For the 2025-26 Study Abroad Photo Contest, we asked students to submit photos that they felt best portrayed the following themes: Intentionality of Study Abroad, Through a Local Lens, and ND Irish Abroad. The winners and honorable mentions for each theme are posted below.
Congratulations to all of the winners!
Intentionality of Study Abroad
Capture the purpose and impact of your study abroad experience through meaningful engagement with your host community, culture, academics, research, internships, or daily life. Photos in this category should reflect curiosity, connection, and a deeper understanding of the people, values, ideas, and experiences that shaped your time abroad.
Winner
Ainslie McKenna
2026 Santiago Summer: Literature and Theology Program
On a weekend, we traveled to the coast of Chile and spent the day riding horses down the beach. Afterward, we had a traditional Chilean asado (barbecue) prepared by the ranch hands. This meal was one of my favorites of the six weeks I spent in Chile, and I loved how authentic it felt. I feel this picture encapsulates the intentionality of study abroad because we were able to sit down and share a meal with Chileans, learning beyond the classroom but in the real world.
Honorable Mentions
John Barcena
2026 Spring Tokyo, Japan - Sophia Program
After striking out the last batter in a baseball game, my Japanese teammates rush out and congratulate me on a job well done.
Matthew Scherber
2026 Spring Rome International Scholars Program
While exploring the Orvieto Cathedral, my friend Angeline contemplates a description of a fresco or the Virgin Mary.
Through a Local Lens
Move beyond iconic landmarks and staged travel photos to capture the authentic character of your host community. This category celebrates candid moments, hidden details, and everyday experiences that tell a deeper story about life abroad.
Winner
Lily Church
2026 Spring Tokyo, Japan - Sophia Program
This photo features a yagura, a raised wooden festival tower in which people play drums alongside music for Bon Odori, a folk dance performance that takes place during the summer Obon festival. It is tradition to dance circles around the yagura to honor the spirits of ancestors. In a small alley next to the Jindai temple in a western suburb of Tokyo, I serendipitously stumbled upon this celebration after wandering through the Jindai Botanical Gardens, which is nestled in the forest of the photo's background.
Honorable Mentions
Diego Mora
2026 Paris Summer: Cultural and Visual Studies Program
While Paris is often romanticized for its grand monuments, its authentic character is found in its countless quiet, hidden corners. Tucked away on a cobblestone alley draped in ivy and potted greenery, I captured this candid moment of a local resident taking a quiet afternoon walk. Sharing this unspoken moment of reflection away from the tourist crowds highlighted the city's deep appreciation for nature and the peaceful pace of everyday life.
Kiara Taylor
2025 Copenhagen, Denmark Program
This photo was taken outside of an academic building for my program, where I had my photography class and medical simulation lab. As I was walking out of class, I looked up and realized how beautiful this everyday moment was.
ND Irish Abroad
Show off your ND pride in your host country by featuring Notre Dame in some way. Whether it’s a flag or Notre Dame apparel, show us how you’re reppin' the Fighting Irish abroad.
Winner
Diego Mora
2026 Paris Summer: Cultural and Visual Studies Program
My friend, Kenny Wang, throws up the iconic "Touchdown Jesus" pose while standing on the edge of the spectacular Falaise d'Aval chalk cliffs in Étretat, France. Located along the Alabaster Coast in Normandy, these famous limestone arches overlooking the English Channel have been a source of inspiration for centuries, most notably serving as the subject for roughly fifty famous paintings by Claude Monet.
Honorable Mentions
Ellen Brouillette
2025 Fall Copenhagen, Denmark Program
A happy coincidence half a world away: This shop, named 'Notre Dame,' sat right along my daily commute to class. Passing it each morning on my bike became a daily reminder connecting my temporary home abroad back to my University roots.
Elise Fowler
2026 Summer Global Research Experience Program (Taiwan)
During our time in Taiwan, ND Alumni Crystal Chen invited fellow ND student Frank Qian and me on an unforgettable visit to the historic mountain villages of Shifen and Jiufen in New Taipei City. We painted our sky lantern with traditional wishes for good fortune in Chinese calligraphy, and also added a special tribute to the Fighting Irish, sending Notre Dame spirit soaring into the sky!
