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2019 Global Photo Competition | Thematic Spotlights

Cherry Blossom Trees

Thematic Spotlight: Global Perspectives Within the U.S. | “Spring in D.C.” | Washington, D.C.

These cherry blossom trees were given to the District of Columbia by Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo, Japan, in the early 1900s to celebrate the relationship between Japan and the United States. Now, people from around the world visit Washington, D.C. each spring to witness the cherry blossom trees coming into full bloom at the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival.

PHOTO BY DEVINA THIONO ’23 PHD


Rosana Álvarez, president of Vía Orgánica

Thematic Spotlight: Learning Moment | “The Organic Way ” | San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico

Rosana Álvarez is one of the leaders of regenerative agriculture in Mexico. As president of Vía Orgánica, a healthy eating educational collective, Rosanna believes it is her responsibility to shift Mexico’s farming practices from genetically modified crops to sustainable, organic, and traditional farming. I visited the Vía Orgánica farm to understand food consumption in San Miguel de Allende. In doing so, I met a community working for healthy lands and healthy bodies.

PHOTO BY KARLA JIMENEZ-MAGDALENO ’19 MPH/MCRP


Tractor pulling cart with recreational vehicles

Thematic Spotlight: Movement | “Transporting Treasures” | Ili, Xinjiang, China

Two of the most common things that I saw in Xinjiang were sheep and motorcycles, but it was still unexpected to see them together, on the back of a tractor.

PHOTO BY ANNA ZHAO ’17


Grundarfjörður, Iceland

Thematic Spotlight: Nature’s Beauty | “Conceived by Walking” | Grundarfjörður, Iceland

I went to Iceland during the summer of 2017 to explore. My trip reaffirmed something I’ve always believed to be true: our planet is capable of being hostile yet comforting, alien yet familiar, and terrifying yet sublime all at once.

PHOTO BY KYLE LAMBERT ’20


Underside of Eiffel Tower

Thematic Spotlight: A New Take on an Old Landmark | “Eiffel Tower at Twilight” | Paris, France

The rigid symmetry of these lines is most unlike the soaring Eiffel Tower we are accustomed to seeing. Here, an unending lattice of maroon and gold is broken only by four indigo slits of a twilit Parisian sky.

PHOTO BY ABE LOVEN ’21


Student holding a compass

Thematic Spotlight: School Spirit | “Find Your Compass” | Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina, USA

As part of our GLOBE Program, undergraduate students from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the Copenhagen Business School come together for a seven-day North Carolina Outward Bound program in the N.C. mountains to develop leadership and teamwork skills.

PHOTO BY WILLIAM FRASCA


Thematic Spotlight: Food For All | “Rice Needs Rain” | Changunarayan, Bhaktapur, Nepal

I first noticed the strength of the women in the rice fields carrying branches twice their size on their backs. Bin Maya Tamang, 65, told me that she’d been working on the plantation by herself since her husband passed and her son left for Qatar seeking work. In the middle of our conversation, it began to rain and Tamang laughed, calling my presence good luck.

PHOTO BY ASHTON ELEAZER ’19