The winning picture in the fall 2025 Penn State Today photo contest was submitted by Ilhan Kucukaydin, web manager at Penn State Harrisburg. The submitted caption reads: "Fall has arrived in all its vibrant colors at Penn State Harrisburg. An autumn leaf has landed on the metal armillary sphere, its colors transitioning from green to orange — a subtle reminder of what Heraclitus said: 'Nothing is permanent except change.'" Credit: Ilhan Kucukaydin. All Rights Reserved.
Thank you to all who participated in the 2025 Penn State Today fall photo contest! We received an incredible selection of photos showcasing spring at Penn State. The winning photo was submitted by submitted by Ilhan Kucukaydin, web manager at Penn State Harrisburg, of an autumn leaf on the metal armillary sphere at the campus.
See more top overall submissions, as selected by Penn State Today editors, in the gallery below.
Photo submitted by Bianka Guerra, an undergraduate student studying geoscience and materials science at University Park. The submitted caption reads: "A close-up of an acorn on an oak tree on East Park Avenue, outside East Halls, on Sept. 16. The sunset is blurred in the background, with the acorn and some surrounding leaves in focus." Credit: Bianka Guerra. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Andrew D. Regan, an undergraduate student studying enterprise technology integration in the College of Information Sciences and Technology. The submitted caption reads: "This is a photo of a leaf with a jack-o'-lantern face drawn on it in a pile of other crumpled up leaves, on Oct. 18. It was taken next to Simmons Hall at University Park. This picture was taken to represent both fall as a season and its beautiful colors, and also to sprinkle some Halloween in there!" Credit: Andrew D. Regan. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Morgan Sewack, marketing and communications specialist at Penn State Scranton. The submitted caption reads: "This photo was taken on Oct. 21 at the Nittany Lion Shrine at Penn State Scranton and captures the vibrant spirit of fall. The limestone statue is surrounded by pumpkins and gourds in rich shades of orange, yellow, green and white, arranged on a bed of straw. Corn stalks frame the right side, adding a rustic harvest touch, while golden foliage in the background glows under clear autumn sunlight, creating a warm seasonal backdrop. This image highlights the seasonal charm of Penn State Scranton and its iconic symbol during peak fall colors." Credit: Morgan Sewack. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Amy Liu, an undergraduate student studying biochemistry and molecular biology in Eberly College of Science. The submitted caption reads: "This photo was taken on Oct. 2 of the Penn State crew team at their early morning practice on Saint Joseph Sayers Lake in Bald Eagle State Park. The photo captures the varsity men’s eight featuring (from stern to bow) Jake Soldani, Arhaan Keshwani, Noah Kichline, Matt Steutz, Esteban Marenco, Colin Aitken, Sean Lonergan, Nole Aurentz, and Nate Tillotson. It was taken from my safety launch, capturing the calm atmosphere created by the warm colors of a fall sunrise, silhouetting our athletes and reflecting the beauty of our sport. The scenery and lighting provided a perfect backdrop for photography, capturing the spirit of Penn State athletics." Credit: Amy Liu. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Dan Schranghamer, class of 1988. The submitted caption reads: "The Arboretum before a home game.” Credit: Dan Schranghamer. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Donna Lynch, adjunct lecturer in dance at Penn State York. The submitted caption reads: "My favorite tree on the campus of Penn State York. This was taken on Oct. 31, 2024; after last year's contest ended, when this tree was in its best fall colors. It's such a wonderful view when arriving on campus for the day's classes." Credit: Donna Lynch. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Lina Zhu, graduate student in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the College of Engineering. The submitted caption reads: "Taken on Oct. 1, this photo captures a quiet yet meaningful moment on my walk to the EcoRE building after getting off the bus. I no longer remember the name of the building itself, but I will never forget what I saw—the sunlight poured through the air and fell upon the pavement, forming a bright arrow that pointed straight toward a classroom. It felt as if the light was guiding me forward, gently reminding me that knowledge, like sunlight, illuminates our path and makes learning a true source of happiness." Credit: Lina Zhu. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Anton Zamyatin, graduate student in the Computer Science and Engineering Department in the College of Engineering. The submitted photo reads: "This photo, taken Sept. 13, shows a view from Rattle Snake Pike down to Happy Valley and State College on the background of Milky Way. It features a light drawing with a little lamp, shutter speed 10 seconds." Credit: Anton Zamyatin. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Todd C. Pontius, general chemistry lecturer in Eberly College of Science. The submitted caption reads: "A hawk surveys Old Main Lawn from a fence post on an early November morning in 2024." Credit: Todd C. Pontius. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Audrey Cobb, an undergraduate student studying corporate communication at Penn State Scranton. The submitted caption reads: "This picture was taken Oct. 24, outside of the Student Center at Penn State Scranton. There is a bush half dead but still had a few beautiful vibrant purple leaves." Credit: Audrey Cobb. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Tyler Eyerman, an undergraduate student studying advertising in the Bellisario College of Communications. The submitted caption reads: "This is a photo taken of Beaver Stadium the night before the Penn State White Out game against Oregon. I took this from a balcony at Aspen State College." Credit: Tyler Eyerman. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Jeff Remington, STEM outreach liaison for Penn State Center for Science and the Schools in the College of Education. The submitted caption reads: "The photo was taken on Oct. 19 on the trail to the Arboretum at Penn State. It captures the anticipation of the natural and man-made beauty about to be encountered in the Arboretum in the fall." Credit: Jeff Remington. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Sarah Fresch, student success specialist at Penn State Greater Allegheny. The submitted caption reads: "A bumble bee on a swamp rose mallow flower, Oct. 6 in the SCC courtyard at the Greater Allegheny campus." Credit: Sarah Fresch. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Sarah Price, an undergraduate student in the Bellisario College of Communications. The submitted photo reads: "Sunset at the Arboretum on Sept. 10." Credit: Sarah Price. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Krista Schemitsch, a student at the Penn State College of Medicine. The submitted caption reads: "'Through the Window, a Mirror.' This picture was taken at sunset on Oct. 19 at the College of Medicine." Credit: Krista Schemitsch. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Jill Shockey, manager of public relations and marketing at Penn State University Libraries. The submitted photo reads: "View of Old Main's tower taken from a Pattee Library and Paterno Library office window on Oct. 22." Credit: Jill Shockey, Penn State University Libraries. All Rights Reserved.
The winning picture in the fall 2025 Penn State Today photo contest was submitted by Ilhan Kucukaydin, web manager at Penn State Harrisburg. The submitted caption reads: "Fall has arrived in all its vibrant colors at Penn State Harrisburg. An autumn leaf has landed on the metal armillary sphere, its colors transitioning from green to orange — a subtle reminder of what Heraclitus said: 'Nothing is permanent except change.'" Credit: Ilhan Kucukaydin. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Bianka Guerra, an undergraduate student studying geoscience and materials science at University Park. The submitted caption reads: "A close-up of an acorn on an oak tree on East Park Avenue, outside East Halls, on Sept. 16. The sunset is blurred in the background, with the acorn and some surrounding leaves in focus." Credit: Bianka Guerra. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Andrew D. Regan, an undergraduate student studying enterprise technology integration in the College of Information Sciences and Technology. The submitted caption reads: "This is a photo of a leaf with a jack-o'-lantern face drawn on it in a pile of other crumpled up leaves, on Oct. 18. It was taken next to Simmons Hall at University Park. This picture was taken to represent both fall as a season and its beautiful colors, and also to sprinkle some Halloween in there!" Credit: Andrew D. Regan. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Morgan Sewack, marketing and communications specialist at Penn State Scranton. The submitted caption reads: "This photo was taken on Oct. 21 at the Nittany Lion Shrine at Penn State Scranton and captures the vibrant spirit of fall. The limestone statue is surrounded by pumpkins and gourds in rich shades of orange, yellow, green and white, arranged on a bed of straw. Corn stalks frame the right side, adding a rustic harvest touch, while golden foliage in the background glows under clear autumn sunlight, creating a warm seasonal backdrop. This image highlights the seasonal charm of Penn State Scranton and its iconic symbol during peak fall colors." Credit: Morgan Sewack. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Amy Liu, an undergraduate student studying biochemistry and molecular biology in Eberly College of Science. The submitted caption reads: "This photo was taken on Oct. 2 of the Penn State crew team at their early morning practice on Saint Joseph Sayers Lake in Bald Eagle State Park. The photo captures the varsity men’s eight featuring (from stern to bow) Jake Soldani, Arhaan Keshwani, Noah Kichline, Matt Steutz, Esteban Marenco, Colin Aitken, Sean Lonergan, Nole Aurentz, and Nate Tillotson. It was taken from my safety launch, capturing the calm atmosphere created by the warm colors of a fall sunrise, silhouetting our athletes and reflecting the beauty of our sport. The scenery and lighting provided a perfect backdrop for photography, capturing the spirit of Penn State athletics." Credit: Amy Liu. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Dan Schranghamer, class of 1988. The submitted caption reads: "The Arboretum before a home game.” Credit: Dan Schranghamer. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Donna Lynch, adjunct lecturer in dance at Penn State York. The submitted caption reads: "My favorite tree on the campus of Penn State York. This was taken on Oct. 31, 2024; after last year's contest ended, when this tree was in its best fall colors. It's such a wonderful view when arriving on campus for the day's classes." Credit: Donna Lynch. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Lina Zhu, graduate student in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the College of Engineering. The submitted caption reads: "Taken on Oct. 1, this photo captures a quiet yet meaningful moment on my walk to the EcoRE building after getting off the bus. I no longer remember the name of the building itself, but I will never forget what I saw—the sunlight poured through the air and fell upon the pavement, forming a bright arrow that pointed straight toward a classroom. It felt as if the light was guiding me forward, gently reminding me that knowledge, like sunlight, illuminates our path and makes learning a true source of happiness." Credit: Lina Zhu. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Anton Zamyatin, graduate student in the Computer Science and Engineering Department in the College of Engineering. The submitted photo reads: "This photo, taken Sept. 13, shows a view from Rattle Snake Pike down to Happy Valley and State College on the background of Milky Way. It features a light drawing with a little lamp, shutter speed 10 seconds." Credit: Anton Zamyatin. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Todd C. Pontius, general chemistry lecturer in Eberly College of Science. The submitted caption reads: "A hawk surveys Old Main Lawn from a fence post on an early November morning in 2024." Credit: Todd C. Pontius. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Audrey Cobb, an undergraduate student studying corporate communication at Penn State Scranton. The submitted caption reads: "This picture was taken Oct. 24, outside of the Student Center at Penn State Scranton. There is a bush half dead but still had a few beautiful vibrant purple leaves." Credit: Audrey Cobb. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Tyler Eyerman, an undergraduate student studying advertising in the Bellisario College of Communications. The submitted caption reads: "This is a photo taken of Beaver Stadium the night before the Penn State White Out game against Oregon. I took this from a balcony at Aspen State College." Credit: Tyler Eyerman. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Jeff Remington, STEM outreach liaison for Penn State Center for Science and the Schools in the College of Education. The submitted caption reads: "The photo was taken on Oct. 19 on the trail to the Arboretum at Penn State. It captures the anticipation of the natural and man-made beauty about to be encountered in the Arboretum in the fall." Credit: Jeff Remington. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Sarah Fresch, student success specialist at Penn State Greater Allegheny. The submitted caption reads: "A bumble bee on a swamp rose mallow flower, Oct. 6 in the SCC courtyard at the Greater Allegheny campus." Credit: Sarah Fresch. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Sarah Price, an undergraduate student in the Bellisario College of Communications. The submitted photo reads: "Sunset at the Arboretum on Sept. 10." Credit: Sarah Price. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Krista Schemitsch, a student at the Penn State College of Medicine. The submitted caption reads: "'Through the Window, a Mirror.' This picture was taken at sunset on Oct. 19 at the College of Medicine." Credit: Krista Schemitsch. All Rights Reserved.
Photo submitted by Jill Shockey, manager of public relations and marketing at Penn State University Libraries. The submitted photo reads: "View of Old Main's tower taken from a Pattee Library and Paterno Library office window on Oct. 22." Credit: Jill Shockey, Penn State University Libraries. All Rights Reserved.
The winning picture in the fall 2025 Penn State Today photo contest was submitted by Ilhan Kucukaydin, web manager at Penn State Harrisburg. The submitted caption reads: "Fall has arrived in all its vibrant colors at Penn State Harrisburg. An autumn leaf has landed on the metal armillary sphere, its colors transitioning from green to orange — a subtle reminder of what Heraclitus said: 'Nothing is permanent except change.'" Credit: Ilhan Kucukaydin. All Rights Reserved.
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