Wang Center Photo & Video Contest | Study Away

Wang Center Photo/Video Contest

Check out the 2025 Study Away Photo Contest Winners!

Dark Tranquility by Jasper Bragg || Lake Tekapo, New Zealand

Share Your Study Away Memories

Submit your photos or video by clicking the submission form below or by messaging us on our Instagram Page to show us your favorite memories from your study away experience and win cash prizes!

Submission Form

Photo/Video Contest Guidelines

Wang Center Instagram

Welcome to the Wang Center Photo & Video Contest! Thank you students and staff who submitted photos and videos from in the 2025 contest.

Information about the 2026 contest will be available in the Fall of 2025, which is applicable PLU students, faculty and staff who participated in a study away program in Spring 2025, Fall 2025, and J-Term 2026.

Please view the contest guidelines to review contest rules and category descriptions & email global.ambassadors@plu.edu for any questions.

Images From Around the World

Every year, hundreds of Lutes study away throughout the world in places like China, Mexico, Namibia, Norway, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, and more! As students return to campus and reflect on their time away, the Wang Center accepts photo submissions in our annual contest to showcase the value of global education.

Typical Evening in Jongno-gu by Paradise Gladstone, Seoul, South Korea, 2022

Ready to Submit? Read This First

Photo Categories

Scenes Around The World

Be inspired by your new surroundings. Qualifying photos for this category may include wildlife, plants, natural and urban landscapes and landmarks.

People & Culture

Study away offers a unique opportunity to experience new cultures. Qualifying photos for this category may include the diversity of the people, cultures and artifacts of your host communities.

Global Classroom

While studying away, students engage in learning both in and outside of classrooms. Qualifying photos for this category may depict student interaction with their host communities and their natural environment. Examples may include students in internship and service projects, field study, culturally relevant activities, group study tours, etc.

Lutes Away

Your Lute spirit doesn’t stop once you leave campus. Qualifying photos for this category must include PLU students, faculty, and/or staff. Ideally, your photo should include Lutes in a learning environment – even better if they are wearing Lute gear!

Contest Rules

The photographer must be a PLU student or a faculty or staff member. Videographer must be a PLU student.

Videographers may submit one (1) video
Photographers may submit one (1) photograph per category
Students may submit four (4) submissions maximum
Faculty/Staff may submit one (1) photo only (Lutes Away category only)

Digitally altered photos will not be considered. Cropping, Sepia Tone and Black & White photos are the ONLY acceptable alterations.

The Wang Center reserves the right to reject photos/videos that contain inappropriate content. Rejected photos/videos will be discarded without penalty to the contestant’s other submissions.

A maximum of two photos per person will be selected as winners. Winners will receive awards based on their highest placing submissions.

Instagram Submission

There are two ways to make your submissions. Submit through our Google Form, which is above OR direct message our Instagram. If you choose to submit via Instagram, please include the following information with each submission…

First & Last Name
Expected Graduation Month/Year
Category of Submission
Title of Photo/Video
Significance of Photo/Video
Approximate Photo/Video Location

Video Prompt

Video Prompt Overview

The Wang Center will award one grand prize of $150 for the student video that best showcases your unique PLU study away story. Share how this journey has transformed you, highlighting surprising moments and meaningful connections that have shaped your perspective. We challenge you to authentically represent life and learning on a PLU study away program.

There is no set prompt so express yourself freely and creatively. As you create your submission, consider exploring the deeper question: “Why study away?” But ultimately, tell the story that feels most true to you.

Your video story can be shared in any digital format that resonates with you, whether it’s a traditional YouTube video (landscape), TikTok, Instagram Reel, or another creative format. You are welcome to incorporate any audio/visual elements (video, ash, animation, cell phone footage, social media content) as long as the work is created specifically for this contest. For traditional videos, keep the length between 30 seconds and 3 minutes. For TikToks and Reels, follow the platform’s standard time limits of 15 to 60 seconds. Please ensure that your subject matter is original and appropriate for public distribution.