PLU Study Away Photo Contest Winners

You can find these winning photos on display in the Anderson University Center’s CK hallway during the 2025-2026 academic year.

J-Term: Study Away in Tobago 2025
by Kendal Petersen

Sugar Lips

Brooke Melburn

We spent the day exploring the Nylons Pools, Buccoo Reef, and No Man’s Land on a boat with a guide named Sugar Lips. I feel the words “We love everybody” represent our experiences with the culture of Tobago, such as the slowness and peacefulness in life, kind people, and a strong sense of community across the island.

Nylon Pools, Tobago
January, 2025

Alcázar de Segovia

Sophie Muir, 1st Place
Scenes from Around the World

To get to this vantage point, I had to descend seemingly endless flights of stairs, hike along the river valley, and summit to the other side of the valley. Along the way I translated directions from a local nun to a couple of tourists who had lost their way.

Segovia, Spain
November, 2024

Dark Tranquility

Jasper Bragg, 2nd Place
Scenes from Around the World

This is taken in an area with zero light pollution in the middle of New Zealand. Not only that, but almost all of these stars that no one in the North hemisphere can see. To top it off, a slight Aurora Australis can be seen on the horizon. Once in a lifetime experience for me to see the Milky Way galaxy in all its incredible, dark, majestic glory.

Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
November, 2025

The Beauty the Bahamian Flag Brings

Paola Garcia, 3rd Place
Scenes from Around the World

We spent the most time at this location and it had so much to offer it never got old. We would hang out here during the day and snorkel at night.

Graham’s Harbor, Bahamas
January, 2025

Roy’s Peak Summit

Ellie Maxfield, 1st place
Lutes Away

I climbed Roy’s Peak for a legendary view of some of the Southern Island’s tallest mountains. It was incredibly rewarding, and the views made every aching muscle worth it.

Roy’s Peak, Wanaka, New Zealand
November, 2025

Lance-a-LOOK ITS A TREX

Kindra Gonsalves, 2nd place
Lutes Away

I took Lutes away to be quite literal, and took various snapshots of lance traveling alongside us students. I chose this as it represents not the UK, but the global role of education in a PLUtiful way.

Natural History Museum, Oxford, England
January, 2025

Lutes in Paradise

Brooke Melburn, 3rd place
Lutes Away

This picture was taken right before our boat tour of the waters surrounding Tobago. We were soaking up the sun, swimming in blue waters, and exfoliating in the sand all day!

Pigeon Point, Tobago
January, 2025

Studying Parliament

Grayson Seymour, 1st Place
Global Classroom

This photo was taken in England’s Parliament, a working historical building where all laws are formed in England. This hall of parliament features important statues of historical figures and murals depicting significant historical events. As a class (group in photo), we visited to learn more about the history and how England’s government functions for our class, Is Death Allowed?

House of Parliament, England
January, 2025

Transects Together

Paola Garcia, 2nd Place
Global Classroom

We would use transects to study different things and here we spent a day collecting data on fossilized coral reefs.

Cockburn Town, Bahamas
January, 2025

Teaching and Learning

Nya Spivey, 3rd Place
Global Classroom

Throughout my time at the school I created many meaningful relationships with the children and other teachers. As it was getting closer to the end of my time there, the principal encouraged me to take photos with the children and their art to show their families. Learning in this environment both from the students and teachers was so rewarding.

Tunapuna Hindu School, Trinidad
May, 2024

Día de los Muertos

Frida Hernández Pérez, 1st Place
People and Culture

In Oaxaca, our loved ones never truly die—they live on as long as they are remembered. On Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), we honor those who have passed by visiting their graves, adorning them with flowers, candles, and offerings of the things they cherished in life. Families bring their favorite foods, beverages, and sentimental items, believing that our ancestors cross over to enjoy what we leave for them.

In this sacred tradition, a woman lifts her baby, wrapped in warm blankets, and introduces him to the spirits of their ancestors at their decorated graves. In doing so, she ensures that they are not forgotten—that their presence lingers in the child’s heart and memories. Even if the living and the departed never met, their stories endure, carried forward through generations and woven into our cultural traditions.

“La gente no muere hasta que son olvidados.”—People do not die until they are forgotten.

Santa María Atzompa, Oaxaca, Mexico
October, 2024

Señor del Rayo

Ashley Lopez Mora, 2nd Place
People and Culture

During my semester away in Oaxaca, my host mom invited my housemate and I to an event that is very special to her, a parade and celebration honoring el Señor del Rayo. El Señor del Rayo is a statue of Christ that survived a lightning strike that destroyed the church surrounding it. My host mom, prayed to el Señor del Rayo for her dad, and to express her gratitude she along with my housemate and I walked with the parade full of dancers and bands, sharing bread and drinks with local communities for almost a whole night.

Avenida de la Independencia, Oaxaca, Mexico
October, 2024

Wholesome Sweets

Amy Mbugua, 3rd Place
People and Culture

The Beauties of Cafes in London. All you knead is love…and a little butter!

Covent Garden, London, England
September, 2024