The 2025 contest is now closed! Thank you so much to everyone who participated.
Expand each category below to check out this year’s winners!
(right-click the photo and select “Open image in new tab” to view in full size)
2025 GRAND PRIZE WINNER
Dr. Christine Rutter
Serenity Afloat
>Norway
“A lone boat rests gently on the mirror-like waters of a Norwegian fjord, surrounded by towering mountains whose reflections blur the line between reality and illusion. The quiet presence of boating gear hints at a life in harmony with nature, where tradition and tranquility coexist. Captured in the soft, crisp light of the north, this image embodies the stillness and beauty of Norway’s coastal serenity.”
Category A. Transformational Education Abroad
About the Category
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.
The Finalists
WINNER
Photo A1:
Little Helper
>>Dominican Republic
“Our team visits a different village in the Dominican Republic each day. We go house to house treating animals of each family. At the first house we visited that day, we treated this little puppy. Animals in the Dominican are able to freely roam and not kept in fences like in the United States. This little puppy loved us so much that it trekked with us to each house for the rest of the day. This photo makes me smile every time I look at it. His little tail just shows how happy he is to be getting constant love and attention. He found his people for the day. I hope to see him again when I return in May 2025.”
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Photo A2:
Guinea Worm Eradication Program Field Work
>>Chad
“I had the opportunity to visit Chad to deploy the first diagnostic test developed by our group for detecting Guinea worm infection in dogs. This photo was taken during sample collection for the field validation of the diagnostic test. A local owner holds her dog, allowing The Carter Center’s technical staff to collect a blood sample. I was fascinated by how cooperative the locals were with The Carter Center staff, as they understood how Guinea worm circulates in endemic regions between humans and dogs.”
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Photo A3:
El Cobayo
>>Spain
“I had the greatest pleasure of doing a 4 week externship at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. I worked exclusively in their exotics department. I gained much knowledge about how to care for exotic pets. I am super excited to care for them once I graduate veterinary school.”
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Photo A4:
Self reflection is key!
>>Costa Rica
“Only in Costa Rica could you encounter a species you’re studying, landing on a book written about it. This photo was captured early on in my semester abroad, where I discovered my absolute love of birdwatching. I’ll never forget this moment where we all were absolutely shocked at the hummingbird, who seemed genuinely interested in what the book had to say about him.”
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Photo A5:
We see you and you see us, rain forest – CRIBS’24
>>Costa Rica
“Our study abroad trip gave us a new way of learning outside the classroom setting. We were up close in nature, the community, the culture of Costa Rica. We experienced both veterinarian and human medicine. This picture was taken by a huge tree that had a split base we came upon while hiking through the rain forest. It a symbol of our togetherness in the 14 week adventure of learning we had.”
Category B. Aggie Spirit
About the Category
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.
The Finalists
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Photo B1:
Gig ’em in Assisi
>>Italy
“The most beautiful place I’ve ever been. Assisi is a little medieval town overlooking the Umbra Valley, with churches, towers, and incredible views everywhere you look. On this day it had been cloudy in the morning, but in the afternoon the sun broke through. Watching the alternating light and shadow sweep across the valley was incredible. This picture was taken from the top of the castle. Halfway around the world (and a lot less hot than Texas) but still proud to be an Aggie!”
WINNER
Photo B2:
Generations
>>Mexico
“Generations of Aggies are represented by the different class years on each ring, stacked to symbolize that the Aggie network can be a source of support for one another, and together we can discover great things.”
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Photo B3:
The Aggie Ssspirit
>>South Africa
“On my first study abroad trip after receiving my Aggie Ring, I had the misfortune of misplacing it before I left. Knowing how important Aggie Ring pictures are, I made it my goal to take as many photos as possible for my friends. While I regret not having my ring with me, I brought back incredible memories from capturing moments like these and I wouldn’t replace those memories for the world!”
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Photo B4:
The Finale
>>Costa Rica
“For 15 years, students from A&M have been attending the Fall Biomedical Science faculty-led study abroad in Costa Rica. The Soltis Center for Research and Education is a biological field station owned by Texas A&M, located inside a rain forest. Besides A&M, students from other universities come here. We completed over a hundred page field journal from all our hikes and visits throughout the country while living here for 14 weeks. On the last day study abroad groups draw a mural about their visit here. Well, ours was the very last study abroad of this kind and here is our mural. This trip truly touched all of lives, not to be forgotten. Gig’em CRiBS’24”
Category C. Natural or Built Beauty
About the Category
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.
The Finalists
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Photo C1:
Yellow Beauty
>>Sweden
“This beautiful church was just a peaceful escape for an afternoon on the trip. TAMU’s Women’s Choir gave many concerts during our travels and this location was full of blooming flowers, peace, connection and joy. The sun behind the church highlighted its beauty.”
GRAND PRIZE
Photo C2:
Serenity Afloat
>>Norway
“A lone boat rests gently on the mirror-like waters of a Norwegian fjord, surrounded by towering mountains whose reflections blur the line between reality and illusion. The quiet presence of boating gear hints at a life in harmony with nature, where tradition and tranquility coexist. Captured in the soft, crisp light of the north, this image embodies the stillness and beauty of Norway’s coastal serenity.”
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Photo C3:
Reaching into the Heavens
>>South Africa
“As this tree stretched towards the heavens, I also wanted to touch the sky. It evoked a sense of longing in me, a desire to serve my family, friends, and the community around me. The world is such a beautiful place, and in all of my business, I forgot to stop, take a breath, and look around. This spectacular view reminded me to open my eyes to the beauty of the world and the people around me.”
WINNER
Photo C4:
The Largest Glacier in All of Europe
>>Iceland
“Vatnajökull is not only the largest glacier in Iceland but also the largest glacier mass in Europe. It covers approximately 8100 sq. km and and is always changing! This picture shows a beautiful panorama of Vatnajökull across from the famous Diamond Beach. You can see how the glacier is slowly melting away into house-sized icebergs before heading out to sea. Vatnajökull is the true embodiment of ice in the Land of Ice and Fire!”
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Photo C5:
The Tallest Building on Earth
>>United Arab Emirates
“Looking up at the Burj Khalifa, I can’t help but wonder if it’s reaching for the clouds, or if the clouds are simply trying to catch up with it.”
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Photo C6:
Timeless Love in Kyoto
>>Japan
“This photo captures a special memory from my first visit to Kyoto with my husband, commemorating our marriage through a kimono experience amidst the city’s enchanting beauty. Standing beneath the timeless Yasaka Pagoda, surrounded by traditional architecture and serene streets, I felt a profound sense of connection—not only with my partner but also with history itself.”
Category D. Animal Life
About the Category
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.
The Finalists
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Photo D1:
A Scottish Dream
>>Scotland
“A simple farmer’s dream: touch a Scottish Highland Cow in it’s Native Land. Out of all the beauty the country had to offer, this picture remains my favorite.”
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Photo D2:
Dolphins Dancing off the Cape
>>South Africa
“When sailing along the serene, beautiful waters of South Africa, at least one hundred dolphins rushed the Catamaran, gliding off of the wake. It felt as if the dolphins followed us for hours, jumping and dancing as far as the eye could see.”
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Photo D3:
Covering The Draw Under An Irish Rainbow
>>Ireland
“During this picturesque setting, a diligent working dog adeptly guided her flock of Suffolk sheep. Suddenly, a brilliant rainbow arched across the sky, casting its vibrant hues over the lush green fields. The scene captured my heart— it was the quintessential image of Ireland, encapsulating the country’s enchanting beauty through its idyllic landscapes and harmonious coexistence with animals.”
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Photo D4:
The Watchful Pack
>>Australia
“These dingoes at the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park are on high alert, perched on their vintage trucks. I love symmetry of their positions in the golden afternoon sun. While dingoes are not native to Kangaroo Island, the Wildlife Park houses several native mainland Australian species to aid conservation efforts. These four dingoes are considered ‘purebred’ while, until recently, nearly all the Australian population was considered to have dog ancestry due to interbreeding with feral dogs. However, a recent study revealed that most wild dingoes are actually genetically pure vs. dog hybrids. Established management practices aimed at reducing the population are now being reconsidered, hopefully leading to improved conservation of this species.”
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Photo D5:
Love Takes Flight on the Land of the Midnight Sun
>>Iceland
“This image was taken at Borgarfjarðarhöfn in the Borgarfjörður eystri area of Iceland at approximately 1 in the morning, luckily Iceland in the summer is known as the “Land of the Midnight Sun”! This is a remote section of an already remote country, with only one road in and out, but the views of these incredible animals are so worth it! Pufflings (baby puffins) will leave the nest at about 2 months old and live the next 5 years at sea. Floating on the surface, using their spiked tongue, they dive below the waves to spear small fish. Oftentimes, holding upwards of 10 at a time! Once they are of age, puffins will travel back to their north place to go ashore for the first time in years and mate for life. When mating season is over, they travel back out to sea until the next summer, where they reunite with their mate on shore. The two puffins within this photo are a mated pair and they would often perform a mating ritual of rubbing their beaks together for affection. While we observed these deceptively vocal birds, they would suddenly jump off the cliffs and dove beneath the waves, reaching depths of up to 100 feet to catch their next meal. Once they were stocked up, they would return to the cliffside, where their little pufflings were waiting for them in their dug-in nest. If you want a fun video, look up what a puffin sounds like!”
WINNER
Photo D6:
Golden Giants
>>South Africa
“Bathed in the warm glow of the African sun, these two giants stand tall, their silhouettes blending with the incoming light. The way the sunlight shines on their patterns highlights their beauty and quiet strength. This moment felt timeless, a small glimpse into the daily life of the wild. For me, this photo captures the beauty and serenity found in capturing my favorite animal in its natural habitat.”
Category E. Experiencing Aggieland & Beyond
About the Category
(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.
The Finalists
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Photo E1:
“Saw ’em off”
>>Texas, USA
“On July 4th, 2024, at Texas A&M’s RELLIS Campus, the night sky came alive with a spectacular drone show. Drones meticulously formed the iconic phrase “Saw ‘Em Off,” celebrating Aggie pride and tradition. Against the backdrop of vibrant fireworks, the display featured sawed-off longhorns, symbolizing the historic rivalry with the Texas Longhorns. The lights dazzled the crowd, creating an unforgettable Independence Day celebration at the heart of Aggieland.”
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Photo E2:
Being the 12th Man
>>Texas, USA
“It was my first time watching a football game. The view from the top audience seat at the Kyle Field was just breathtaking. The military marching in the middle of the game was as well stunning. I was able to experience that football is a big thing in Texas and the spirit of Aggieland.”
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Photo E3:
Hooves and Honor: A Tribute to the Nation
>>Washington DC, USA
“While visiting the National Mall during a conference just before Memorial Day, I had the honor of running into the U.S. Army Mounted Color Guard—a prestigious unit from the 1st Cavalry Division based in Fort Hood, Texas. The soldiers were preparing for their role in the Memorial Day ceremonies. It was a powerful sight, blending history and tradition.”
WINNER
Photo E4:
Sculpted by Glaciers, Painted by Seasons
>>Alaska, USA
“Alaska, in my childhood imagination, was a land of endless ice, igloos, and polar bears. But the reality, revealed during my first autumn visit, shattered those preconceptions. Accustomed only to the gentle landscapes of the southern US, the raw, untamed beauty of the Nenana River canyon left me breathless. This first fall experience, with the vibrant tapestry of colors and the river’s powerful flow as my guide, etched itself deeply into my soul, a testament to Alaska’s wild and breathtaking spirit.”
