April 2005

The top student photographs from around the world will be on display at Millersville University's Ganser Library Gallery this summer as part of a three-year world tour. The exhibit coincides with the 80th annual conference of the International Graphic Arts Education Association (IGAEA) taking place at the Millersville, Pennsylvania university during the week of July 31 through August 4, 2005.

The 66 images on exhibit, all winners in the Photo Imaging Education Association (PIEA) international student photo competition, were chosen from over 4,200 entries submitted by 105 schools, and include the best student work from seven countries: Australia, Canada, Guatemala, India, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The PIEA International Exhibition travels in two editions to 60 venues in Australia, South Africa, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Italy. No other student photo competition is seen by as many people on four continents.

Students competed by grade levels in single images, portfolios, and computer-assisted images. The $82,000 in valuable prizes awarded to the 97 winners was sponsored by 103 generous companies from six countries, making the PIEA competition the best endowed international student photo competition in the world. Competition judges were photographer Marilyn Bridges, known for her aerial landscapes; Professor Ben Fernandez of Parsons School of Design in New York City; and Gary Halpern, publisher of Photo Media in Seattle, Washington.

The Photo Imaging Education Association is a section of Photo Marketing Association International. PIEA members are professional educators from 14 countries who teach photography and digital imaging at all education levels.

The exhibition at Millersville Univeristy is free and open to the public. For exhibit times and other information, contact the university's Ganser Library at (717) 871-2186.