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  1. 2020-2024 Wang Center Photo/Video Contests

    View these amazing scenes and learn more about the places our students have visited during their study away journeys!

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    1. Global Seed Vault - Joseph Middleton (2024)

      Wang Center Staff Pick

      Svalbard is known as one of the northernmost inhabited places in the world. It is also home to the Global Seed Vault, which contains seeds from various plants across the world. The vault is built into a mountainside, and keeps seeds in the event that a species of plant ever goes extinct, needs help being reintroduced to the wild, or just for study and research purposes. The year-round permafrost keeps the seeds permanently refrigerated until they need to be used.

      Location: Spitsbergen, Svalbard
      Date: December 2, 2023

      PLU Study Away Website

    2. Svalbard Stars - Joseph Middleton (2024)

      1st Place - Scenes from Around the World

      I took a solo trip to Svalbard during this semester, which is so far north that from October to February there is only nighttime and the sun doesn’t rise at all. Although it was very cold, the stars and northern lights were amazing and it was truly a one of a kind experience.

      Location: Spitsbergen, Svalbard
      Date: December 2, 2023

      PLU Study Away Website

    3. The Temple of Poseidon - Kat Moloney (2024)

      2nd Place - Scenes from Around the World

      The Greece Study Away program studied the religions of the ancient Mediterranean. Religions where they worship the Gods, like Poseidon. Here we visited an old temple that is a tie between the world of the Gods and the world of humans. What are the chances of visiting this beautiful temple with a rainbow?

      Location: Temple of Poseidon, Sounion, Greece
      Date: January 13th, 2024

      PLU Study Away Website

    4. Yokahú Tower: A Window Into the Puerto Rican Rainforest - Katelyn McDougal (2024)

      3rd Place - Scenes from Around the World

      After over a week in San Juan's urban environment, we took a tour bus to El Yunque National Forest. We rode up the narrow, windy road until we stopped at Yokahú Observation Tower, 1,575 feet above sea level. We climbed a spiral staircase up to the top yielding a beautiful panorama of the lush forest. On my way back down, I stopped to take this picture out of one of the windows, displaying the forest's diverse layers which contrast the distant North Atlantic Ocean and the city skyscrapers of Luqillo.

      Location: El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico
      Date: January 13th, 2024

      PLU Study Away Website

    5. Lady of the Red Clay - Sarah Dellicker (2024)

      1st Place - People and Culture

      Macrina Mateo Martinez, well-known artisan and member of Woman of the Red Clay (Mujer del Barro Rojo), demonstrates her generational skill, while recounting her life story.

      Location: Oaxaca, Mexico
      Date: January 15th, 2024

      PLU Study Away Website

    6. The Beauty in Cultural Heritage - April Kelly (2024)

      2nd Place - People and Culture

      In this vibrant street market scene, traditional Zemba women can be seen energetically selling their wares. The Zemba people, sometimes known as Zimba or Dhimba people are an ethnic group from the Kunene region in Namibia. Known for their rich cultural heritage, the women proudly display a variety of handcrafted items including colorful textiles, woven baskets, jewelry, and traditional pottery. Female members of the group learn from a very young age to balance and carry baskets atop their head while doing routine activities. With their warm smiles and skillful craftsmanship, these women contribute to the lively atmosphere of the market, showcasing the beauty and cultural significance of Zemba traditions.

      Location: Opuwo, Namibia
      Date: January 30th, 2024

      PLU Study Away Website

    7. Chaguanas Market - Heven Ambachew (2024)

      3rd Place - People and Culture

      A huge market with all kinds of local products and vibrant colors.

      Location: Chaguanas Market, Trinidad
      Date: March 4th, 2023

      PLU Study Away Website

    8. Lutes and Friends Grafting Plants - Taezha Watson (2024)

      1st Place - Global Classroom

      Welcomed by the Tamana Cocoa Estate in the mountains of Trinidad, us Lutes not only learned about the cocoa creation process historically and presently, but were also taught how this family owned business manages with changes in climate, one method being their grafting of plants!

      Location: Tamana Cocoa Estate, Trinidad & Tobago
      Date: January 21, 2024

      PLU Study Away Website

    9. No Man's Land - Rayleigh Trice (2024)

      2nd Place - Global Classroom

      This photo was taken during a kayaking tour of the reef, Nylon Pools, and No Mans Land with a focus on marine life.

      Location: No Man's Land, Tobago
      Date: January 17th, 2024

      PLU Study Away Website

    10. η αγαπημένη μου τάξη (My Favorite Classroom) - John Weldon (2024)

      3rd Place - Global Classroom

      This photo shows where the majority of our learning took place. During this trip we visited various museums and sites but this one really stuck out to me. The photo depicts the ancient city of Akrotiri which was preserved by a massive volcanic eruption. This site continues to grow as archaeologists continue to find more homes and materials while digging around the surrounding area. The picture shows the ruins of a house with preserved pottery inside. Also pictured is my friend Joey to the left of the photo. This shows in comparison how big the massive city was and this site is said to be only 10% of the original city.

      Location: Akrotiri Museum, Santorini, Greece
      Date: January 27, 2024

      PLU Study Away Website

    11. Here Comes the… Lutes doo-doo-doo-doo - Julia Causbie (2024)

      1st Place - Lutes Away

      PLU adapted physical activity students recreating The Beatles’ Abbey Road album cover.

      Location: Abbey Road, London
      Date: January 16, 2024

      PLU Study Away Website

    12. Lutes Away in Santorini - Kat Moloney (2024)

      2nd Place - Lutes Away

      Went on an educational hike to explore the island of Thera (Santorini). On the hike, we saw many churches and this one in particular was lonesome on a hill with the Greek flag. Greek Orthodox is the dominant religion within Greece. I am so happy I had the opportunity to study away in Greece for RELI215.

      Location: Santorini, Greece
      Date: January 26, 2024

      PLU Study Away Website

    13. Nya meets a new friend - Taezha Watson (2024)

      3rd Place - Lutes Away

      Throughout our tour of the Caroni Bird Swamp, we saw beautiful birds, vegetation, and wildlife. A special moment I captured was one of the few times we were prompted to interact with the nature around us. Crawling on the roots of the mangrove trees were tiny tree-climbing crabs, which Nya bravely decided to make friends with. Do not worry, we put the crab right back and it crawled along the roots again!

      Location: Caroni Bird Swamp Tour, Trinidad & Tobago
      Date: January 17th, 2024

      PLU Study Away Website

    14. Rediscovering Gratitude - Taezha Watson (2024)

      2024 Video Contest Winner

    15. Healing Waters - Tamber Price (2023)

      Wang Center Staff Pick

      This place is the idea of home. Acknowledged as a ancestral sacred place of the Zapotecan Peoples, Hierve de agua located in Oaxaca, México, is unlike anything I’ve ever seen or experienced. Hierve de Agua given its name due to its semblance being “boiling water” is a naturally occurring spring water pool near natural travertine rock formations that resemble cascades. Hierve de Agua is surrounded by lush trees in the landscape. The water is healing, and makes skin and hair soft when leaving the mineral pools. It is renewing, refreshing and restoring.

      Location & Date: Oaxaca de Júarez, Mexico, January 2023
      Student: Tamber Price
      Expected Grad Date: May 2023

      PLU Study Away Website

       

    16. Sunset on Bacolet Beach - Riley Graniczny (2023)

      1st Place - Scenes from Around the World

      This image is of the beautiful and underappreciated Bacolet Beach in Scarborough, Tobago! As a low-income student, I had never been able to travel before. After taking this picture, it truly hit me that I was here, that I was experiencing this amazing, beautiful, complex country! I am proud to say Trinidad and Tobago is my first out-of-country destination, thanks to programs like the Global Scholar that are available to students at PLU.

      Location & Date: Scarborough, Tobago; January 15, 2023
      Student: Riley Graniczny
      Expected Grad Year: 2023

      PLU Study Away Website

       

    17. Gateway to Paradise - Melaina Hayes (2023)

      2nd Place - Scenes from Around the World

      Charlotteville is a sleepy fishing town that is located right on the coast of the island of Tobago. This particular photo was taken from the sitting area of a fish and chips shop that was located within feet of the ocean. In it, you can see many small dingies floating in the distance. These boats belong to local fishermen who in the evenings would haul their catches up onto the beach, and any available member of the community would be there to help with their effort. As the fish is butchered it is divided up amongst the locals who use their fresh catch for dinner that night, or in the case of the fish and chips shop serving their customers. It is this simplicity and community in daily life that truly creates a paradise for those who live there.

      Location: Charlotteville, Trinidad and Tobago
      Student: Melaina Hayes
      Expected Grad Year: May 2025

      PLU Study Away Website

    18. Window to Another World - Amanda Espinosa (2023)

      3rd Place - Scenes from Around the World

      This photo was taken through a window located at the ruins of Dunluce Castle. The window that once provided a lookout for invaders now allows visitors to this historic site a breathtaking view of some of the amazing landscape found throughout Northern Ireland. This view is also a great reminder of how breathtakingly spectacular the world is and how important it is to take a second to appreciate the world around us. 

      Location & Date: Dunlace Castle Bushmills, Northern Ireland; January 21, 2023
      Student: Amanda Espinosa
      Expected Grad Year: May 2023

      PLU Study Away Website

    19. Oaxaca, Mi Corazón - Eva Reutrcrona (2023)

      1st Place - People and Culture

      This photo was taken of PLU student Tamber Price and her boyfriend from Oaxaca. I found this photo really beautiful because they are sitting in front of the wall saying I have a lot of heart. This is such a true message about Oaxaca. Everyone there is so kind and welcoming and they are so happy to share their culture with others. I also liked the cactus or Nopales on the sides because it is very culturally significant. I chose this photo because it was taken while I did a photo shoot with them and each of us are artists in different ways, a photographer, a dancer, and a tattoo artist. I think it especially highlights the prominent culture of art, color and diversity within the Oaxacan Community. 

      Location & Date: Oaxaca, Mexico; January 2023
      Student: Eva Reutrcrona
      Expected Grad Year: May 2024

      PLU Study Away Website

    20. Typical Evening in Jongno-gu - Paradise Gladstone (2023)

      2nd Place - People and Culture

      This is the Honghwamun Gate of the Changgyeonggung Palace in Jongno-gu, a district full of Korean history. This palace, origionally known as "Sunganggung", was built in the mid-15th century by King Sejong for his father King Taejong, and after its restoration following Japanese Collonial rule it now serves as a historic site. The Honghwamun gate is located south of the National Museum of Korean Modern and Contemporary Art, and this particular moment was captured in my brief passing between two locations and yet it displays some of the heart and beauty of Korean history as two girls in Hanbok, traditional clothing, can be seen walking past the gate. 

      Location & Date: Seoul, South Korea; December 10, 2022
      Student: Paradise Gladstone
      Expected Grad Year: May 2025

      PLU Study Away Website

    21. Church of Agios Nikoloas - Michaela Glasgow (2023)

      3rd Place - People and Culture

      This is a photograph of the inside of the Church of Agios Nikolaos in Delphi, Greece. This is the main church of Delphi and its stunning interior reflects the beauty of the culture of the Greek Orthodox religion and culture. During our lunch break, some of the locals of Delphi warmly welcomed us and invited us to go inside the church. They were proud to share the magnificent architecture from both outside and inside the church. 

      Location & Date: Delphi, Greece; January 28, 2023
      Student: Michaela Glasgow
      Expected Grad Year: May 2024

      PLU Study Away Website

    22. One Nation - Abbie Hughes (2023)

      1st Place - Lutes Away

      Lutes visited Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago. After learning about the island nation's rich history, the Spring 2023 cohort was able to see the historic sites within the bustling city.

      Location & Date: Port of Spain, Triniadad and Tobago; February 2, 2023
      Student: Abbie Hughes
      Expected Grad Year: May 2025

      PLU Study Away Website

    23. Causeway Coastal Route - Courtney Tudor (2023)

      2nd Place - Lutes Away

      Preceding the snapping of this photo, I had a spontaneous dance party to the sound of the waves in celebration. With my hands in the air, salty hair, and sand-filled shoes, I hoped to preserve the way I felt at that moment by taking a self-timer image. I'm grateful to have spent a sunny autumn day in Northern Ireland, as the white limestone of the sharp cliffs contrasted brightly with the blue of the sky and water, lion jellyfish floated unbothered along, and seagulls passed overhead. 

      Location & Date: Portrush Whiterocks Beach, Northern Ireland; September 29, 2022
      Student: Courtney Tudor
      Expected Grad Year: May 2023

      PLU Study Away Website

    24. Colors of the Week - Lisa Ha (2023)

      3rd Place - Lutes Away

      On a group tour, we visited a Hindu temple and the largest statue of the Hindu Monkey God, Hanuman, outside of India. The colors of the temple were brought and the artwork had themes of patterns and unity. In our first month, we did a group activity where we individually assigned a color to each day of the week, and the activity symbolized how everyone has their own unique perspectives. Pictured are our feet pointing in towards the PLU pennant on top of one of the colorful circular patterns as we are having different and unique experiences on the same trip. 

      Location & Date: Trinidad; February 12, 2023
      Student: Lisa Ha
      Expected Grad Year: May 2024

      PLU Study Away Website

    25. A Bridge to Friendship - Jessa de los Reyes (2023)

      1st Place - Global Classroom

      PLU education student Jimmy Muth ‘24 introducing himself to one of the Damara people the Namibia cohort met at the Damara Living Museum. The smiles all around, including Alma our personal guide for the experience, were giggles as we all joyfully attempted to pronounce this kind man’s very complicated name. We engaged in activities to learn about how Damara culture from the not-so-long-ago past, is still present in many of the practices the people today. Experiences included fire making, blacksmithing, jewelry making, bier fermenting (well…smelling it), medicine making, and more! 

      Location & Date: Twyfelfontein, Namibia; February 5, 2023
      Student: Jessa de los Reyes
      Expected Grad Year: 2024

      PLU Study Away Website

    26. Lunch Break - Noah Dunham (2023)

      2nd Place - Global Classroom

      This photo encapsulates how it felt to eat lunch that day in the mountains of Norway for our second class trip. Quite oddly enough, it was also my 21st birthday - it had me thinking what I could have possibly done to receive a blizzard on my birthday?! Yet, now I feel that I almost miss this cold experience... but my toes sure don't! 

      Location & Date: Haukeli Mts, Norway; February 2023
      Student: Noah Dunham
      Expected Grad Year: May 2023

      PLU Study Away Website

    27. Puma on the Prowl - Salim Houck (2023)

      3rd Place - Global Classroom

      During my program we set up camera traps in the lower mountain cloud forest that surrounded the CIEE Monteverde campus. They were motion activated, capturing a few photos every time they sense movement. Not all cameras successfully captured wildlife, but one caught this puma crossing the trail. Pumas are endangered in Costa Rica and the professors who study wildlife on campus had no idea one was living in the area. 

      Location & Date: Monteverde, Costa Rica; March 10, 2023
      Student: Salim Houck
      Expected Grad Year: May 2023

      PLU Study Away Website

    28. Los Papeles Picados - Brooke Nelson (2022)

      Wang Center Staff Pick

      This hung over one of the main pedestrian streets in the Centro district in downtown Oaxaca de Juarez. Our group walked under this our first full day in Oaxaca and were all immediately captured by the bright colors and pure volume of papel picados that were used to make this. This was just one example of many of the brightly colored streets and buildings of Southern Mexico which greatly differ from the United States.

      Location & Date: Oaxaca, Mexico; January 2022
      Student: Brooke Nelson
      Expected Grad Year: 2023

      PLU Study Away Website

    29. London's Double Decker Bus - Isaac Madsen-Bibeau (2022)

      1st Place - Scenes from Around the World

      I thought that the older iconic London bus in front of the newer skyline was visually interesting, as well as the composition of the bridge in the foreground with the urban areas below it.

      Location & Date: London, UK; September 2021
      Student: Isaac Madsen-Bibeau
      Expected Grad Year: 2024

      PLU Study Away Website

    30. Ice Ice Baby - Noah Dunham (2022)

      2nd Place - Scenes from Around the World

      A beautiful sunset coming out on a cold ice day in Norway. Days like this are hard to not be appreciative of. In Norway, views like this can become a common occurrence. But every single time, it’s worth stopping for.

      Location & Date: Bø, Norway; January 2022 Student: Noah Dunham
      Expected Grad Year: 2023

      PLU Study Away Website

    31. Capulálpam de Méndez - Jerdil Castillo (2022)

      3rd Place - Scenes from Around the World

      I took this photo while in the intensive Spanish study class of Oaxaca 2022. We were on our Group Ecotourism Study Tour in Capulálpam de Méndez (Land of the Capulin Tree). During this tour students got to visit and learn about the Zapotec culture and people of Oaxaca Mexico. Students got to participate on a two-day tour of several Zapotec villages while also camping in the Capulálpam de Méndez mountains.

      Location & Date: Capulálpam de Méndez, México; January 2022
      Student: Jerdil Castillo
      Expected Grad Year: Winter 2022

      PLU Study Away Website

    32. The Woman of Pottery! - Jerdil Castillo (2022)

      1st Place - People & Culture

      You see one of the co-owners of Union De Artesanías De Cerámica. This is the sister of owner Francisca Martinez Aragón. These sisters have spent their whole life’s work on this amazing pottery. I took this photo while in the intensive Spanish study class of Oaxaca 2022. Our group on this day was taking a tour with Fundación En Vía. Fundación En Vía is a non-profit organization that works to empower women to better support themselves and their families. We use funds generated through responsible tourism to provide interest-free loans and educational programs to entrepreneurial women in 5 communities in the Tlacolula Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico.

      Location & Date: Oaxaca, México; January 2022
      Student: Jerdil Castillo
      Expected Grad Year: Winter 2022

      PLU Study Away Website

    33. Monasteries, Meteora, and Me - Casandra Hebert (2022)

      2nd Place - People & Culture

      This image comes from Meteora, Greece. At this site visit, we had the opportunity to visit monasteries. These monasteries are known for their unique design, as if they are “floating” among the clouds. They are one of the sacred spaces we visited in Greece, and one of my favorites. The beauty of this image is in the silence. Meteora was a quiet place and the monasteries were a sacred ground that our class was able to quietly reflect in. Today, there are 6 monasteries that remain in the area, with nuns and monks who reside in them. I found the diversity of people and religions in Greece to be fascinating. While our class was focused on ancient religions of the Bronze Age, we also explored other religions and ages. Greece is a diverse land with a culture of respect and honor. There are no pictures inside the monastery because of how sacred the space is. But one can quietly reflect inside and outside of the space...

      Location & Date: Meteora, Greece; January 2022
      Student: Casandra Hebert
      Expected Grad Year: 2023

      PLU Study Away Website

    34. Home - Noah Dunham (2022)

      3rd Place - People & Culture

      This picture represents the end of a long journey backcountry camping with people from all over the world - using the Norwegian way of outdoor winter travel. Better views are hard to ask for. Waking up to ski into the sunrise became more enjoyable each day.

      Location & Date: Bø, Norway; February 2022 Student: Noah Dunham
      Expected Grad Year: 2023

      PLU Study Away Website

    35. Snow Day - Noah Dunham (2022)

      1st Place - Global Classroom

      College comes in many forms. This picture proves just that. This is from a 5 day trip in the winter forests of Norway. Hard to believe, but having this much fun can really get you college credit.

      Location & Date: Bø, Norway; February 2022 Student: Noah Dunham
      Expected Grad Year: 2023

      PLU Study Away Website

    36. An Outdoor Classroom in Meteora - Mallory Drye (2022)

      2nd Place - Global Classroom

      To me this photo is significant due to all the individuals in the photo looking in a different direction, exploring and examining everything in sight differently while also experiencing it together. Learning about such a beautiful place and the religious significance in our religion class and then actually getting to step into it together was an experience I will never forget. This picture is what studying away is all about and the beauty of it. It perfectly encapsulates what a global classroom looks like and the importance of experiencing it with others who you are able to learn and explore it with.

      Location & Date: Kalabaka, Greece; January 2022
      Student: Mallory Drye
      Expected Grad Year: 2024

      PLU Study Away Website

    37. Kenzie Hard at Work! - Jerdil Castillo (2022)

      3rd Place - Global Classroom

      This photo was taken on January 29th. In this photo you see a picture of Kenzie Knapp learning how to clean Sheep wool. I took this photo while in the intensive Spanish study class of Oaxaca 2022. Our group on this day was taking a tour with Fundación En Vía. Fundación En Vía is a non-profit organization that works to empower women to better support themselves and their families. We use funds generated through responsible tourism to provide interest-free loans and educational programs to entrepreneurial women in 5 communities in the Tlacolula Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico.

      Location & Date: Oaxaca, Mexico; January 2022
      Student: Jerdil Castillo
      Expected Grad Year: Winter 2022

      PLU Study Away Website

    38. Friluftsliv - Noah Dunham (2022)

      1st Place - Lutes Away

      This photo shows the beauty of the outdoors in Norway, and the best way to enjoy it in the winter - with skies. Friluftsliv is a common cultural practice in Norway, and is basically meaning to be active in the outdoors.

      Location & Date: Bø, Norway; January 2022
      Student: Noah Dunham
      Expected Grad Year: 2023

      PLU Study Away Website

    39. Good Lookin' Lindos - Derek Gibson (2022)

      2nd Place - Lutes Away

      Although there is no visible PLU gear, this picture encapsulates Lutes Away perfectly, as nothing can sum up the Greek trip like the word "views". This photo was taken while we were on a day tour around the entire island of Rhodes on January 26. Taken at the Acropolis of Lindos, a small city on the southeastern edge of Rhodes, our tour guide was showing us the east Mediterranean where ancient trade routes once made their stops due to Lindos being a port city. The students featured, from left to right, are John Meija, Charlie LeWarne, and Logan Grabill.

      Location & Date: Rhodes, Greece; January 2022
      Student: Derek Gibson
      Expected Grad Year:

      PLU Study Away Website

    40. Lutes at the Parthenon - Casandra Hebert (2022)

      3rd Place - Lutes Away

      This picture was taken at the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. This was one of the last site visits and was at the end of our trip. Our class had bonded so much. My friend, Frankie, helped me hold up my bent-up Lutes pennet (on the right) and my other friend, Madeline popped up below the flag to make this picture a special, fun memory. The Parthenon itself is an iconic figure of Greece and one with history, paying tribute to the goddess Athena.

      Location & Date: Athens, Greece; January 2022
      Student: Casandra Hebert
      Expected Grad Year: 2023

      PLU Study Away Website

    41. The 5 F's of Studying Away at PLU - Casandra Hebert (2022)

      Wang Center Video Pick

      The 5 F’s of Studying Away are Friends, Food, Faculty, Fun, and Furry Friends. I have found from my time abroad in Greece, it is these things that make PLU’s study away programs so special. The friendships made over the span of a few weeks are ones that I will cherish forever. The food that we consumed and connected over was something so unique. Featured in the video is Kekkos Cafe. Kekkos is a small cafe in Athens, Greece run by a man named Demetrius (featured in the video). During my first time visiting Kekkos, I turned around and found a PLU flag sitting on a table. It blew my mind that PLU has made an impact across the world in a small cafe in Greece. Demetrius is a kind man who taught us Greek, gave us so many delicious Greek pastries and cookies, and became a friend to us all. He has seen many PLU students come through his doors and I am so grateful I had the opportunity to connect with him. Demetrius would learn everyone's names and he also gave our entire class Kekkos t-shirts! In my study away trip I also found Dr. Finitsis to be one of the best professors I have ever had. He has an amazing way of caring about and connecting with students, challenging us, and making us laugh. He is what makes PLU feel like home. I also included “Fun” and “Furry Friends” in my video because I think we need to remember the value in connection and community. Visiting the miniature horses of Rhodes was such a fun, unique experience that I don’t think I would have gained without studying away with PLU. Studying away can sometimes feel complicated and it can be hard to summarize such an adventure, but I found that my experience could be encompassed by five (alliterative) words.

      Location & Date: Greece; January 2022
      Student: Casandra Hebert
      Expected Grad Year: 2023

      PLU Study Away Website

    42. Coffee, Christianity, & Quinceañeras - Allison Curtis (2020)

      Wang Center Staff Pick
      Classmates studying texts about religion in Latin America while quinceañera processions go by in the background in front of Santo Domingo church.

      Location & Date: Santo Domingo, Oaxaca, Mexico; January 2020
      Student: Allison Curtis
      Expected Grad Year:  May 2021

      PLU Study Away Website

    43. A Perfect Day - Natalie Muller (2020)

      1st Place - Scenes from Around the World
      This photo cannot even capture the beauty of the Tibetan landscape. The water is so blue that it looks fake. It was a perfect sunny day with big beautiful rolling clouds. Several local people stood on small inlets of land that went into the water. Water oxen grazed on the shores waiting to take tourists out onto the water for a photo-op. This photo is the closest I will ever come to capturing the beauty of Tibet and China and a whole.

      Location & Date: Shannan, Tibet, China; October 7, 2019
      Student: Natalie Muller
      Expected graduation month/year: May 2021

      PLU Study Away Website

    44. Away from the World - Ben Leschensky (2020)

      2nd Place - Scenes from Around the World
      Scotland is full of many magnificent castles, none more iconic than Eilean Donan. The castle itself lies in the northwestern part of Scotland and is located on its own little peninsula that juts out into the surrounding bay. Only accessible by bridge, the castle stands solitary–a stark contrast from the rest of the landscape. I found it fitting how the man in black is also seemingly alone and away from the world. Studying away can make one feel like they’re all alone and isolated, but if Eilean Donan can teach us any lessons, it’s that perseverance through good and bad times will still leave one standing strong.

      Location & Date: Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland; 8/26/2019
      Student: Ben Leschensky
      Expected Grad Year: May 2021

      PLU Study Away Website

    45. Bitihorn Outlook - Michaela Peterson (2020)

      3rd Place - Scenes from Around the World

      ,p.This photo was taken from the near finish point of a hike located in Beitostølen, Norway. It depicts the overcast weather, not necessarily optimal for a hike, and the beautiful, rugged Norwegian mountains. The outlook was a serene spot to enjoy the soothing breeze and breath the fresh mountain air. Photographed in the picture are two Norwegian hikers simply embracing their beautiful country first hand. This photo was taken on an late Sunday morning, in which it is very common to see multiple Norwegians out hiking. Some call Sundays the "Hiking Day." A time when a lot of Norwegian friends and families spend their Sundays outside layered up in some form of wool regardless of the weather. A common phrase they use is, "It's not about the weather, but about what you wear."

      Location & Date: Beitostølen, Norway; 9/29/2019 Student: Michaela Peterson
      Expected Grad Year: May 2021

      PLU Study Away Website

       

    46. Oaxaca Woman and Her Clay (If there is No Wheel, There is a Way) - Ashley Neufeld (2020)

      1st Place - People & Culture
      This image depicts a woman who was making a clay bowl by hand. In the rural villages people cannot afford to buy a wheel for making clay. This particular woman is working with a loan company that does not charge interest as it is their goal to provide women with opportunities to work and provide for the family as the men do. It really made me think that we can do so much with so little, if there is a will, there is a way. This woman is also wearing the traditional clothes of Oaxaca, and upon looking at her apron one is able to tell what village she is from.

      Location & Date: Oaxacan Rural village, Mexico; January 2020
      Student: Ashley Neufeld
      Expected Grad Year: May 2021

      PLU Study Away Website

    47. Ingrediente secreto del amor - Acadia Graham (2020)

      2nd Place - People & Culture

      My host mother Elena taught me to make vegetarian empanadas, an unusual dish in Chile as the majority of empanadas are made with beef. Empanadas take so much time and care that Elena only makes them once a year to celebrate Chile's Independence day. "El Ingrediente secreto es amor mi hija", I will always treasure this special day and the time I spent as part of her beautiful family.

      Location & Date: Santiago, Chile; 9/11/2019
      Student: Acadia Graham
      Expected Grad Year: May 2020

      PLU Study Away Website

       

    48. Vikings at Fjord - Michaela Peterson (2020)

      3rd Place - People & Culture

      This scene photographed in the picture is a central location downtown the coastal city of Tønsberg, Norway. Along this board walk are several food stands, restaurants, and clubs. It is a highly popular location of many smaller surrounding communities. It all sits along this fjord, which happens to also be the location that many Viking ships landed at thousands of years ago. The Viking ships seen in the photo are exact replicas of real Vikings ships located in the Viking Museum which were found buried in the local surrounding area. These replicas were built with the same tools and same materials as the ones discovered underground. They were built in the middle of the city and any locals that wanted to partake in the construction we're greatly welcomed. The ships depict the central and never-ending history present in the Norwegian culture.

      Location & Date: Tønsberg, Norway; 10/29/2019 Student: Michaela Peterson
      Expected Grad Year: May 2021

      PLU Study Away Website

       

    49. Reflection - Neely Harding (2020)

      1st Place - Global Classroom

      This photo was taken of Lola, who is a PLU student, while learning at the Museo de Migración. The mural was painted on the side of an old boat port where people use to immigrate into Montevideo, Uruguay. The mural is reflecting the people and their perspectives which can brighten a country. However, throughout their process they also feel sadness and fear in facing a new environment.

      Location & Date: Montevideo, Uruguay; 1/14/2020 Student: Neely Harding
      Expected Grad Year: May 2020

      PLU Study Away Website

       

    50. A Day in the Sun - Jalyn Turner (2020)

      2nd Place - Global Classroom

      This photo was taken on our homestay in the Damaraland Village. The kids above were telling me how underneath this bridge is the best place to beat the summer heat while John insisted that I catch his frisbee. The photo depicts the innocence of kids and the simplicity of life in Damaraland.

      Location & Date: Damaraland, Namibia; 1/31/2020 Student: Jalyn Turner
      Expected Grad Year: May 2022

      PLU Study Away Website

       

    51. Chinese Funeral Practices in Hawai’i - Mathilde Magga (2020)

      3rd Place - Global Classroom

      As we were learning about Chinese traditions and religions, and how the practices have evolved in Hawai’i, we got the chance to visit the Manoa Chinese Cemetery. We discussed the importance of the colors red and green in Chinese tradition, the statues that were there too protect the deceased, and the Ti leaves that were all over the place in order to chase away evil spirits. We learned about the beauty of Chinese funeral practices and we saw the love and respect people had for their ancestors throughout the whole cemetery. After our discussion that had taken place at the heart of the cemetery, I turned around to find my friend gazing upon the graves in silence. The moment was melancholy. From where she was standing, one could see a whole valley filled with the love of family members and the unbearable pain that comes with losing them.

      Location & Date: Oahu, Hawai’i - Manoa Chinese Cemetery; January 2020
      Student: Mathilde Magga
      Expected Grad Year: May 2020

      PLU Study Away Website

       

    52. The gold metal in geology goes to.... - Isabel LaRue (2020)

      1st Place - Lutes Away

      Exploring Deadhorse State Park gave us a chance to observe geological layers all around us, and realize just how grand the world that we are studying really is.

      Location & Date: Utah; March 2019
      Student: Isabel LaRue
      Expected Grad Year: May 2020

      PLU Study Away Website

       

    53. Snow-Bench(ed) - Puakea Domingo (2020)

      2nd Place - Lutes Away

      On our second-to-last day of class, we ventured outside into the freshly plowed snow of Holden Village. A 15 minute or so walk from the village, we sat gathered round our professor, Sergia Hay, to continue our discussion on the ethics of giving non-living entities personhood. Those of us lucky enough to have packed snow-pants (myself not included) and even a few that braved the freezing snow with their jeans, made themselves comfortable for the discussion on a bank of snow that ultimately turned into a long bench.

      Location & Date: Holden Village, Chelan, WA; January 2020
      Student: Puakea Domingo
      Expected Grad Year: May 2020

      PLU Study Away Website

       

    54. Under the Sea - Jalyn Turner (2020)

      3rd Place - Lutes Away

      This photo was taken in Swakopmund, Namibia. We traveled here on a long weekend to explore this little piece of paradise on the coast. Pictured observing the wonders of the sea are Isaiah Banken and Elsie Heinl

      Location & Date: Swakopmund, Namibia; January 2020
      Student: Jalyn Turner
      Expected Grad Year: May 2022

      PLU Study Away Website

       

    55. 5 Reasons to Study Away - Gurjot Kang (2020)

      Wang Center Video Pick

      Name: Gurjot Kang
      Expected Graduation: May 2021
      Study Away Program: GEO: Liberal Arts in London with Internship (Fall 2019)

      PLU Study Away Website