A Vivid World | 2026 | Information & Tales

From a surprising Seattle skyline to a live performance in France to a brand new perspective of the Taj Mahal in India, Seattle University college students, school and employees are experiencing all of the sights and cultural experiences that training and analysis overseas—and nearer to dwelling—affords.

And, thanks to the College of Arts and Sciences’ Imagining the World images competitors, the campus group will be transported to those memorable locations and experiences with out packing a bag or passport.

Each 12 months the images competitors encourages individuals to look past customary journey images and seize significant moments that mirror private experiences overseas and within the United States.

The images highlight the social, cultural and environmental contexts of the locations represented whereas inviting viewers to attach by way of visible storytelling. Winning pictures are chosen in varied classes together with “Education Abroad,” “International Students” and “Faculty and Staff.”

This spring the successful pictures will likely be exhibited in Gallery 2 on the Lemieux Library and McGoldrick Learning Commons. There will likely be a gap reception, free and open to the campus and common public, that may have a good time the artists behind the award-winning pictures. Details on the occasion will likely be coming quickly and the exhibit will likely be up by way of the tutorial 12 months (go to this house for occasion updates).

Now in its fifteenth 12 months, this 12 months’s Imagining the World attracted the best variety of entries for the reason that competitors started, with greater than 50 people getting into 150 pictures. The competitors is open to any SU pupil who studied overseas in 2025, worldwide college students and college or employees who went on an SU-related journey overseas. This 12 months was the primary wherein Cornish College of the Arts college students, school and employees had been in a position to submit images as properly, which enriched the pool of entries.  

Associate Clinical Professor of Accounting Kathryn Troxel, CPA, MST, who received first place within the “Faculty and Staff” class for her picture of road vendor stalls in South Korea, says that sharing her images was a possibility to relive her journey. 

“Photography captures a fleeting moment and holds it still, allowing us to revisit the memories and life-changing experiences that shape how we see the world,” she says. “It’s an honor to be recognized. This photo captures a quiet moment of everyday life in Korea that gave me a new perspective.” 

Here’s a take a look at the successful entries: 

Education Abroad 
1st Place: Jakob Rushl, ’26 (Photography & French) 
Entry: What is it | France ($500 Prize)  

2nd Place: RJ Byron, ’26 (Social Work)
Entry: The new regular | Mexico ($300 Prize) 

3^rd Place: Mia David, ’27 (International Studies & French)
Entry: The Sound Check | France ($200 Prize) 

International Students 
1st Place: Morgan Kang, ’26 (Accounting)
Entry: Rooted Love | California ($500 Prize) 

2nd Place: Rupeshwar Rao, ’26 MS (Computer Science)
Entry: Ice Cave | Washington ($300 Prize) 

third Place: Karthikeya Panangipalli, ’26 MS (Computer Science)
Entry: Seattle from the Water | Washington ($200 Prize) 

Staff and Faculty
1st Place: Kathryn Troxel, CPA, MST, Associate Clinical Professor (Accounting)
Entry: Eyes Toward Tomorrow | South Korea ($500 Prize) 

2nd Place: Brian Harlan, PhD, Dean, Cornish College of the Arts 
Entry: Taj Mahal 3 | India ($300 Prize) 

third Place: Jenn Chan, MEd, Senior Advisor, Education Abroad Office 
Entry: Curious Eyes | Peru ($200 Prize)