And the Winners Are...

Dear Tulane Community:

Being president requires tough decisions -- but this tough?

At Convocation I challenged members of our new class to submit a photograph of their favorite spot at Tulane or in the city, one that was meaningful to them and that illustrated the grandeur, the diversity, the grit and the innovation of the Tulane and New Orleans communities. I promised to personally treat the creators of the best two photographs and their friends to a meal at Commander's Palace. As you can see by the entries it was impossible to pick just two, but I was able to finally settle on the five beautiful submissions below. This turned out to be a costly decision on my part. Instead of two students and their friends, I am now treating five students and their friends. Still, you can't put a price on art or spending quality time with some great students.

So congratulations Nathan Leonard, Tyler Margaretten, Joaquin de Obarrio, Alexis Topel and Avery Werther. I am looking forward to sitting down with you and your friends at Commander's. We will have to take some photos there, too. I will be in touch with you so we can schedule a time and date.

And many, many thanks to all our wonderful students who submitted photos. As great as your photos were, I enjoyed even more reading the vignettes many of you submitted with your entries. Your passion and excitement for Tulane, New Orleans and life are inspiring. It was nice exploring our new hometown together.