International Photo Contest

This year marks the sixth annual International Photo Contest. The theme of this year's contest is "Best of the Past Five Years." The International Photo Contest showcases international photos taken by students, many submitted photos were taken during Xavier-sponsored study abroad programs. Twenty-five photos (chosen from over 125 finalist photos from the past five years) were selected and are currently displayed in the Faces of the World Lounge (2nd floor, Gallagher Student Center). The Xavier community and Facebook friends had the opportunity to vote for their favorite image. Congratulations to the winners of the 2012 International Photo Contest!

• First Place Winner: “Cao di Temple,” Saigon Vietnam, taken by 2007 grad Erica Weitzel (BA in Fine Arts)
• Second Place: “Fish in the Streets,” Inle Lake, Myanmar, taken by 2008 grad Kailyn Cripe (BS in Middle Childhood Education)
• Third Place: “One Thousand and One Nights,” Assilah, Morocco, taken by Adela Orovay (current Master’s in Occupational Therapy student)

“Right after graduation from Xavier, I moved to Uganda,” says winner Erica Weitzel. “I shot photos for a national newspaper and worked at a Sudan Human Rights Association. After Uganda, I moved to a village in central India to set up a free art school for street children and women. Then I headed to Mexico and set up a studio on the ocean and received a large commission from an accounting firm to create around 60-90 original pieces for a five-building remodel. This is an honor, especially since it was voted on by the public. All my volunteer work in Africa and India and smaller projects here and there are a direct result of the influence of Xavier’s service-based approach. I did Alternative Breaks in Ukraine and Jamaica and a summer abroad in Italy through the art department. At 26, I’ve traveled to 35 countries. Xavier really opens the door for knowledge on a global scale and for that I am extremely grateful!"