2025 VMBS International Photo Contest

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.

2024 WINNER

Payton Moore
BIMS Undergraduate Student

Hold On! (Costa Rica)

“I had the chance to travel to Costa Rica on a trip with Veterinarians Without Borders in Summer 2022. At the rescue center we stayed at, we helped rehabilitate sloths (and other animals) so they could return back to the wild. It was an extremely rewarding experience. In this photo, we were in the middle of feeding this baby 2-toed sloth. The babies are given a stuffed animal to act as their mother, and this sloth loved his!”

Photos in this category exhibit either of the following 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.

As this is a new category, we don’t have a previous winner to display.

However, here’s a great example to get you inspired!

Please be careful of Rule #2 (full rules below) when making your selection:

Rule #2: 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.

Environmental 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 to 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.

2024 WINNER

Sophie M. Enda
DVM Professional Program Student

Summiting of Big Daddy (Namibia)

“A climb to the top of Big Daddy means waking up well before sunrise in order to summit the 325-meter-high dune. Despite the physical exertion of this activity, the surrounding landscapes are unlike anything you will ever see. This photo, in particular, captures the duality of light and dark on the sides of the dune as well as the curve to the top speckled with humans until their shape becomes indistinguishable.”

Photos in this category showcase animals abroad, with people or without. These photos should clearly be abroad — from the setting, exotic animals, or some other clearly international marker.

2024 WINNER

Lori Teller
Small Animal Clinical Sciences Faculty

Ultimate Romantic (Antarctica)

“Penguins mate for life, and the ultimate display of love is to find a good stick or rock to bring to your mate for the nest. In this photo, a chinstrap penguin has found a stick (very hard to do on a glacier!) to share with its mate. This penguin loved showing it off!”

(Internationals in Aggieland) For many members of the VMBS community, being in the US is an international experience. Thus photos in this category capture the 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.

2024 WINNER

Arafat Rahman Oany
BIMS Graduate Student

Aggieland at Night (United States)

“The beauty of Aggieland is also stunning at night.”

To be eligible to enter photos in the contest, you must fall into at least one of the following categories:

1. A student currently enrolled in a program/major in the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS), i.e., a graduate or professional student in VMBS.
2. An undergraduate student in the Texas A&M BIMS program.
3. Photos from any student while on a VMBS-sponsored program, regardless of the college or school in which their major is housed.
4. 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.)
5. A VMBS employee, including student workers whose academic area is not in VMBS.

Honorable Mention (Natural or Built Beauty)

“Hong Kong is one of the world’s most densely populated cities, as well as one of the most expensive to live in, in terms of dollars per square feet. These apartment complexes are one of many throughout the city, taken at the center in Bauhinia Garden while looking up, where many are looking down.”

(From 2024 contest)

All photo submissions must meet the following criteria:

1. Be your own original images taken using a camera or phone.
2. 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.
3. 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.)
4. NOT be altered, adjusted, or transformed using photo editing software or filters. Cropping or basic color correction IS acceptable.
5. 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.
6. NOT have won in ANY photo contest held by Texas A&M Education Abroad or VMBS.
   • This only applies to the photo, previous contest winners are eligible to enter with new photos

Honorable Mention (Transformational Education Abroad)

“After meeting the Accra Zoo veterinarian Dr. Gyebi at a laboratory training course on zoonotic and transboundary animal diseases, we were invited to join him at the zoo. While completing rounds with Dr. Gyebi, we observed as the zoo staff moved two lion cubs into a quarantine pen, so they could apply a topical spray to each of them for external parasites.”

(From 2024 contest)

Submissions should have excellent composition and visual appeal and capture the impact of your international experience. Preference will be given to photos that:

• meet the criteria of the relevant category description;
• provide scenes that are undoubtedly abroad (except for the “Experiencing Aggieland & Beyond” category for international VMBS);
• feature candid moments and action shots;
• express Aggie values, where possible; and
• show a diverse representation of students and identities.

Honorable Mention (Animal Life)

“After camping in the bush near the Ugab River, we watched as a parade of elephants walked by. I was struck by the beauty of these majestic creatures, especially the protective and nurturing nature of the female elephants watching the young elephants learn and explore.”

(From 2024 contest)

• The submission deadline for the 2025 competition is 5:00 PM on FRIDAY, March 21st!
• 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?

Honorable Mention (Experiencing Aggieland & Beyond)

“I went to Kentucky last Christmas break with my friends who live in Ohio. The funny thing is we drove from Ohio to Kentucky because we want to know how does the original KFC taste!!!. This is the main purpose of this trip that we went to The Sanders cafe. Unfortunately, we figured out that the tastes of KFC chicken are all the same!!in US but in Thailand(where I’m from) even taste better!!! Lol
That was one of the memorable trips ever in my life.”

(From 2024 contest)

• 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.

Honorable Mention (Transformational Education Abroad)

“Garrett Meurer is monitoring the respiratory rate of an endangered Black Rhino. A veterinary student participating in a procedure like this is life-altering.”

(From 2024 contest)

By submitting your image(s) to VMBS Global for this contest, you agree to the Terms & Conditions as follows.

• 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.

Honorable Mention (Aggie Spirit, criteria #2)

Food Safety and Edible Insects, the Iconic Food of Cambodia:
“Burger with crickets, silkworms, and a spider on top”

(From 2023 contest, photo by Nicola Ritter)