Campus Life

Photo gallery: Top pictures from the Penn State Today spring photo contest

The winning photo of the Penn State Today spring photo contest was submitted by Nolan Bennett, operations manager and SEVIS coordinator with Penn State Global. The submitted caption reads: "Sunrise through the armillary sphere in front of Old Main at University Park, on March 26, 2024." Credit: Nolan Bennett. All Rights Reserved.

Thank you to all who participated in the Penn State Today spring photo contest. We received an incredible selection of photos reflecting spring at Penn State. Our top 12, plus an honorable mention, are featured below. 

The winning photo of the armillary sphere in front of Old Main at University Park, at sunrise on March 26, was taken by Nolan Bennett, operations manager and SEVIS coordinator with Penn State Global.

Photo submitted by Heather Smeltzer, inventory control and distribution specialist for the Office of Physical Plant, of flowering trees in front of Beaver Stadium. Credit: Heather Smeltzer. All Rights Reserved.

Photo submitted by Jessica Shaw, marketing communications specialist for Penn State IT. The submitted caption reads: "A colorful planter full of white, orange, yellow and red tulips at Penn State Harrisburg. The photo was taken on Friday, April 19, during the Finance & Business Mentorship Program's tour of the Penn State Harrisburg campus." Credit: Jessica Shaw. All Rights Reserved.

Photo submitted by Robert Armstrong, coordinator of student accountability and conflict response at Penn State Harrisburg. The submitted caption reads: "Lion in the tulips. Springtime at Penn State Harrisburg." Credit: Robert Armstrong. All Rights Reserved.

Photo submitted by Amir Marvasti, professor of sociology at Penn State Altoona, of tulips at the entrance to the Altoona campus. Credit: Amir Marvasti. All Rights Reserved.

Photo submitted by Annette Threeton, student success specialist in Undergraduate Education, of flowers on the lawn of Pattee and Paterno Library at University Park. Credit: Annette Threeton. All Rights Reserved.

Photo submitted by Ruth Newton, proposal and award generalist at Penn State Behrend. The submitted photo caption reads: "A beautiful spring view of the Smith Chapel at Penn State Behrend captures the essence and beauty of the campus." Credit: Ruth Newton. All Rights Reserved.

Photo submitted by Priyasha Fernando, graduate student in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. The submitted caption reads: "Tulips unfurling beneath a vast blue sky, soaking in the sun's embrace in front of Old Main on April 23, 2024." Credit: Priyasha Fernando. All Rights Reserved.

Photo submitted by Nancy Loker, library assistant at Penn State Behrend. The submitted caption reads: "Springtime at nighttime: One of the trees on the Behrend campus, illuminated by a lamp post. Of all the trees on the Behrend grounds, the Tawhiwhi tree particularly shines after hours, for, according to Wikipedia, its blossoming flowers are scented only at night. Photo taken April 18, 2024." Credit: Nancy Loker. All Rights Reserved.

Photo submitted by Emily Eckley, campus staff assistant with Student Affairs. The submitted caption reads: "Pussy willow branches at The Arboretum at Penn State on April 20, 2024." Credit: Emily Eckley. All Rights Reserved.

Photo submitted by Madisen Plunkert, graduate student in the College of Agricultural Sciences. The submitted caption reads: "Hellebores in front of Old Main on April 11, 2024." Credit: Madisen Plunkert. All Rights Reserved.

Photo submitted by Scott Sesler, alumnus of the class of 1978. The submitted caption reads: "Daffodils in the Joan Milius Smith Esplanade at The Arboretum at Penn State." Credit: Scott Sesler. All Rights Reserved.

The winning photo of the Penn State Today spring photo contest was submitted by Nolan Bennett, operations manager and SEVIS coordinator with Penn State Global. The submitted caption reads: "Sunrise through the armillary sphere in front of Old Main at University Park, on March 26, 2024." Credit: Nolan Bennett. All Rights Reserved.

Photo submitted by Heather Smeltzer, inventory control and distribution specialist for the Office of Physical Plant, of flowering trees in front of Beaver Stadium. Credit: Heather Smeltzer. All Rights Reserved.

Photo submitted by Jessica Shaw, marketing communications specialist for Penn State IT. The submitted caption reads: "A colorful planter full of white, orange, yellow and red tulips at Penn State Harrisburg. The photo was taken on Friday, April 19, during the Finance & Business Mentorship Program's tour of the Penn State Harrisburg campus." Credit: Jessica Shaw. All Rights Reserved.

Photo submitted by Robert Armstrong, coordinator of student accountability and conflict response at Penn State Harrisburg. The submitted caption reads: "Lion in the tulips. Springtime at Penn State Harrisburg." Credit: Robert Armstrong. All Rights Reserved.

Photo submitted by Amir Marvasti, professor of sociology at Penn State Altoona, of tulips at the entrance to the Altoona campus. Credit: Amir Marvasti. All Rights Reserved.

Photo submitted by Annette Threeton, student success specialist in Undergraduate Education, of flowers on the lawn of Pattee and Paterno Library at University Park. Credit: Annette Threeton. All Rights Reserved.

Photo submitted by Ruth Newton, proposal and award generalist at Penn State Behrend. The submitted photo caption reads: "A beautiful spring view of the Smith Chapel at Penn State Behrend captures the essence and beauty of the campus." Credit: Ruth Newton. All Rights Reserved.

Photo submitted by Priyasha Fernando, graduate student in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. The submitted caption reads: "Tulips unfurling beneath a vast blue sky, soaking in the sun's embrace in front of Old Main on April 23, 2024." Credit: Priyasha Fernando. All Rights Reserved.

Photo submitted by Nancy Loker, library assistant at Penn State Behrend. The submitted caption reads: "Springtime at nighttime: One of the trees on the Behrend campus, illuminated by a lamp post. Of all the trees on the Behrend grounds, the Tawhiwhi tree particularly shines after hours, for, according to Wikipedia, its blossoming flowers are scented only at night. Photo taken April 18, 2024." Credit: Nancy Loker. All Rights Reserved.

Photo submitted by Emily Eckley, campus staff assistant with Student Affairs. The submitted caption reads: "Pussy willow branches at The Arboretum at Penn State on April 20, 2024." Credit: Emily Eckley. All Rights Reserved.

Photo submitted by Madisen Plunkert, graduate student in the College of Agricultural Sciences. The submitted caption reads: "Hellebores in front of Old Main on April 11, 2024." Credit: Madisen Plunkert. All Rights Reserved.

Photo submitted by Scott Sesler, alumnus of the class of 1978. The submitted caption reads: "Daffodils in the Joan Milius Smith Esplanade at The Arboretum at Penn State." Credit: Scott Sesler. All Rights Reserved.

The winning photo of the Penn State Today spring photo contest was submitted by Nolan Bennett, operations manager and SEVIS coordinator with Penn State Global. The submitted caption reads: "Sunrise through the armillary sphere in front of Old Main at University Park, on March 26, 2024." Credit: Nolan Bennett. All Rights Reserved.

An honorable mention goes to Jerry Gearhart, alumnus of the class of 1950, who submitted the following picture of himself and his then-fiancee Pat (now his business partner of 72 years) on a bench at the northeast entrance to Hort Woods in June 1949. 

Jerry's submission gave our editors a great idea for an upcoming Penn State Today photo contest: Historical Penn State pictures. Stay tuned for more information on that upcoming contest.

Photo submitted by Jerry Gearhart, alumnus of the class of 1950. The picture was taken with Gearhart's tripod and timer of himself and his then-fiancee Pat (now his business partner of 72 years) on a bench at the northeast entrance to Hort Woods in June 1949.  Credit: Jerry Gearhart. All Rights Reserved.

Last Updated April 25, 2024

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