2019 Photo Contest Winners

First: John David Curlis (PhD Ecology & Evolutionary Biology ’23)

Funding: LACS Tinker Field Research Grant

Showing Off the Maize and Blue (Panama)

Even the birds in Panama, like this Gartered Trogon, know which colors are best. Go Blue!

Honorable Mention: Mairna Askar (BA International Studies/Computer Science ’22)

Wolverines Wandering Lake Humantay (Peru)

Lake Humantay marked our final trip in Cusco, giving us one last opportunity of representing the University of Michigan at one of the most beautiful locations in the world. Being able to learn about Incan history, while experiencing it firsthand in Peru is why we always Go Blue!

First: Mairna Askar (BA International Studies/Computer Science ’22)

The Beauty and Difficulty of Weaving (Peru)

Our group had not only the opportunity to watch this Peruvian entrepreneur (as she owns multiple local businesses) weave and extract colors from natural resources, but also practice the art of weaving—allowing us to realize how appreciative one must be of this art due to its intensity.

Second: Neetu Singh (MPP Public Policy ’20)
Funding: II Student Fellowship

Innovating Learning (India)

In a rural village in Uttar Pradesh where the Pratham Education Foundation uses walls and posts around the community to write math problems for the children to solve. An innovative method to motivate children in the village and to make learning fun.

Third: Erin McKenna (MFA Art)

Funding: II Student Fellowship; Rackham International Research Award

Hishaku Workshop (Japan)

In this workshop, I cut down bamboo from the nearby forest, cut it into sections and learned how to carve a hishaku - a water ladle for tea.

First: Rumaan Malhotra (PhD Ecology & Evolutionary Biology ’22)

Funding: LACS Tinker Field Research Grant

Solar Eclipse over Paihuano (Chile)

A full solar eclipse over the Andes in Coquimbo. Particularly special for the region, as the path of the eclipse ran directly along the ruta de las estrellas, several towns that are world renowned for clear skies and stargazing.

Second: Claire Dickerson (BA International Studies/Spanish ’20)

Lake Humantay (Peru)

Staring at the Andes Mountains, I felt doubtful whether I could make it to the top. With the support of my Michigan classmates, they pushed me to achieve my goal. Not only did the beauty of the lagoon take my breath away, but gave me a new found sense of confidence.

Third: Blaine Teahan (MPH Community & Global Public Health ’21)

Funding: CSAS Summer in South Asia Undergraduate Fellowship

Morning in Agra (India)

I woke up at 4:30 in the morning to walk to the Taj Mahal. Here’s the sunrise I found.