2026 PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST (HIGHER ED)

Photography is a powerful medium for documenting, communicating, and sharing experiences. In honor of the 50th Anniversary of the AATSP Poster Contest, the AATSP held its first ever Photography Contest for students in higher education in 2022. The contest is a competition in which college and university students (from 2- and 4-year institutions) can showcase their original digital photography from their language-learning experiences in Spanish and Portuguese classrooms or from their experiences with Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking people or cultures domestically or abroad.

All student works should reflect the mission and values of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP) in its broadest definition. Click here to explore the AATSP mission statement and our values.

AATSP ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 2026 HIGHER ED PHOTO CONTEST

AATSP is honored to announce the winners and honorable mention recipients of the 2026 Higher Ed Photo Contest. The fifth year of the contest was a huge success, and the photos are stunning! The submissions were evaluated by a panel of judges based on the following four criteria: Interpretation of AATSP Mission/Appropriate for Use in K-16 Spanish and Portuguese Classroom, Creativity and Originality, Arrangement of Elements in the Frame/Artistic Expression and Quality of Image.  

Higher Ed faculty, please consider showcasing your students work for the 2027 contest. It is a great way to highlight your students’ photographic skills and their amazing travel experiences.

PEOPLE CATEGORY

Winner: “Se nota a uno” Lilly D'Italia, Northeastern University, sponsored by Christina Agostinelli-Fucile

PLACES CATEGORY

 Winner: “Middle-Earth Cusco, Peru” Farsheed Shomloo, Santa Monica College, sponsored by Alejandro Lee

 “A Glimpse of Granada” Anastasia Andrews
sponsored by Aileen Dever, Quinnipiac University

“Population: 98” Townes Caines
sponsored by Deborah Forteza, Covenant College

“San Juan, Puerto Rico” Jasmine Harris
sponsored by Anika Gray, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

“La cultiva de anana en Puerto Rico” Annabelle Louise Marie Jensen
sponsored by Daniela Goldfine, University of Wisconsin – River Falls

“Oliver” Georgie Strawbridge
sponsored by Brianne Stambaugh, Covenant College

 

 2026 JUDGES

 Javier Escudero, PhD 
BrazilCultural.com
 
Kim Potowski, PhD
University of Illinois Chicago

Rachel Mamiya Hernández, PhD

University of Hawaii at Manoa

CONTEST COORDINATOR

Mary-Anne Vetterling, PhD
Regis College (Emerita)