Past OISS Photo Competitions

To celebrate International Education Week (IEW) 2020 & 2021, OISS hosted photo competitions open to all members of the Rice international community. The winner was selected by a popular vote by the Rice international community.

IEW Photo Competition 2021

1st place!

Three students are facing the camera looking at a data sample. Picture is taken through the see through frame that contains the sample.

The winning photo was submitted by Carlos Llanos, a PhD student from Peru.

2nd place

Student sleeping in a dorm room. He is wearing a Rice University shirt and holding a phone in his hand. Laptop is open on the table.
Photo submitted by Putian Gu, Undergraduate student from China

3rd place (shared)

Scenic photo looking over still water. Lone person standing on a paddleboard in the middle of the lake.
Photo submitted by Mingzi Niu, PhD student from China
Green hilly landscape with a mountain on the background. Small white structure is visible among the trees.
Photo submitted by Sam Wu, DMA student from Australia

Congratulations to all the winners!

Here are the other competition photos, in the order in which they were submitted.

Urban view in darkness with light spilling from a few spotlights. Person in silhouette stands at the foreground, with their back to the camera.
Photo submitted by Ziying Zhu, Undergraduate student from China
Trees seen through a Rice archway. Person sitting under the arch in the cloister.
Photo submitted by Maojie Tang, Masters student from China
Person sitting at the foreground, facing the Rice University academic quad with Lovett Hall in the background.
Photo submitted by Maojie Tang, Masters student from China
Colorful chairs grouped around a table in an empty courtyard at night.
Photo submitted by Anonymous

Football field with players standing in a group and spectators in the stands. Large Rice University flag on the foreground.
Photo submitted by Anonymous

Houston downtown skyline.
Photo submitted by Tianyi Zhang, PhD student from China
View of a city street at night with dark clouds on the sky.
Photo submitted by Jiayi Li, Masters student from China
Black and white closeup of a rose.
Photo submitted by Candela Cicinelli, Masters student from Argentina
Closeup of a pink flower, out of focus.
Photo submitted by Candela Cicinelli, Masters student from Argentina
Art piece Mirror, two figures sitting facing each other, surrounded by trees.
Photo submitted by Chia Hsieh, PhD student from Taiwan
Lovett Hall Sallyport arch, photographed from below, looking up on an angle.
Photo submitted by Chia Hsieh, PhD student from Taiwan
Sky with clouds colored red by the sunset, top of hills or mountains visible at the bottom of photo.
Photo submitted by Sam Wu, DMA student from Australia
Statue of a human figure kneeling down.
Photo submitted by Salma Alhashim, PhD student from Saudi Arabia

IEW Photo Competition 2020

1st Place

Houston skyline visible through a hole in a fence containing several locks
There is always a promising path despite the presence of seemingly overwhelming obstacles.

The winning photo was submitted by Salma Alhashim, a PhD student from Saudi Arabia. Here's the story behind her photo:

"One day I was exploring the Buffalo Bayou Park and I saw a pedestrian bridge with a high chainlock fence that is full of a huge variety of locks. A typical scene that would normally be seen in famous European capitals such as Paris. While I was walking, caught my attention a little hole in that fence facing the Houston skyline. It looks like a window that allows me to take a very nice view of Houston downtown."

Congratulations Salma!

Here are the other 2020 competition photos, in the order in which they were submitted.

Mural on the side of a building on Rice campus
Photo submitted by Nirupma, MBA student from India

Squirrel
Photo submitted by Takudzwa, Masters student from Zimbabwe

Hands in a circle holding seashells
Photo submitted by Takudzwa, Masters student from Zimbabwe

Part of a building in front of a forest in fog
Photo submitted by Sam, DMA student from Australia

Water droplets on a glass surface
Photo submitted by Sam, DMA student from Australia

Two children in an alley
Photo submitted by Sirui

Black bird on a cliff with city light in the background
Photo submitted by Siyang

Person and a dog walking on a beach
Photo submitted by Siyang

Part of a building
Photo submitted by Weinan, PhD student from China

Rice campus at sunset
Photo submitted by Anonymous

Thank you to all the Photo Competition participants and to everyone who voted!

For more information on International Education Week, please see https://oiss.rice.edu/iew.