Layer upon layer of history emerges from the mist in Rabat on the first day of Tom Lyon’s trip to Morocco. Storks nest on the minaret of a former “zaouia”—a combination mosque, school, and hostel—that was built in the 13th century. To the left are the ruins of the ancient Roman port of Sala Colonia. And in the background are the walls of the Chellah Necropolis, established in 1284. Lyon, the trip’s faculty host, captured this photo of retired U-M law professor Don Duquette as he pondered this microcosm of African history.
A professor in the Ross School of Business and the School for Environment and Sustainability, Lyon is one of the winners of the inaugural Michigan Alumni Travel photo contest. Alumni and faculty hosts who have traveled since January 2017 shared their best photos—in the categories of culture, friends, learning, landscapes, and pride—that showcase their most memorable experiences. Lyon’s photo was the best in the pride category.
“While a picture of everyone standing in front of the Eiffel Tower can make a great keepsake, we wanted images that record a moment in time and give us a sense of being there with them,” says Carrie Fediuk, manager of the Michigan Alumni Travel program. “With more than 60 trips offered each year, there are many opportunities not only to showcase our travelers’ talent, but also capture the types of experiences they have while on one of our tours.”
The contest will have quarterly and annual winners as well as a photo of the year; the annual and photo of the year winners will be announced at the end of October. Visit the photo contest website for more information. And in April, the travel program will offer a whole new slate of photo opportunities when it launches its 2019 travel collection.
