A Vivid World

From a stunning Seattle skyline to a concert in France to a new perspective of the Taj Mahal in India, Seattle University students, faculty and staff are experiencing all the sights and cultural experiences that education and research abroad—and closer to home—affords.

And, thanks to the College of Arts and Sciences’ Imagining the World photography competition, the campus community can be transported to these memorable places and experiences without packing a bag or passport.

Each year the photography competition encourages participants to look beyond standard travel photography and capture meaningful moments that reflect personal experiences abroad and in the United States.

The photos highlight the social, cultural and environmental contexts of the places represented while inviting viewers to connect through visual storytelling. Winning photographs are selected in various categories including “Education Abroad,” “International Students” and “Faculty and Staff.”

This spring the winning photographs will be exhibited in Gallery 2 at the Lemieux Library and McGoldrick Learning Commons. There will be an opening reception, free and open to the campus and general public, that will celebrate the artists behind the award-winning shots. Details on the event will be coming soon and the exhibit will be up through the academic year (visit this space for event updates).

Now in its 15th year, this year’s Imagining the World attracted the highest number of entries since the competition began, with more than 50 individuals entering 150 photographs. The competition is open to any SU student who studied abroad in 2025, international students and faculty or staff who went on an SU-related trip abroad. This year was the first in which Cornish College of the Arts students, faculty and staff were able to submit photos as well, which enriched the pool of entries.  

Associate Clinical Professor of Accounting Kathryn Troxel, CPA, MST, who won first place in the “Faculty and Staff” category for her photo of street vendor stalls in South Korea, says that sharing her photography was an opportunity to relive her trip. 

“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 look at the winning 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 normal | 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) 


3rd 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) 

3rd Place: Jenn Chan, MEd, Senior Advisor, Education Abroad Office 
Entry: Curious Eyes | Peru ($200 Prize)