Check out the winning photos of the 2024 contest here!
Now’s the time to start planning your entries for the 2025 contest! We can’t wait to see next year’s photos.
No longer accepting entries for the 2024 contest
Share your stories from abroad
through pictures from your experience!
Burger with crickets, silkworms, and a spider on top
(2023 contest, photo by Nicola Ritter)
Categories
A. Transformational Education Abroad for Aggies
Photos in this category capture the essential educational component of being abroad in formal or informal learning situations and locations, such as a class in an environment that captures the essence of the learning abroad experience or from an international internship or group activity, including from an international institution where Aggie education occurred.
This category encompasses any experience during which academic learning took place — research experiences, shadowing/rotations, group learning, internships, practicums, classrooms, and more!
Where possible, the photos should capture key moments or opportunities special to learning abroad.
B. Aggies Abroad
This category includes several aspects of Aggies abroad!
(1) The Aggie Spirit abroad: Entries could feature Texas A&M traditions such as Gig ‘Em, an Aggie ring, Yell/War Hymn poses, or Texas A&M flags or clothing at an international site or landmark.
(2) Aggies connecting abroad: Interpersonal connections such as volunteering, community work, having/sharing a meal with locals, or participating in unique cultural events fit here. Personal, academic, and professional connections with people abroad are of key importance.
(3) Natural or human made beauty and history we experience while abroad: The entries might evoke the sense of wanderlust or awe in the viewer that inspired the Aggie photographer take the shot. The photos may feature landmarks, famous attractions, historical sites and buildings, famous city skylines, or striking perspectives and unobstructed views of some of the world’s most stunning vistas.
C. Aggies & Animals
Photos in this category show animals abroad, with people or without. These photos should clearly be abroad — from the setting, exotic animals, or some other clearly international marker.
D. Experiencing Aggieland
(Internationals in Aggieland) For many of our members of VMBS, being in the US is an international experience. Thus, in this category, the photos capture the international experience of being at Texas A&M and in the U.S. for international students, visitors, and employees. Ideal entries will showcase our international VMBS folks experiencing obviously Aggie/Texas/US culture, traditions, and more, especially those at VMBS.
Note: VMBS International Programs reserves the right to re-classify the photos if we feel an entrant has not chosen the most appropriate category.
As we walked from house to house to provide veterinary care to the animals in the small village of San José de Ocoa, Dominican Republic, the children tagged along and enjoyed visiting with us. Many smiles and bouts of laughter were exchanged between the children and us.
(2023 contest, photo by Michaela Lehmann)
Who Can Enter?
Eligibility
To be eligible to enter photos in the contest, you must fall into at least one of the following categories:
- A student currently enrolled in a program/major in the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS), i.e., a graduate or professional student in VMBS.
- An undergraduate student in the Texas A&M BIMS program.
- Photos from any student while on a VMBS-sponsored program, regardless of the college or school in which their major is housed.
- An international visitor to VMBS (There is a separate submission category for international VMBS submitting photos about their experiences in Aggieland/Texas/the US, especially cultural experiences.)
- A VMBS employee, including student workers whose academic area is not in VMBS.
The picture shows two captive female adult Indian forest elephants with their riders (Mahouts) and a calf.
Yes, these are captive elephants and legally managed by the state government. These forest elephants help park rangers manage forest fires, search for poachers, and perform other amazing tasks that only these mighty heroes can do. And the little one in this picture, who was so naughty that day at our camp, will one day follow her mother’s legacy.
The fact that the people of Assam ask candidates in state elections questions such as “What are your goals in aiding the conservation of the animals, especially elephants and rhinos?” is a clear indication of how seriously this amazing species is taken. The passion for conservation among the locals is alive and strong. (2023 contest, photo by Maifiza Momim)
Contest Rules
All photo submissions must meet the following criteria:
- Be your own original images taken using a camera or phone.
- The entrant must be the photographer. Therefore, images that are a screenshot, a photo from a professional photographer, or ones that include yourself unless clearly a selfie are NOT permitted.
- Be in JPG/JPEG format, with a minimum submission file size of 2 MB and a maximum file size of 5 MB. (We may request a higher-resolution version of your image later. Please be prepared to share it with us.)
- NOT be altered, adjusted, or transformed using photo editing software or filters. Cropping or basic color correction IS acceptable.
- NOT contain or insinuate inappropriate activity including, but not limited to, alcohol, drugs or related paraphernalia, sexual content, or illegal activity. Decisions on what content is inappropriate will be made by contest administrators and will be binding.
- NOT have won in ANY photo contest held by Texas A&M Education Abroad or VMBS.
General Guidelines
Submissions should have excellent composition and visual appeal and capture your international experience’s impact. Preference will be given to photos that meet the criteria of the relevant category description and that:
- provide scenes that are undoubtedly abroad (except for the “Experiencing Aggieland” category for international VMBS),
- feature candid moments and action shots,
- express Aggie values, if possible, and
- show a diverse representation of students and identities.
Submission Process & Deadlines
- The submission deadline for the 2024 competition is
Tuesday, March 19, at 11:55 p.m. EXTENDED! New deadline is 11:55 PM on MONDAY, March 25! - A panel of judges from VMBS will select the semi-finalist photos.
- Winners will be determined through online voting by VMBS and the university community at large. (Watch your email!)
- Photo entries must be submitted online through the VMBS International Photo Contest submission portal (below). Each entrant may submit a maximum of 3 entries per category.
- Photos that have won in Texas A&M Education Abroad or previous VMBS photo contests are NOT eligible for submission.
- Submissions should include the following information:
- Name of program or “Independent” if not on an organized program
- Photo title
- When the photo was taken (exact date appreciated, but month and year are required)
- Location of the photo (name of city/national park/mountain peak/other location as appropriate + country)
- Names of others in the photo (if known)
- A brief description/narrative for the viewer (30-120 words):
What does this photo represent to you, the photographer, and why is it special to you?
Selection & Voting
- A panel of judges will review all submissions and select a maximum of five photos from each category as semi-finalists to progress to the public voting round. (Check back later for a link to the voting!)
- Selections will be based on the criteria listed above.
- Each category will have a winner, as determined by the number of votes from the public each photo receives.
- The photo with the highest number of public votes across all categories will be awarded the grand prize.
The 2024 VMBS International Photo Contest is no longer accepting entries. Keep your eyes open next spring to submit your photos for next year’s competition!
By submitting your image(s) to VMBS International Programs for this contest, you agree to the Terms & Conditions as follows.
Terms & Conditions
- You acknowledge that you have read the rules and agree to abide by them. Entries that do not comply with these rules may be disqualified.
- You grant Texas A&M University license to use the photographs as the university chooses, including in printed and electronic publications, for example, on Texas A&M websites and social media accounts and/or in newsletters, brochures, flyers, or posters. Photos may be retouched, cropped, or otherwise modified for use by Texas A&M.
- You retain the copyright, while Texas A&M retains the license to use the images.
- By agreeing to these terms, you are releasing all submitted photos from any liability arising from their use.
Questions about the contest?
- Contact Dr. Laura Weber (LWeber@tamu.edu).
Technical difficulties with submissions?
- Contact Ms. Jennie L. Lamb (JLLamb@tamu.edu).
