Student Excellence in Photojournalism, Single or Photo Story

Christine Vo, “Personal Essay: How cultural traditions connect first-generation children to their heritage,” The Shorthorn

ABOUT THE WORK: The author writes: “Funeral traditions force a harsh reality for many Asian American children. We are introduced to various people from our loved ones' past, many of whom we cannot communicate with after drifting from our culture’s language. When my grandfather came to the end of his life, he left behind an archive of VHS tapes, letters and printed photos, treasures that brought comfort in grief and guilt. This photo essay confronts the reality of my lost culture, and also attempts to grasp it before it's too late.”

Christine Vo is a photojournalist based in Arlington, Texas, who strives to capture unfiltered human stories through her photography. She was recently named the 2024 Texas Intercollegiate Photographer of the Year, for her work as a student photojournalist. For the past three years, she has worked at The Shorthorn Newspaper, where she jump-started her career by serving as a reporter, photographer, and Multimedia Editor before entering her current position as the Managing Editor. She hopes to continue to highlight culture and community.

Judges’ comments: “This student showed a great sense of sensitivity in covering such a difficult topic. It was clear that the photographer was respectful and made sure they were being sensitive to the mourners. This kind of sensitivity takes a great deal of finesse and empathy, especially at this stage in a young photographer's career.”

Honorable mention: Lily Speredelozzi, “You Are Asian and You Are Beautiful,” Unpublished

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