World Languages and Cultures
WLC Study Abroad Photo Contest
Internationalization has long been core to the CSUMB student-learning experience. Many of WLC’s students return from study abroad with new understandings of both the world and themselves. This photo contest is intended to share their expanded perspectives with the campus and encourage the next class of global thinkers.
The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeing new landscapes, but in having new eyes.
– Marcel Proust
SAPC Awardees!
- Grand Prize: Amado Ruiz, Japanese Language and Culture
- Outstanding Work: Koyuki Taishi Alpern, Environmental Studies
- Remarkable Capture: Levi Mahler, Japanese Language and Culture
The inaugural year of the contest was a huge success, and the photos are stunning. A panel of jurors evaluated the submissions: Dr. Seth Gustafson, CSUMB, Assistant Professor, Applied Environmental Science; Steve Zmak, Professional Photographer, Former CSUMB Graphic Artist; and Nicholas McCullough, Alumnus (JLC ‘19), Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET), Matsue, Japan. They evaluated the submissions for the following criteria: Description, Aesthetic, Content, Thematic Alignment, and Overall image considerations. Jury feedback to the artists was both complimentary: "Strong composition where the photographer has claimed a piece of public art and put their own "spin" on it... Excellent description and thematic alignment." "Excellent social commentary in image and description. The theme is clear..." and "Good photo with an excellent leading line into the image. Well thought out and composed..." along with a series of suggestions to the students on how to further improve the visual aspects of the storytelling.
Ruiz and Mahler pose with Dr. Dustin Wright during the awards event
Study Abroad Photo Contest Reception and Spotlight on Global Competence event
Please join the Department of World Languages and Cultures for a reception to recognize community engagement in language internalization and cultural immersion.
The event will begin at 6:00pm, Tuesday, April 8, 2025 with a reception to mark the WLC study abroad photo contest in the CAHSS Gallery, followed by remarks in the CAHSS 1401 screening room at 7:00pm. Attendees will recognize campus community members’ participation in study abroad experiences, demonstrated excellence in language proficiency, and engagement in cultural immersion experiences. Study Abroad Photo Contest participants and contest winners will be celebrated. Refreshments will be served in the Amphitheater.
CAHSS Gallery Open
The Study Abroad Photos are now exhibited in the CAHSS Gallery Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. Please stop by! Tag @csumb.wlc if you post to Facebook.
Call for Study Abroad Photos!
The 2025 photo contest asks current CSUMB students to share up to three photos from their recent study abroad experiences. Students should match each image and accompanying description with a LESCANT category. LESCANT is an acronym for a framework for exploring cultural values and perspectives according to Language, Environment, Social Organization, Context, Authority, Non-verbal and Time. Please submit a 50-200 word description of your image when you upload your submission. Only one submission per category is allowed, up to three photos total. All images remain the property of the original author and you will grant CSUMB permission to use them for this photo contest. Please see the consent details on the photo submission form. Submissions will be accepted between December 12, 2024 at 8:00am and February 17th, 2025 at 11:59pm.
Submitted photos will be juried before the show. Selected photos will be displayed in a special exhibition in the CAHSS Gallery from March 25–April 18, 2025. Photo contest winners will be announced during the WLC Spotlight on Culture event in March (date TBD).