HARRISBURG, Pa. – A passion for photography and a joy for being with people are Ollie Riley’s key ingredients for prize-winning photography.

Riley, a student in the Photography Program at the Harrisburg Campus of HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, is a winner in the 2018 International Photography Awards (IPA). Riley’s series from the Gettysburg Re-enactment on July 7, 2018, was chosen for third place in the Event/Other category.

His winning photography earned Riley a trip to Carnegie Hall in New York City, New York, in October 2018 for the IPA’s 16^th annual Lucie Awards.

Riley recalled, “I just casually entered this contest.” Then, much to his surprise, he received notification that he had placed third in his category. “Really? Is this really possible?” Riley recalled thinking.

“It was really an eye-opening event for me,” Riley said. “It gives you a much better idea of visually what good work is. What this meant to me is ‘don’t give up,’” Riley said.

Riley, a school bus driver when he isn’t behind the camera or in class at HACC, said, “I don’t think I would have progressed to the point where I am without receiving the education, the skill and the in-house experience that I’ve enjoyed being here at HACC.”

Riley, who returned to the Harrisburg area for family reasons, said, “I took a good examination of what I really want to do. I’ve climbed the corporate ladder. It wasn’t all that I thought it was going to be.”

He continued, “So, after a year or so of driving a school bus, I decided I needed to pursue something that I really want to do. Of course, it came back to photography and where can I go to get some training in that?”

Of his HACC experience, Riley said, “They give you the ability to be able to see what you can do. Now it’s up to you to work at it and fulfill it. Once you do that, you’re successful. That’s what HACC is all about, and I am just ecstatic…so happy to have been a student and still continue to be a part of this program.”

Photo Caption: Ollie Riley is a student in HACC’s Photography Program and a winner in the 2018 International Photography Awards.

About HACC
HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, is the first and largest of Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges. HACC offers approximately 100 career and transfer associate degree, certificate and diploma programs to approximately 19,000 students. Also, the College serves students at its Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon and York campuses; through virtual learning; and via workforce development and continuing education training. For more information on how HACC is uniquely YOURS, visit hacc.edu. Also, follow us on Twitter (@HACC_info), follow us on Instagram (@HACC_edu), like us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HACC64) and use #HACCNews.