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NEWS
| NOVEMBER 18, 2005
Framing His Mind
Student’s return to Mexico
results in photo contest win
By C
J Patton
The Shorthorn staff
Spanish graduate student John Powell traveled to Oaxaca, Mexico,
last summer, supposedly for academic reason.
“I was doing an independent research project that was historically
culturally based,” he said.
However, he had an ulterior motive.
Powell said one of his main reasons for returning to the city was
to participate in the Office of International Education’s
second annual photo contest as part of International Education Week.
He had entered the previous year while studying abroad and said
he remembered some of the more attractive locations. He planned
to make full use of his photographic talents on his second trip.
“I had gone to the same location the year prior and participated
in the same contest,” he said. “I went down [again]
with the specific goal that I would come back with a number of competitive
images.”
Powell’s plan worked. He said he came back with several photos
that struck his emotions and entered two of them in the contest.
One of his photos was deemed so good by student vote that he walked
away with two awards.
“It got third in its category and first overall, so I more
than double-dipped,” he said. “I feel a little guilty.”
Powell said he knew immediately that this picture, taken a few blocks
from the main tourist center in Oaxaca, was going to be one of his
best. The photo depicts an archway framing a room with a blue background.
“I had a strong feeling about it as I was taking it,”
he said. “I thought, ‘This is definitely going to be
one of the top five.’ ”
Study Abroad Director Mary Beth Fickel said all the contributions
to the contest were displayed in The Gallery in the University Center
and were judged by students who viewed the showcase. Out of all
the selections, Powell’s stood out as a favorite, she said.
“Most people were immediately struck by the colors and really,
the perspective, I think — the way that the picture was framed
by the archway,” she said.
Fickel said the impetus for the photo competition was originally
meant to increase the study abroad program’s publicity; however,
she said she had a personal motivation for showcasing the students’
work.
“I have the benefit of seeing these pictures, but the rest
of the campus did not,” she said. “That’s why
we made sure we made these available.”
Fickel said she has come to know Powell during his time with the
program and respects both his abilities and his devotion.
“He’s a very dedicated student and an avid photographer,
and he’s generally a very nice guy,” she said. “It
was good to see him win.”
Powell, who is teaching Spanish classes at Arlington High School
while he finishes his degree, said he often encourages his students
to participate in study abroad programs.
“I’ve already said that to several of my classes more
than once,” he said. “If you ever get the chance to
go to Mexico City, the people are wonderful, and Oaxaca is an excellent
experience as well.”
Powell said he was compelled to return to the city after his first
visit and still feels the urge to return. He said it’s the
beauty of Oaxaca and his experiences there that keep drawing him
back, rather than the interesting food choices.
“They say, ‘If you eat the grasshoppers, you’ll
go back,’ ” he said. “I never ate the grasshoppers,
and I went back. I want to go back again.”
CORRECTION
This story should have stated that Spanish graduate
student John Powell traveled to Oaxaca, Mexico, as part of the Study
Abroad program and engaged in his photography projects outside classes.
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PICTURE THIS
View John Powell’s winning photograph and others
from the study abroad program from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
today at The Gallery in the University Center.
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| John
Powell
Spanish graduate student
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