Just past the information desk in the Warch Campus Center, across from the Somerset room, a wide range of photos are now being displayed. From beautifully pink colored skies to a grumpy looking lizard, these photos seem to come from all corners of the world. In actuality the photos are from around the world, showcasing the photos students have submitted for the Off-Campus Programs photo contest. The contest—which was run on the Off-Campus Programs Facebook page—used photo ‘likes’ to determine the winners. The top three winners are displayed in frames, yet with so many photos the temporary gallery shows a sampling of all the photos submitted. The gallery also reveals the many places where Lawrentians have studied and their numerous great experiences. Each photo has a small explanation next to it, describing the photo and story, allowing the viewer to live in the same moment the photographer did. A few of the many places shown in the gallery include Madagascar, Berlin, London, Senegal, Italy, Granada, Austria, France and Thailand. The debut of these photos follows a push for study abroad education at Lawrence University, working toward increased awareness and participation in the numerous program options both inside and outside of the United States. This year also represents an increase in the financial aid available for students studying abroad with an increased cap from $5,600 to $8,000 per term to make it possible for more Lawrence students to study abroad. One of the greatest barriers to studying abroad often centers on money concerns, which this change seeks to mitigate.
