From a real-life Monet landscape, to a scuba diving scene, to a chameleonic closeup — and more — study abroad students know how to capture a memorable moment. We talked to five College students who took a prize in the Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement’s 2025 photo contest. Read on to get the story behind their images, why they chose their programs and what stood out from their experiences.

First place: “Customs, Cultures and Traditions”

CAMYLIN BLAKE CC’26

Which program did you participate in, and why?

I participated in the Global Columbia Collaboratory: The Gambia. I chose this program because I thought it would be a great way to introduce myself to West Africa and to immersively connect with the culture; as a collective, with the guidance of the Collaboratory, we also researched some of the area’s struggles before arrival. Plus it was a great way to understand the idea of health systems from a more international and global standpoint. I also appreciated the introduction to learning about eco-tourism and its effects.

What was the highlight of your study abroad experience?

A day spent shadowing in a lab at a private maternal health clinic.

Tell me about your winning photo.

This photo was taken on a hot day in Kartong. We had boarded a boat to visit the oyster farms run by a group of Gambian women. The Kartong River, also called the River Allahein, forms a small border between Gambia and Senegal. I wanted to capture the moment because it felt like a very active and normal day for everyone there, and I wanted to pause the constant motion and noise. The location felt culturally relevant to the everyday life, income and personal pursuits of the families in that area.

First place: “Lottery”

ELLEN LANSING CC’26

Which program did you participate in, and why?

SIT Madagascar: Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management, in Spring 2025. It perfectly combined my interests in ecology and field work with the opportunity to speak French. I wanted to choose a place that I wouldn’t ordinarily have the chance to visit!

What was the highlight of your study abroad experience?

The highlight was living for a month at a research site in the rainforest, doing an independent study project on lemur seed dispersal. The people there were so incredible and I learned so much!

Tell me about your winning photo.

I took this photo on a night walk while I was at my research site in Anjozorobe Forest. Chameleons are such interesting and unique creatures, and while I was lucky enough to see many of them while in Madagascar, I wasn’t always able to photograph them.

First place: “Landscapes and Cityscapes”

SEBASTIAN PALLAIS-AKS CC’26

Which program did you participate in, and why?

I participated in SIT Argentina: Social Movements and Human Rights in Spring 2025. I wanted to study in Argentina because I was interested in the local history and culture. Argentine Spanish also uses a similar conjugation scheme to the Nicaraguan Spanish that I grew up speaking, which I hoped would make the place feel a little more familiar.

What was the highlight of your study abroad experience?

Honorable mentions include taking tango classes and learning how to play the bandoneón. The highlight, however, would be all the fabulous people I met, especially my dear new friends Selma and Clelia, and my host dads, Sebastián and Marcelo.

Tell me about your winning photo.

I took this while hiking with friends from our program to the provinces of Chubut, Neuquén and Río Negro in Patagonia. One of the main goals of the trip was to get to know different indigenous communities in the area and witness their resilience amidst continuous attacks on their sovereignty by political institutions. Many of the leaders we spoke with expressed a desire to share the beauty of the natural landscape that is sacred to them as a way to promote conservation among more empowered constituencies. I saw my camera as a tool to make a small contribution to this mission and share some of the beauty I was able to experience.

First place: “Lions Abroad”

CYNTHIA RIBUSTELLO CC’26

Which program did you participate in, and why?

I participated in the IFSA Early Start program at the University of Sydney. I was especially drawn to Sydney after solo traveling around Europe the summer following my first year, when I met many Australians. Through those friendships, I developed a deep appreciation for Australian culture and knew it was where I wanted to study abroad. Connecting meaningfully with the local community was very important to me, and because I am only fluent in English, Australia felt like the place where I could engage most fully and authentically.

What was the highlight of your study abroad experience?

One of the highlights was a campervan road trip across New Zealand’s South Island with my roommates. We spent our days hiking, swimming in glacial pools and visiting some of the most stunning lakes I have ever seen, surviving only on PB&Js.

Tell me about your winning photo.

It was taken when one of my closest friends from Columbia, Anna Nelson CC’26, visited me for the first two weeks of my time abroad. We decided to get scuba certified at the Great Barrier Reef; we lived on a boat with 20 other people we had never met. The group quickly became close, and we were lucky enough to see stingrays, sharks and incredibly vibrant coral. I look back on that experience so fondly — it was truly unforgettable, and I often wish I could relive it.

First place: “Free for All”

REESE YEN CC’27

Name: Reese Yen CC’27 (she/her/hers)
Major: Ethnicity and race studies; sociology

Which program did you participate in, and why?

I participated in the Columbia Summer Core in Paris: Art Humanities and Music Humanities Program, where I had the opportunity to study art and music at Reid Hall. I truly believe there is no better place to experience art and music than Paris, a city shaped by histories of occupation, protest and revolution that have produced a unique blend of culture and passion.

What was the highlight of your study abroad experience?

It’s hard to choose one! Throughout the summer, my classmates and I spent our mornings in class studying works such as Eugène Delacroix’s frescoes, only to walk to the Church of Saint-Sulpice hours later to observe the paintings in person. This immersive experience allowed for a depth of observation and connection that simply isn’t possible through looking at images on slides.

On other evenings, our class attended performances at the Paris Opera. Although opera was something I never imagined I would enjoy, learning about the technical and emotional artistry behind vocal and instrumental performance transformed these experiences into some of the most memorable moments of my summer.

Tell me about your winning photo.

The photo was taken during a day trip to Étretat, a coastal town in northern France, which I visited with one of my closest friends and classmates. We chose Étretat because we had been studying Claude Monet’s Impressionist paintings of its iconic cliffs and seashore, and we wanted to see them for ourselves. They were just as breathtaking in person as they are in his paintings. We spent the day hiking along the cliffs and exploring the humble yet lively town; it was a day and a summer that I will remember forever.