All submissions should be submitted on or before 11:59 p.m. September 14, 2025. Please submit photos via . Be prepared to submit the following information along with your photo.
All entries become property of American University and may be published in any format. By entering this Contest, you represent and warrant that: (i) you are the sole author, creator, and owner of the photos; (ii) except for material used by permission, none of the intellectual property rights in the photos, or any portion thereof, has been assigned or transferred to anyone; (iii) the photos do not violate any applicable laws; and (iv) the photos do not infringe upon or violate intellectual property rights or privacy rights held by any third person or party. By submitting your photos, you give permission to American University to use, reproduce, publish, display and/or distribute your image(s) for any purpose, including the promotion of the School of International Service International Programs, inclusion in reports, print materials and on the School of International Service and/or Office of International Programs Webpages. You also agree that no compensation shall be due to you for the granting of this license. You hereby release American University, its officers, directors, agents, and employees from all liability or legal responsibility that may arise from the acts that you granted herein. You also expressly acknowledge that this photograph is your property, the people in your photo are aware of the photograph's existence and have no objection to the photo being shared for the purposes of this contest.
The University reserves the right to refuse to display or use any photos in its sole discretion. The University also reserves the right at any time during and after the Contest to remove or disqualify any photographs when it believes in its sole discretion that the entrant has: (i) infringed any third party's copyright or privacy rights; (ii) failed to comply with these Contest terms; or (iii) failed to obtain the necessary consents as set out in these Contest terms. The Contest shall be governed by, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the District of Columbia. The University specifically reserves the right to amend or change these terms and conditions at any time for any reason. The University will communicate any such changes on its website.
Winning entries from each category will be selected anonymously from the highestÌýquality photographs that convey a strong sense of place or express a cross-cultural experience through the photo and accompanying context provided in the photo title and/or description.
The SIS Office of International Programs will convene a panel of SIS staff and faculty to blind select the winning photos from the five categories. The decisions of the panels are final and incontestable.
SIS Faculty and Staff will not be eligible for an AU Rewards Card, but will receive a $25 Dav voucher and a print of their winning photo after it has been displayed in the SIS Atrium and replaced by the next year’s winners. All winners will have their photos displayed by the SIS Spanish Steps until the following year'sÌýwinners are announced.
Odds of winning depend on the number of entries received. Winners are responsible for any tax implications as a result of their winning a prize. Any entrant who supplies false information, enters the Contest by fraudulent means, or is otherwise determined to be in violation of the eligibility criteria or terms of these terms shall be ineligible for any Prize and shall be required to forfeit any Prize obtained based on such information or means.