This fall, Waynesburg University students, faculty and staff have been given a chance to showcase the university from their perspectives with the first-ever “WU by You,” a photography competition put on by the office of University Relations.

According to Integrated Marketing Coordinator Josh Beppler, the fall season is a perfect time to have the contest.

“We’ve been getting a lot of campus shots,” Beppler said. “We’ve been getting some shots of buildings and architecture, I’d love to see some more shots of people enjoying the fall weather. Just as fall gears up here and we start to approach the holiday season, just showcasing Waynesburg from a more personal, intimate level.”

The contest began Oct. 1 and was initially intended to run through Oct. 31, but, because two additional prizes were announced, “WU by You” will now run through Nov. 30.

When it began, the contest offered a single grand prize, which is a Fitbit. The additional prizes included a second-place prize of a $50 gift card from Waynesburg Coffee Company, and third receives a $25 gift guard, also courtesy of Waynesburg Coffee Company. Beppler said that the extension provides an opportunity for more creative photography as winter nears.

“It gives us more of an opportunity to see some different shots that we may not have gotten in the October month. It just gives you more of a variety,” Beppler said. “We’ve had such good submissions so far, and we’re excited to see that continue.”

Beppler said that the two new prizes were announced in mid-October, so the office of University Relations decided to extend the contest to give people who had not yet taken part in a chance to show off their skills.

“We had obtained and announced the second and third place prizes right around the middle of October, where we wanted to make sure that we gave people adequate opportunity to participate if they missed out during the first few weeks of October,” Beppler said.  “So, we were very excited to be able to extend the contest.”

According to Beppler, 10 new submissions were sent in after the second and third place prizes were announced.

Beppler said that “WU by You” is planned to be held again next year. According to Beppler, the contest was designed to give people familiar with Waynesburg a chance to showcase the university more creatively than they could by sitting in a classroom.

“We had discussed our current photo library, and we felt it was a great opportunity to allow people that are on campus every day to help us showcase Waynesburg in a way that we can’t do from a desk or we can’t do exclusively at public events,” Beppler said. “We want to get a more personal look at Waynesburg, and we are excited to give people that opportunity.”

The idea came about throughout the summer and in the beginning of the fall semester. It was discussed with the office of University Relations, who collectively agreed to run the contest.

Beppler was “part of a larger team” with putting together the contest and primarily was responsible for advertising the competition through posters and social media. For Beppler, although interest was expected, the number of submissions has been a “pleasant surprise.”

“We expected a good turnout. We have a beautiful campus to showcase, and I think that people would be excited to participate in that,” Beppler said. “I think if anything, we’ve been surprised at just how many submissions we’ve gotten thus far.”

Beppler said that getting the word out is one of the challenges of “WU by You.”

“It’s just making sure that we’re covering all our bases, and we reach people in all the avenues that we can,” Beppler said.  “Social media seems to be the best way to reach students, [the contest] going in our employee newsletter that goes out every month. We’re reaching everyone in all the ways that we can think of.”

Beppler does not see any significant changes that need to be made for the competition in the future.

“So far, I would do everything the same way,” Beppler said. “Whenever we bring the contest to a close at the end of November, we’ll have some time to reflect and review how everything went, and discuss changes to next year’s event at that time.”

Entries can be submitted at social@waynesburg.edu.

For Beppler, “WU by You” is a chance to put Waynesburg University on display in a way that is significant for every individual person.

“I would encourage people to look for a way to showcase why Waynesburg is special to you,” Beppler said. “Be that a spot on campus, friends, your major, anything that really captures your attention about Waynesburg and speaks to you in your heart is what I would like to see captured.”