Thousands of college students from all over the world send in their best photographs, hoping to place, or at least get an honorable mention in the Photographer’s Forum Best of College Photography Competition.

Only one hundred of these photographs will be boasted by this hard back book, so to have three students from EC to be finalists in the 2010 competition is not only exciting, but a record for the photography department as well.

“It’s another opportunity for our students and our college to shine in the larger world of photography,” Darilyn Rowan, photography professor said.

Rowan placed in the Best of College competition in 1983 while attending graduate school of Arizona State University, and introduced the magazine to students through her classes, Rowan said.

Having this honorable mention in their resumes will be something students can take with them as they continue to pursue photography, Rowan said.

“Photographer’s Forum is a highly respected and widely known publication in the field of photography, and will be a highlight of the student’s resumes as they go into the professional world,” Rowan said.

Driven by her motivation and ambition to pursue photography, it was Rowan who encouraged her and all students to compete, finalist Ruby Gutierrez, 25, nursing and photography major said.

“She’s been the driving force in getting us involved in the shows because she puts so much effort into putting everything together. She’s the one who really encourages and inspires me and really is the heart and soul of the photography department. She does so much for everyone, and is completely unselfish,” Gutierrez said.

She hopes her work will be shown in her own gallery, Gutierrez said.

“I really hope for my work to be out there,” Gutierrez said.

When Sylwia Ozdzynski, 31, no major received news that she was a finalist, it brought tears to her eyes, Ozdzynski said.

When they sent me information that I was a finalist, I was really happy, I was actually crying,” Ozdzynski said.

While her true passion was graphic design, she became interested in photography through her husband, and was encouraged when she submitted photos online and received encouragement from others, Ozdznyski said.

“I kind of got jealous that he was taking these good pictures, so I started taking pictures and sent them to websites for critics, and people would say that I was good and needed to try more,” Ozdzynski said.

She decided that she wanted to become a photojournalist after watching a DVD on James Nachtway, Ozdzynski said.

James Nachtway is a photojournalist who takes pictures of war who has been to Pakistan, Afghanistan, and even took pictures of the destruction of the 9/11 attack, according to the James Nachtway website.

“Someone showed me the DVD, and he was explaining why he was taking pictures, and that’s why I decided to become a photojournalist. He’s a huge inspiration for me,” Ozdzynski.

For another finalist, inspiration came from her mother who inspired her at a young age to be interested in the arts, Khalia Green, 21, photography major said.

“My mom always exposed me to the arts. I guess you can say I was destined to work in some type of field (of art),” Green said.

She enjoys shooting street photography, scenic views, or the ocean, and especially religious architecture, even graves, Green said. “I like to capture the truth. I’m not really into fashion or glamour,” Green said.

Some of her idols include Gordon Parks and Mary Ellen, all photojournalists whose work she admires.

“My goal is to become a photojournalist,” Green said.

They are all talented and hardworking students who are very committed to their work and their education, Rowan said.

“All three of them are enormously gifted students, and I expect and look forward to seeing many more of their accomplishments in the future,” Rowan said.