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Want to see the winning photos? Take a look at the results here!
Category A. Transformational Education Abroad for Aggies
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 academic learning experience — 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 Semifinalists
Photo A1:
These were the first two giraffes we helped transport, and this moment was special since the day was so physically demanding. We felt so proud of the work we’d done to take care of these animals in the process.
Photo A2:
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!
Photo A3:
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.
Photo A4:
Dr. Akunzule, Executive Director of the Ghana Poultry Network and our trip host, took us to visit one of the largest poultry markets within the capital city. Learning from him and the many producers enlightened us on the structure of the poultry industry within Ghana, as well as the common problems producers face.
Photo A5:
Garrett Meurer is monitoring the respiratory rate of an endangered Black Rhino. A veterinary student participating in a procedure like this is life-altering.
Category B. Aggies Abroad
About the Category
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 a sense of wanderlust or awe in the viewer, inspiring 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 Semifinalists
Photo B1:
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.
Photo B2:
A new day with the fog of memories past.
6:02 AM sunrise at Govett’s leap outlook, a river of clouds in the valley.
Experienced with best friend from college living in Australia.
Photo B3:
This accidental shot was captured as I was setting up a makeshift tripod on the side of a narrow street filled with shops. The scene caught my eye and inspired me to consider cultural differences. The car represents a stereotypical American mindset when travelling: rush, rush, rush, then off to the next. So often we see what we came to see, squeezed in a meal, and barely paused to truly take in any of it. This is juxtaposed with the table and chairs positioned between a clothing store and a small art gallery. A “pointless” kind of place to take a rest through the lens of one culture. But through the lens of another, an opportunity to sit, watch the world go by, and have a cigarette (but don’t because you know, lung cancer). To me, it represents the way the French set aside time and truly savor both meals and their leisure time.
Photo B4:
Amazing architecture of the Thanjavur Temple in South India
Photo B5:
A sunset frames a Rabelo, a traditional Portuguese cargo boat used to transport barrels of Porto wine. The dazzling array of colors in the sky to the shimmering reflection of the Douro River cast the Rabelo into the shadows, highlighting the natural beauty surrounding the city.
Photo B6:
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.
Category C. Aggies & Animals
About the Category
Photos in this category show animals abroad, with people or without. These photos should clearly be abroad — from the setting, exotic animals, or another clearly international marker.
The Semifinalists
Photo C1:
The image always reminds me of the fact that a mother’s love is conserved throughout nature. Here, we can see a female Indian Red Scorpion carrying her newly hatched babies on her back. We discovered this female hiding under a rock, she’s protecting her young from a very obvious threat (us). It also taught me the collective noun for scorpions – a cyclone of scorpions.
Photo C2:
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.
Photo C3:
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!
Photo C4:
This was the first big cat we had seen on our trip to South Africa and it brings back memories I will never forget! It was nearing the end of our evening safari as the sun was setting when we began to hear a lion chuffing. Once the driver approached we were able to get incredibly close in the vehicle without disturbing the lion. When he yawned we were able to to see he was actually missing both of his canine teeth on the right side of his mouth! I will be forever grateful to have seen such a powerful animal in person, even though he really needed a visit to the lion dentist!
Photo C5:
Traveling to South Africa has always been a dream, and I was able to go with my family in 2023. Nothing can replace the feeling of waking up and getting out in the crisp morning air to see the sunrise and the natural beauty of the safari. This was my favourite photo and memory from my trip, the beautiful lighting from the sunrise, and the bond between mother and baby giraffe was a once in a lifetime experience. This mother had 3 babies with her, but this was the smallest and just wanted to lean against her and enjoy the sun as it warmed the air!
Photo C6:
This photograph, captured in the serene surroundings of NCSB, India, showcases a heartwarming interaction between a visitor and a group of spotted deer, symbolic of the island’s rich biodiversity. This moment of pure, interspecies connection, with the deer fearlessly approaching to be fed, reflects a world where respect for all creatures is deeply ingrained.
To me, this scene represents the hope that love and care transcends all barriers, even amongst species that are usually known to be extremely cautious. The backdrop is of a historical site, once known as the “Paris of the East” during British India, adding a layer of profoundness – merging the beauty of wildlife to what was once the paragon of manmade beauty. This photo in particular holds a special place in my heart as it encapsulates the compassionate human spirit and the universal language of kindness shared across beings – something we often overlook in today’s world.
Category D. Experiencing Aggieland
About the Category
(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 who are obviously experiencing Aggie/Texas/US culture, traditions, and more, especially those at VMBS.
The Semifinalists
Photo D1:
The beauty of Aggieland is also stunning at night.
Photo D2:
This photo is from a visit to Austin I took when my sister came to see me after I moved to Texas from Canada. It was really fun to have family visit, and it motivated me to try to see some of the sights in the state.
Photo D3:
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.
Category E. Disqualified Entries
About the Category
These are photos that were disqualified from other categories, primarily due to the fact that the people who submitted the images did not take the photos themselves, as required per the contest rules.
But the photos are wonderful, so please vote for this extra category!
The Semifinalists
Photo E1:
The nyala is so gentle and he became a temporary pet to me while we were helping to transport them. I continued to see beauty and the feeling of family while watching over this animal.
Photo E2:
Here’s a gig’em after completing a forest walk with our local ranger. He taught us about the local plants and animals as well as many of the research projects going on in Mole National Park. This trip was very special because we not only had the opportunity to see wildlife free ranging in its natural habitat with everything from elephants to monkeys, but we also got to speak to the park manager and rangers about their work in conservation.
Photo E3:
This dog had a transmissible venereal tumor, or TVT, that was very painful for him. While extremely rare in the USA, it is common in Caribbean countries. The opportunity to surgically remove it was a once in a lifetime chance!
Photo E4:
While collecting ticks from camels in eastern Kenya, I recently tried raw camel milk directly from the udder. The communities in this region are mainly nomadic pastoralists who consume raw camel milk daily with the understudied belief that it can help attenuate the pain of rheumatoid arthritis (plus other health benefits).
Photo E5:
In this photo, we were enjoying our last evening in the village of Yua with our new friends and colleagues from University of Guelph and Veterinarians Without Borders. We were able to try traditional dishes that were different soup bases with a form of starch on the side used to eat the dish. The women of the village did an incredible job preparing the food and made us feel very welcome. Our Canadian colleagues were also working locally to provide vaccinations to livestock herds and provide trainings for local farmers. Chatting over meals like this not only engaged us with local foods, but also allowed us to exchange information on what we had learned from our travels.
Photo E6:
This photo depicts our small remote veterinary diagnostic lab we established in the village of Yua. It was capable of analyzing blood and fecal samples using a light microscope, blood smears, and simple flotation techniques. In this photo, one of us is examining a McMaster’s slide under the microscope from a local farmer’s sheep sample as the other is explaining the preparation technique to Rex, the local veterinary technician. It represents the valuable lessons we learned from Yua as Rex described the local challenges with maintaining livestock herds in the local conditions and landscape and we discussed some basic procedures that could be used for disease and treatment strategies.
