prize winner will be chosen for the contest at large.

• • Penn State at Work (Judged by Education Abroad Student Employees): It’s no secret that Penn State students accomplish many feats during their time studying abroad. More time abroad is spent on classwork and class-related excursions than personal travel and recreational sight-seeing. For this category, we want to see snapshots of your favorite moments in the classroom and from program-led excursions. If you participated in an internship or research abroad, submit photos of yourself where you spent your time working overseas!

    • Please note: This category is only for students who have studied abroad on an approved outgoing Penn State education abroad program. 

• • Views and Vistas (Judged by Penn State faculty/staff members): With this category, our judges want to see the landscapes of your host country! Whether that’s the bustling metropolis or the tranquil countryside, we encourage your submissions!

    • Important note: Because of the variety in landscapes in which our students study, there will be two winners selected for this category. One winner will be selected for city scenes (Views), and the other for country & landscape scenes (Vistas).

    • Please note: This category is only for students who have studied abroad on an approved outgoing Penn State education abroad program. 

• • Cultural Engagement (Judged by International Student & Scholar Advising & Global Engagement Coordinators): Living in another country presents unique opportunities to take part in an unfamiliar and oftentimes transformative lifestyle. That's why we want to see photos of students that showcase moments of cultural exchange, celebrations, festivals, or any activities that bring people together from different cultural backgrounds! Photos should highlight the vibrancy and diversity of traditions, rituals, and customs that make your community unique!

    • Please note: This category is only for international students who are studying at Penn State.

• • International Student Perspectives (Judged by Penn State Global Engagement Student Workers & Global Engagement Assistants): For this category, we are seeking visual stories that reflect the experiences, challenges, and triumphs of international students at Penn State. Students are encouraged to explore themes such as adaptation, cross-cultural friendships, language immersion, or any aspect of your international student journey.

    • Please note: This category is only for international students who are studying at Penn State.

Home Away from Home (Judged by Penn State Global staff from across the Commonwealth): Homesickness, which can manifest in a number of different ways, is certainly one of the most challenging aspects of studying and living internationally. In order to grow accustomed to life in an unfamiliar country, you need to find and initiate experiences that create a "home away from home." For this category, our judges want to see photos of what aided your adjustment process and the circumstances that culminated to make you feel at home while overseas.

• • • Please do not submit pictures of the housing you lived or are living in internationally. We are not referring to your place of residence while abroad. Instead, we would like to see the people, cultural facets, and other meaningful things you crafted to create your home away from home!

    • Please note: Students who have been involved with any kind of Global Learning programming (Education Abroad or Global Engagement) are welcome to submit to this category!

• • Wildcard (Judged by Penn State student body): This category is dedicated to the photos you captured during your global learning experience that didn't quite fit in any other category! Please keep in mind that all photos submitted to this category must still adhere to the submission guidelines outlined below.

    • Remember, you may only submit one (1) photo per category. Be sure to select your wildcard pick wisely!

    • Please note: Students who have been involved with any kind of Global Learning programming (Education Abroad or Global Engagement) are welcome to submit to this category!

Submission Guidelines

• Submissions that include offensive content or inappropriate subject matter, such as drinking, swearing, nudity, or any unlawful behavior, will not be considered.

• Submissions that include students participating in risk-taking behavior (i.e. skydiving, cliff jumping, scuba diving) will not be considered.

• Submissions that include interactions with animals that could be perceived as harmful will not be considered.

• Submissions that include images of people will not be considered, unless they granted you permission to take and use their image.

• Submissions that include images of children will not be considered. 

• Please do not re-submit photos that you have submitted in past photo contests.

• Preference will be given to photos taken in the program host location.

• Please remember that you were a visitor in your host country. You should be sure that your submissions are respectful to the people and culture of the host country.

Submitting Your Photo

• All entries must be submitted through the online Photo Contest Submission form (opens in new tab)

• Please keep in mind the following image specifications:

  • Photos must be submitted in a common image format, such as JPG or PNG

  • Photos should be submitted in the highest resolution available to you (ideally 300 dpi).

    • For additional clarification on quality, please review https://tinyurl.com/PhotoQualityInfo.

• For each student, limit one photo per category

• The Photo Contest Submission form (opens in new tab) may be submitted only one time by each student

• You may enter submissions to more than one (1) category

  • Please be sure to use the correct submission locations on the Photo Contest Submission form (opens in new tab)

Prizes

Note: The prizes depicted in these photos will not be the exact prizes winners receive. Instead, the photos are meant to simply give a representation for the prizes. 

• Grand prize winner: A GoPro (Hero 10) camera and a world scratch-off map. The winning photo will also be featured in a Penn State News article chronicling the student’s global learning experience. That story will eventually be included in Penn State Today, as well. 

• First-place/category winners: An instant digital camera (Polaroid), a Penn State Global-themed duffel bag, and a world scratch-off map.

• In April 2024, Global Learning will hold a gallery opening on the High School Musical Stairs in the HUB-Robeson Center at Penn State University Park. All winners are welcome to attend and present their award-winning photo to students who pass through. We will print and laminate your photo for you! Our office will also provide easels by which you can stand and discuss your work with students. International drinks and snacks will be provided by Penn State Global! More details forthcoming!

Disclaimer

By submission of photographs for this contest, the student grants the Pennsylvania State University the right to use, reproduce, and publish said photographs for any lawful purpose without compensation or any other consideration. Students must affirm that they have gained approval from the subjects in the images submitted and that subjects are aware that Penn State has the right to use, reproduce and publish said photographs for any lawful purpose without compensation or any other consideration.