During the start of 2021, Albertine Nordby Rasmussen, Ann-Sofie Antonsen and Solbjørk Kirstine Hesbjerg (in the foreground) moved from Copenhagen to the small Island Anholt. They moved to pursue their dream of opening a local bakery on the island, but also to get out of the city and closer to nature. This summer evening, Albertine has a tick in her armpit, and Solbjørk tries to remove it in front of a curious audience. Photo by Valdemar Stroe Ren, Danish School of Journalism, Aarhus, Denmark

College Photographer of the Year Competition announces the 76th still photography and multimedia division winners

Updated: Nov. 1, 2021 - CPOY judging concluded on Sunday, October 31, 2021, with the Multimedia Division category. Winners in four multimedia division categories are:

Multimedia: Documentary Short:
Gold: Maria Albrechtsen Mortensen, of the Danish School of Media and Journalism, for “Invisible Strings.”

Multimedia: Individual Story or Essay – Standalone:
Gold: Hope Davison, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, for “What’s Next, Japan?”

Multimedia: Group Story or Essay – Standalone:
Gold: Lauren Santucci and Christiana Botic, of Ohio University, for “Not Alone: Mothers of Murdered Columbia Children”

Multimedia: Online Storytelling:
Gold: Molly Gibbs and Jessica Stewart, of Syracuse University, for “Our Land”

Judges for the multimedia division:
Liz O. Baylen, Senior Audio Editor, New York Times, three-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and Emmy winner; Ed Kashi, Photojournalist and Filmmaker, Member of VII Photo Agency, Founder of Talking Eyes Media; Lauren Frohne, Lead Video Journalist, Seattle Times, Edward R. Murrow national winner

View all of the winning entries and the judging screencasts.

Oct. 29, 2021 - Still Division winners were announced on October 28, 2021, at the conclusion of judging of Still Divisions I and II in the 76th College Photographer of the Year competition on the campus of the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. Judges viewed over 10,000 images submitted by 535 students in 35 countries.

The 76th College Photographer of the Year is Valdemar Stroe Ren of the Danish School of Journalism in Aarhus, Denmark. Stroe Ren’s work was also awarded Silver in International Picture Story and Award of Excellence in the Domestic Picture Story category.

Ethan Swope, of Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California, was named the Runner-up College Photographer of the Year with a Silver award in the Portfolio category. Swope’s work was also honored with a Silver, Bronze and Award of Excellence in Spot News, Bronze in Interpretive Eye, Award of Excellence in General News and Award of Excellence in International Picture Story

Ian Cheibub, of Universidade Federal Fluminense in Niteroi, Brazil, won an Award of Excellence in the Portfolio category, as well as a Gold in Documentary.

Judges for Still Division I: Marie D. De Jesús, Staff Photojournalist at the Houston Chronicle, Pulitzer Prize finalist; David Barreda, Senior Photography Resident on the History and Culture Desk at National Geographic Magazine; Jared Soares, freelance photographer in Washington, D.C.

Judges for Still Division II: Sally Stapleton, Senior Assignment Editor at Magnum Photos, led two Pulitzer-winning teams; Mallory Benedict, Photo Editor on the History and Culture Desk for National Geographic Magazine; Alex Wong, Staff Photographer, Getty Images.

Below, CPOY crew and judges give Valdemar Stroe Ren the good news over a Zoom call.

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College Photographer of the Year Competition announces the 76th still photography and multimedia division winners

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