Twelve stunning images from around the world have been selected as the winning entries in the 2014 Global Focus competition. Now in its 16th year, the international photo contest recognizes MSU faculty, staff, students and alumni who have captured exceptional photographs while on work assignments, study abroad programs or during personal travels abroad.
A panel of judges reviewed 224 entries before deciding on the first, second and third place winners in three categories: Faculty/Staff, Alumni and Student. The images — which had to be original photographs taken outside the United States — were judged on a variety of factors, including creativity, relevance to MSU’s international mission and quality of the image.
The winning images are:
Faculty/Staff
- First place: “Flat Tyre” by Leigh Graves Wolf
- Second place: “Roman Side Show” by John Funkhouser
- Third place: “Country Store” by Dan Meier
- People’s Choice: “Young Love” by Luca Giupponi
Alumni
- First place: “Bangkok Butcher” by Jim Karsh
- Second place: “Meteora” by Vineet Bansal
- Third place: “Windmills” by Craig Liss
- People’s Choice: “Everybody Loves Me” by Laurena Jenkins Hoffmeyer
Student
- First place: “Playing for Cartier” by Sapna Gorajia
- Second place: “Ramadan Sorghum” by Ryan Vroegindewey
- Third place: “Lunch Break” by Megan Wesner
- People’s Choice: “Old Swedish Barn” by Christian Neubacher
This year’s judges were: MSU alumnus Austin Ashley; Suban Nur Cooley, master’s student, digital rhetoric and professional writing; Dana Kirk, assistant professor, biosystems and agricultural engineering; and Jena McShane of McShane Photography. People’s Choice winners were selected through public online voting.
The winning photos will be displayed in a gallery in MSU’s International Center lobby, as well as featured in the annual MSU International magazine and other university publications to promote international awareness and understanding.
For more information or questions about the competition please contact Rachel Warner at rawarner@msu.edu or call (517) 884-2134.