Across University of the Pacific’s three campuses, 2025 brought meaningful milestones and quiet moments in between.

In their own words, Pacific’s photographers reflect on the images that stand out most, capturing the people, places and experiences that defined campus life throughout the year.

Christian Murillo: Every year during commencement, I look forward to the ceremonies inside the Alex G. Spanos Center because of the four large spotlights positioned at the back of the aisle where graduates return to their seats after receiving their diplomas.

I knew I wanted a backlit photo with those lights in the frame. Using my streak filter, I noticed a graduate with Powercat on their cap and followed for a burst of photos. The resulting light streaks almost resemble a tiger paw swipe, which made the moment even more fitting.

Jason Millner: During the fall semester, Pacific’s Stockton Campus takes on a new character as it fills with the colors of the season, noticeable from every angle. I was drawn to this image because it captures a calm moment on campus as students move between classes, showcasing the quiet beauty and steady rhythm of student life in the fall.

Roland Liwag: This is a photo from my "Dorm Glow-Ups" series on social media. This image is a photo illustration that combines several frames of a first-year student moving from her desk to her bed into a single composition. It represents my approach to photography, always looking to convey movement, energy and a sense of life within the subject.

Mikael Pitanguy: During Pacific Trick or Treat, community members and fellow Pacificans are invited to enjoy an evening of Halloween festivities.

This year’s event welcomed more than 5,000 attendees, all dressed in a wide range of costumes, creating countless candid photo opportunities. In this moment, a child in a tiger costume embraces the excitement of the evening, exploring his surroundings and collecting as much candy as he can.

Murillo: In April, high school students were invited to campus to confirm their enrollment for fall 2025. Students were placed along the historic Knoles Hall walkway, where they pressed an orange button to ring the Burns Tower bells as confetti burst into the air. It’s always special to capture the excitement on their faces in that moment.

Millner: Captured at the end of blue hour, this nighttime drone photo portrays a rare aerial view of Pacific with Mt. Diablo visible in the distance. The contrast between the glowing campus lights and the darker landscape, along with the remaining blues in the sky, creates a scene that feels both dramatic and calm. The high-angle perspective adds a sense of scale that we don’t get from the ground.

Millner: This photograph of a student was taken inside the classroom building. The dramatic lighting highlights the details of the equipment and the close-up framing creates a more intimate feeling. The equipment adds strong texture and narrative to the image. Overall, the lighting is the most impactful element and is what makes this photograph stand out.

Murillo: When I attended my first cross country race, I wanted to walk away with a strong group photo of either the men’s or women’s team, but I knew a simple posed shot wouldn’t suffice.

A few minutes before the women’s race started, the team began doing warm-up drills. This was the perfect moment: the sun was setting and I could get much closer than I would during the actual race. I put on my streak filter and fired away. I left with one of my favorite frames of the year.

Pitanguy: Weeks before Pacific’s public announcement of its educational partnership with the San Francisco 49ers, the social media team developed a campaign in anticipation of the official on-campus partnership kickoff event.

As part of that effort, Powercat and Sourdough Sam, the 49ers’ mascot, were brought together for a few hours to film a video project. This photo was captured during the filming of one of those scenes. With a focus on behind-the-scenes moments, the image highlights the efforts that go into producing a large-scale shoot.

Millner: This photograph was taken from a dorm room in the newly opened Manor Hall. The window framing and clear blue sky create a strong focal point. This perspective places the viewer in the position of a student looking out toward the main campus, which was what stood out to me. The bright sky and deep green trees contrast with the orange brick buildings, giving the image visual clarity and balance.

Dan Soine: This photo, taken by Chris Woodrow, captures a carefree moment among students at the Asilomar Retreat held in February. It’s a Dugoni School tradition going on nearly 60 years, which gives students a chance to come together for a class retreat one final time before commencement.

Millner: Powercat is always up for a photoshoot, so when Pacific was named to Jeff Selingo's "Dream School" book, we headed outside to take this shot on the lawn. 

Pitanguy: Walking around campus, especially when the weather is nice, often presents great opportunities to capture student life and campus beauty.

With this frame, I wanted to convey a sense of ease and belonging that students find on campus. Framed low to the ground, the image emphasizes a relaxed conversation unfolding on the lawn, set against the campus architecture. It encapsulates student life candidly.

Murillo: In this image, we see undergraduate students from the McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento touring the Capitol Building.

This photoshoot was particularly challenging because I only had 10 minutes to pull students together and make sure that everything else on camera worked harmoniously, but in the end, I was happy with how it came out.

Millner: This photograph was captured during vow renewals at Homecoming and conveys the emotion of the moment. Details such as the stained glass and altar add visual depth, while the couple’s clothing and surrounding florals share a complementary color palette that adds texture to the scene. Together, the framing and composition focus on the connection between the couple, which was what stood out to me.

Millner: Tigers Prowlin' the Mile is an annual event held at the Miracle Mile that highlights the strong support of the local community for incoming and current students as they prepare for the academic year ahead.

In this frame, we see students going down a slide at Miracle Mile during sunset. The slide is placed to the right, leaving room for the colors of the sky to stand out. The slide also helps frame the students and guide the viewer’s eye through the photo.

Ashley Golledge: McGeorge School of Law’s Unity Celebration is an annual event that recognizes the academic accomplishments and unique journeys of diverse students in law school. What stands out to me in this photo are the vibrant colors and different elements in the foreground and background.

Pitanguy: Commencement is one of the best opportunities to capture genuine emotion. Unlike any other event, it brings together students and their families to celebrate the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice.

At this moment, a soon-to-be graduate holding his baby while waiting to be called to receive his diploma immediately stood out and I’m glad I was there to document it.

Millner: This photograph was taken during the early stages of framing in Southwest Hall. The metal bars naturally frame the workers, creating a strong sense of structure and focus. The symmetry of the lines formed by the 2x4s and metal framing adds balance and energy to the composition. The presence of construction workers in the background brings movement to the scene, preventing the image from feeling static and giving it a sense of life and progress.