Gamet wins Perry Photojournalism Challenge

· 4 min read

Gamet wins Perry Photojournalism Challenge

The finalists for the 2023 Perry Photojournalism Challenge pose with their awards. They are (from left) Meredith Gamet, first place; Amber Rodriguez, third place; Hayden Rooney, honorable mention; Jordan Moore, second place; and Lydia Hernandez, honorable mention.

Meredith Gamet, a junior journalism and French major from Omaha, won the top prize in the 2023 Philip Perry Photojournalism Challenge for her essay “An Evening Out with the Loneliest Generation.” Gamet will receive a $7,000 scholarship to complete her studies at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Second place was awarded to Jordan Moore, a junior journalism major from Omaha, for her essay “Possessions.” Moore will receive a $2,000 scholarship.

Third place went to Amber Rodriguez, a junior journalism major from Papillion, for her essay “Beyond the Binary.” Rodriguez will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Lydia Hernandez, a freshman advertising and public relations, and sports media and communication major from Omaha, and Hayden Rooney, a sophomore broadcasting major from Lincoln, received honorable mentions.

The annual competition is a test of determination and drive. This year, 18 students had 24 hours to shoot and compose a photo essay of up to 10 images around the theme “Framing Gen Z.” The competition kicked off at noon Feb. 25. The students were free to interpret the theme as they saw fit, producing an essay at any location of their choosing. Submissions were due at noon Feb. 26.

On March 4, essays were judged by six photojournalism professionals in two rounds. In the initial round, participants were narrowed to five finalists who were invited to present their essays to the judges and the general public. Following the presentations, the judges conferred to select the winners.

This year’s judges were Mike Davis, visual storytelling consultant, editor, educator and author; Ann Milroy, creative manager at DigitalSky; Frank Franklin II, a staff photographer with The Associated Press New York; Shaun Sartin, a freelance photojournalist in Lexington, Kentucky; Allen Schaben, a staff photographer with the Los Angeles Times; and Patrick Sison, photo editor at The Associated Press New York.

The Perry Photojournalism Challenge is supported by donations from Philip Perry, CEO of Perry Reid Properties.

  • From Meredith Gamet’s essay “An Evening Out with the Loneliest Generation”: As the water drips down her face, Lindsay Best takes off her makeup for the night with someone else’s face wash. Gen Z spends more than any other generation on skin care practices.
    From Meredith Gamet’s essay “An Evening Out with the Loneliest Generation”: As the water drips down her face, Lindsay Best takes off her makeup for the night with someone else’s face wash. Gen Z spends more than any other generation on skin care practices. Meredith Gamet | junior journalism and French major
  • From Jordan Moore’s essay “Possessions”: Isabel Sheesley, 20, a junior at Southeast Community College, sees herself in the portrait of her great-grandmother. Sheesley wears her great-grandmother’s class ring from 1932 every day. The ring keeps her connected to her family, Sheesley said.
    From Jordan Moore’s essay “Possessions”: Isabel Sheesley, 20, a junior at Southeast Community College, sees herself in the portrait of her great-grandmother. Sheesley wears her great-grandmother’s class ring from 1932 every day. The ring keeps her connected to her family, Sheesley said. Jordan Moore | junior journalism major
  • From Amber Rodriguez’s essay “Beyond the Binary”: Mari Pilling, 21, with fresh black dyed hair, applies black eyeliner to their bottom eyelids for an evening makeup look in their apartment bathroom Feb. 25 in Lincoln. Pilling loves to express their genderless identity through unisex clothing, dark shades of makeup, tattoos and piercings. “I want the art that has brought me up to this point to be represented with who I am on my skin,” Pilling said. “I definitely believe that you wear your heart on your sleeve, and I'm literally putting that at practice and making sure that my story is literally left on my body.”
    From Amber Rodriguez’s essay “Beyond the Binary”: Mari Pilling, 21, with fresh black dyed hair, applies black eyeliner to their bottom eyelids for an evening makeup look in their apartment bathroom Feb. 25 in Lincoln. Pilling loves to express their genderless identity through unisex clothing, dark shades of makeup, tattoos and piercings. “I want the art that has brought me up to this point to be represented with who I am on my skin,” Pilling said. “I definitely believe that you wear your heart on your sleeve, and I'm literally putting that at practice and making sure that my story is literally left on my body.” Amber Rodriguez | junior journalism major
  • From Lydia Hernandez’s essay “The Things We Hold Onto”: Ty Demand and his friends (left) Marcus Koester (left) and Brayden Phillips (right) play “Mario Kart” on Koester’s Wii in his dorm room. "As a kid, I always went over to my best friend's basement and played games on the Wii for hours,” Demand said. “Since then, I have grown up and moved away to college and built new relationships with the people around me. I cannot believe 12 years later, I am in my college dorm room doing the same thing with the people who make me the happiest.”
    From Lydia Hernandez’s essay “The Things We Hold Onto”: Ty Demand and his friends (left) Marcus Koester (left) and Brayden Phillips (right) play “Mario Kart” on Koester’s Wii in his dorm room. "As a kid, I always went over to my best friend's basement and played games on the Wii for hours,” Demand said. “Since then, I have grown up and moved away to college and built new relationships with the people around me. I cannot believe 12 years later, I am in my college dorm room doing the same thing with the people who make me the happiest.” Lydia Hernandez | freshman advertising and public relations, and sports media and communication major
  • From Hayden Rooney’s essay “Hunger of Youth”: Nebraska Wesleyan junior Jaime Orton, 20, grabs a pack of beef-flavored ramen noodles Feb. 25 at Super Saver on North 27th Street.
    From Hayden Rooney’s essay “Hunger of Youth”: Nebraska Wesleyan junior Jaime Orton, 20, grabs a pack of beef-flavored ramen noodles Feb. 25 at Super Saver on North 27th Street. Hayden Rooney | sophomore broadcasting major

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