RU multimedia producer's work named 'Best of Show'
Participants of the Wilderness Institute stand behind a waterfall in Starnes Cavern.
Radford University multimedia producer Jaslyn Gilbert was honored with the "Best of Show" award at the 2013 Annual Print Competition held by the University Photographers' Association of America (UPAA).
Gilbert received the award at the UPAA’s annual symposium for her photo essay featuring RU’s Wilderness Institute.
"I am very honored to have received this award on behalf of Radford University,” Gilbert said. “I participated in the judging process and saw hundreds of amazing photos from all over the country. To find out this photo essay was scored by my peers as the top among all photos is truly an honor. I feel very privileged to have the opportunity to capture such wonderful educational moments at Radford University."
The contest is the UPAA's premier competition, drawing upon a photographer's creativity, presentation and technical skills. University photographers around the United States submitted their work to this competition.
Students enrolled in the Wilderness Institute test their caving skills at Starnes Cavern.
Gilbert’s winning entry was a photo essay titled "Venturing into the Darkness." The essay included photographs of Radford University students exploring Starnes Cavern as part of RU’s Wilderness Institute.
The institute is a 25-day intensive summer-term course that uses the outdoors as its teaching environment. The Wilderness Institute is directed by Anja Whittington, an assistant professor in the Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism.
Gilbert also received an honorable mention in the Features and Illustrations category for 2013 and won the UPAA's June monthly image competition in the Features and Illustrations category.
Jaime Hunt, director of Web Communications at Radford University, received the UPAA’s Board Appreciation Award, given to a university staff person who is not a photographer but "who has made a significant impact on the profession of photography in service to higher education," notes the organization’s website.
Learn more about Radford University at www.radford.edu.