From August to November, rounds of judging and voting whittled hundreds of the best study abroad photos and videos students captured this year to just five winners.

This year’s winners gave us a glimpse into the unforgettable, character-shaping moments that happen when studying abroad. From laughter-filled nights in Copenhagen to awe-inspiring hikes in Indonesia, each picture has a story.

The winners take their fellow Hokies beyond the Newman Library gallery where the photos are displayed, into their memories of Emeriti family tables, city canals, and volcanic pathways. Here’s what the winners want you to know about the photos and videos you voted as the best of 2025 and the experiences that inspired them.

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Yasmine Jaber is a Marketing Management Sophomore in the Pamplin College of Business. She studied abroad in Dubai over the summer of 2025. Her video, titled “Book the Ticket,” won first place in the category Reel Deal.

“When looking at my video, I feel genuine gratitude. I am beyond grateful for all the memories I made exploring with friends, learning from industry professionals, and immersing myself in such a beautiful culture. I hope it inspires someone to take a chance and book their ticket!”

Jaber says the most stand-out moment from her study abroad was celebrating Eid al-Adha with an Emirati family because getting to experience first-hand the rich culture and tradition surrounding this meaningful celebration brought her a deep sense of connection.

“It is a privilege to connect with others on such a personal level and grow from experiences and perspectives that differ from my own.”

Photo of two young people jumping into a body of water the person on the left holds their arms like a "V." The person on the right holds their arms like a "T."

Malayna Cherbaka is majoring in Industrial Design Communications in the College of Art, Architecture, and Design. She studied abroad in Denmark over the summer of 2025. Her photo, titled “VT in the Harbor,” won first place in the category Hokies Go Global.

“When I look at my photo, I can't help but laugh -- we went through about 20 takes trying to get it just right. As a photographer, I took plenty of technically beautiful, “professional” shots throughout my travels, but the fact that this silly iPhone photo was chosen by Hokie Nation means a lot. The memories behind it run deeper than the image itself,” says Cherbaka. “Swimming in the canals became a special ritual during my time in Copenhagen. Probably the most memorable moment of the whole experienced happened on the canal – when, on our last night in Copenhagen together, we all jumped in the canal after dark.” 

A boat on the water going through overgrown rocky archway

Kira Harrison ’25, graduated in May 2025 with a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the College Engineering. She spent the fall semester of Junior year studying abroad at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. During her time abroad, she visited Vietnam where she took the winning picture for the category Postcards of the World.

“Vietnam was so vibrant and beautiful. The photo is not even edited; that is exactly how things looked there,” says Harrison.

Vietnam was just one of the many countries she visited while studying for a semester in Singapore. She says one of the most stand-out moments happened in Indonesia where she hiked Mount Bromo and Mount Ijen – two active volcanoes.

“I had never done anything like that before and had never even thought of doing something like it. But I wanted to take full advantage of all opportunities and experiences during my study abroad, so I booked a trip to Indonesia with friends and hiked several miles in the dark to see the sunrise at the top. It was an unreal experience. Very challenging but also one of those moments that unlocked a new adventurous side of me and helping me feel more confident in my ability to travel.”

A woman standing next to a camel who has wrapped its neck around her.

Tess McKinley is a Mining Engineering major in the College of Engineering. She studied abroad in Dubai over the summer of 2025. Her photo, titled “Hugs From Camels,” won first place in the category Cultural Connections.

“There were many stand-out moments from my experience abroad, and that day when I got this picture is definitely one of them! We spent much of the afternoon and evening in the desert that day. I had never been in an environment like it. I was amazed and thoroughly enjoyed my time there,” says McKinely “When I look at this photo, I'm reminded of how awesome my study abroad experience was. It was all fantastic and I learned so much more than I was expecting.”

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Elizabeth Leonard is double majoring in Management Consulting & Analytics and Marketing Management in the Pamplin College of Business. She studied abroad in Switzerland during the spring semester of 2024. Her video, titled “Dog-Sledding the Arctic,” won first place in the category Moving Moments.

Over the semester, Leonard and her classmates traveled from the sands of the Sahara to the snow of the arctic. Her video captures just one of those incredible moments when she and her classmates went dog-sledding through the snowy mountains of Tromso, Norway in the Arctic Circle.