Snapshots of a Semester Abroad at Wroxton College

And the stories behind the photos

Sheep graze near the Dovecote on the grounds of Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Wroxton College in Oxfordshire, England. (Photo: Amy Slobodzian)

“One November night, I took a walk around sunset. When I saw all the sheep lining up and facing the same way, it was a perfect moment with the shadows. My dad is really into photography. He taught me about perspective and angles.”

— Amy Slobodzian, BA’18 (Flor)
Best Wroxton photo and Best Overall photo, Fall 2016

By Kenna Caprio

Each semester, students studying abroad at Wroxton College are invited to enter a photo contest — a longstanding tradition at the Abbey.

Judges are Wroxton faculty and staff, and winners receive certificates “with shiny gold badges,” says Andrew Rose, the college librarian and lecturer of creative writing. Categories include: Best Landscape, Best Miscellaneous, Best Interior, Best Portrait, Best Architecture, Best Wroxton and Best Overall. Rose also posts the winning images on the Wroxton Instagram, Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Winning entries from previous years are catalogued in photo albums and are available for students and guests to flip through.

Wondering about the photos and the stories behind them? Us too. Here, the student and alumni photographers speak.

The main building at Wroxton, the Abbey, dates to 1618. And elements of the original monastery, built in 1217, still exist within the Abbey. The University bought the Abbey, estate and surrounding grounds and gardens in 1965. (Photos: Melissa Quinn and Olivia Mazzaferro)

A colorful portrait taken on the streets of Brighton. (Photo: Angie You)

“This huge wall in Brighton felt really artsy. We came out of an alleyway, turned right, and there it was. Summer’s outfit matched the bright colors. My experience in England was so bright and happy. I just can’t stop talking about Wroxton. It brightened my entire life.”

— Angie You, senior hotel and restaurant management major Best Portrait photo, Spring 2018

Scenes of life abroad: a puppy, an artful door and teatime. (Photos: Sam Brandt, Allison Reed and Rachel Kleinwaks)

Beaches in Brighton, England, are stony, not sandy. (Photo: Stefan Marquart)

“I wanted the photo to show just how immense the beach in Brighton is — it seems to stretch on forever. I had to get very low to the ground; I can still feel the stones against my feet. The scene’s uniquely British. I’ve never seen beaches like this anywhere else.”

— Stefan Marquart, BA’19 (Flor)
Best Landscape photo, Spring 2017

A big part of the Wroxton experience are the weekend trips and cultural excursions around Europe. Each semester the students go to Scotland for a long weekend. (Photo: Marie Pietracatella)

“In Scotland, our bus driver took us off-road, and there were deer all around us. This photo really captures the Highlands. Cities are beautiful, but go explore nature.”

— Marie Pietracatella, senior history major (Flor)
Best Landscape and Best Overall photo, Spring 2018

Feeling vintage: Alumna Melissa Dalessio spotted this VW microbus, parked just outside the Wroxton Abbey gates and couldn’t resist taking a photo. (Photo: Melissa Dalessio)

“I used to go for long walks and runs in Wroxton village. After the rain stopped one day, my friends and I walked past the Abbey gates. The van was such a beautiful, vibrant color, I just had to take a picture.”

— Melissa Dalessio, BA’19 (Metro)
Best Miscellaneous photo, Spring 2018

On a weekend trip to Cambridge, Annie Fillenwarth snapped this postcard-perfect photo as she dashed across the street. She took the photo on film and was amazed later at how well it came out. (Photo: Annie Fillenwarth)

“There are beautiful aspects of ordinary things. Frame something in a certain way or in a certain light, and spark a feeling of joy or connection. I want to get the film negative developed, so I can frame my Cambridge photo.”

— Annie Fillenwarth, BA’18 (Flor)
Best Miscellaneous photo, Spring 2017

Winter scenes like this one are extra-special, because snow is pretty rare in Oxfordshire! (Photo: Ryan Modica)

“At teatime, I noticed the tree and snow, so I pulled out my phone for a photo. I wanted to capture the sheer beauty of a snowy British day. Having snow in Wroxton made the experience even more special.”

— Ryan Modica, BA’19 (Metro)
Best Wroxton photo, Spring 2018

Ed. note: A version of this article first appeared in the Fall 2019 edition of FDU Magazine.