Miami University photographers win national awards

Scott Kissell won third place in the news and feature category for his photo of a 4 Paws for Ability Miami service dog in training during the spring commencement ceremony.

Miami University's two communications and marketing photographers won several top awards in the 2014 University Photographers' Association of America (UPAA) print and publication competition.

Jeff Sabo, director of photography for university communications and marketing, won first place in the print competition's feature and illustration category.

Scott Kissell, senior university photographer, won first place in the personal vision category and third place in the news and feature category. 

Both Sabo and Kissell won first place in the specialty books category for Miami's new coffee-table-style book, “For Love and Honor."

Jeff Sabo won first place in the print competition's feature and illustration category for his photo of dancers from Miami's Dance Theatre.

The book — a compilation of the photographers' images of campus and student life —was designed by Miami's communications and marketing staff and can be purchased at local bookstores. Kissell and Sabo said they consider the book's national recognition to be a win for the department because so many people were involved in putting it together.

Sabo and Kissell also were awarded the distinguished service award during the UPAA's symposium June 16-20 in Birmingham, Ala., for service above and beyond to the association. At the last minute, the two were able to fill in for an absent participant and arrange and hang 350 prints for the symposium display.

The duo also placed third in the general publication category for Miami's student recruitment brochure, "A picture's worth a thousand words..." 

The UPAA membership is made up of university photographers from across the United States, Canada, Australia and Israel.

View the winner's gallery from the UPAA annual publications competition here.