Study Abroad Photo Contest

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeing new landscapes, but in having new eyes. – Marcel Proust

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. Study abroad participants are invited to share images taken while abroad, accompanied by a narrative describing how each image reinforces their cultural experiences.

2026 Study Abroad Photo Contest

The 2026 World Languages and Cultures (WLC) Study Abroad Photo Contest Gallery Exhibition celebrates the transformative power of cultural immersion through the eyes of our students. Each annotated photograph captures moments of cultural discovery, personal growth, and intercultural understanding developed abroad. As you explore the gallery, we invite you to engage deeply with the stories behind the images—stories of connection, challenge, reflection, and cultural internalization. Join us in honoring our students’ global learning journeys and discovering how study abroad shapes perspectives, strengthens communities, and brings the world to our campus.

VPA Gallery, CAHSS Building 504
Photo Exhibition: March 17–April 10, 2026
The gallery hours are:
M/W/F*: 10am-5pm | T/TH: 10am-6pm
*Friday: closed 12-1pm

Reception: Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

2026 SAPC Participating Students and Majors

Lyle Casipit, Japanese Language and Culture
Michael Gee, Business Administration
Ryan Gross, Japanese Language and Culture
Sheila Garcia-Jaime, Spanish Language and Hispanic Cultures (SLHC) and Global Studies
Thomas Gutshall, Japanese Language and Culture
Eduardo Antonio Hernandez, Japanese Language and Culture
Eric Lyons, Japanese Language and Culture
Richard J Martinez, Human Development and Family Science
Mingqian Ma, Marine Science
Emma Nowlin, Japanese Language and Culture
Miah Schiavi-Munoz, Global Studies
Danielle Sherman, Spanish Language and Hispanic Cultures
Jillian Smith, Humanities and Communication
Hiroki Terada, Marine Science and Japanese Language and Culture
Azriel Winchester, Global Studies

Previous Study Abroad Photo Contest Information

The SAPC launched in 2025. Learn more about the annual event and how it's changed

2025 WLC Study Abroad Photo Contest

Congratulations to WLC Study Abroad Photo Contest Participants and Awardees! WLC is honored to announce the winners of the 2025 Study Abroad Photo Contest.

2025 SAPC Awards, Names and Majors:

Grand Prize: Amado Ruiz, Japanese Language and Culture
Outstanding Work: Koyuki Taishi Alpern, Environmental Studies
Remarkable Capture: Levi Mahler, Japanese Language and Culture

Please visit the installation of all photos in CAHSS Gallery, First Floor through April 18, 2025. Enjoy a preview of the images and descriptions.

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.

Call for Study Abroad Photos!

The inaugural 2025 photo contest asked 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).