Study abroad photo contest submissions due Feb. 5

The time has come to enter photos in TLU's annual study abroad photo contest. All students who have participated in a study abroad program are invited to submit their pictures to the international education office by Feb. 5.

"It's sort of like the cliché, 'a picture is worth a thousand words,'" Charla Bailey, director of international education, said. "This is a great way for the students to actually show a little bit about their experiences. It also helps the TLU community to see for themselves part of those experiences."

Students may submit photos in the two categories of either buildings and landscapes or animals and people. Those who are interested must print their eight-by-ten pictures and fill out a form in the international education office. Frames will be provided for the show.

"The student gets to turn in up to two photos per program," Bailey said. "We have students who have gone on an in-house program and then later they have gone on a semester program. So, they can turn in two for each."

Any student who has studied abroad and is still here on campus is eligible for the competition. For example, a senior who studied abroad their sophomore year can still enter.

The pictures will be evaluated by two separate sets of judges. Bailey will bring in three special judges Feb. 15. In the past these judges have included area photographers and faculty from the art department.

"[Those] judges look at quality, content and how the picture is framed," Bailey said. "They look at primarily how the photo is put in context and that kind of thing."

Students, faculty and staff will also have chance to vote for their favorites Feb. 16.

"For the people's choice, we spread the photos out in random order on tables in conference rooms A and B. We put a number above the photo and give the TLU community a judging sheet," Bailey said. "It has the two categories, and they vote for one in each category.Then the votes are counted."

Winners will be announced at the opening of the photo show Feb. 25. The opening will take place in the fireside lounge at 3:30 p.m. The photos will hang in the fireside lounge until March 31.

"We give first and second place of the judge's choices in each category," Bailey said. "Then we give the people's choice awards in each category."

Prizes typically include gift cards to places such as HEB, the movies or Chili's.

Those who participate will get a chance to share the stories behind their photos and their significance through a self-written photo caption and participation in the photo opening.

"It's a very good reminder of their program," Bailey said. "I always encourage the students to keep a journal - either a written journal of their experiences or a photo journal. When they take a photo, they can write down what it is and what they were thinking at the time. When you are taking so many photos, you come back and try to organize them - it makes it a little easier. It's also more meaningful because then the student, when they are older, can go back and remember their experiences better."

For more information on the study abroad photo contest, visit Bailey in the international education office or e-mail: cbailey@tlu.edu.