BHSU photography students capture top spots in World Tourism Days Photo Contest

   

   

   

       

           

       

       

           

           Black Hills State University student Laura Heisinger, mass communication major from Mitchell, earned first place for her photograph, "Light Beacon," in the BHSU World Tourism Days Photo Contest.

            

       

       

           

       

       

            Black Hills State University student Mason Moir, mass communication major from Rapid City, earned second place for his photograph, "Winter Tree," in the BHSU World Tourism Days Photo Contest.

           

           

       

       

           

       

       

            Rapid City high school student Colton Erk earned third place for his photograph, "B&ampW Teepees," in the Black Hills State University World Tourism Days Photo Contest.

       

   





Black Hills State University students earned top placings in the World Tourism Days Photo Contest, an exhibition highlighting the role tourism plays in South Dakota.

The World Tourism Days Photo Contest was open for all high school and college students in South Dakota. The winners of the contest were:

&middot First Place: Laura Heisinger, mass communication major from Mitchell, "Lunar Beacon," $350 and scholarship to the Black Hills Photo Shootout

&middot Second Place: Mason Moir, mass communication major from Rapid City, "Winter Tree," $200

&middot Third Place: Colton Erk, Rapid City high school student, "B&ampW Teepees," $150



"This contest and exhibition shows great diversity within our beautiful state and the opportunities available to those visiting," said Jerry Rawlings, assistant professor of mass communication at BHSU and contest organizer. "I could not be prouder our BHSU photography students performed exceptionally well in capturing the theme, One Billion Tourists, One Billion Opportunities."



Chad Coppess, BHSU alum and senior photographer for the South Dakota Department of Tourism, judged the contest and commended students on their excellent, professional images.



"The first-place winner is a high-quality example of making a photograph and not simply pointing a camera at a beautiful scene," Coppess said.



In addition to the top three entries, 20 photographs were selected for the One Billion Tourists, One Billion Opportunities exhibit that will be on display at BHSU during World Tourism Days in September. An opening reception for the exhibit will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 22 from 5 to 7 p.m. in Clare and Josef Meier Hall. South Dakota Secretary of Tourism Jim Hagen will be in attendance to congratulate students on their work. The exhibit will be on display through Oct. 19.



All photos from the contest can be viewed online. Rawlings also encourages visitors to vote for the People&rsquos Choice award. Vote online at www.BHSU.edu/WorldTourismDays.



Winning photographers will be honored during a special luncheon on Wednesday, Sept. 23. The luncheon is from 12 to 1:30 p.m. in the Jacket Legacy Room in the BHSU Student Union. World Tourism Days will be held at BHSU Wednesday, Sept. 23 through Sunday, Sept. 27. The public is invited to attend the luncheon, as well as all World Tourism Days events. To register for the luncheon and for a full schedule of World Tourism Days events, visit www.BHSU.edu/WorldTourismDays.