Alumni Ambassadors Show Off Their Creativity in Triptych Contest
This fall, we invited our Alumni Ambassadors to take part in a triptych contest titled Nego-Three-Ation. Ambassadors were invited to use three connected images to explore the prompt, “What does negotiation look like, feel like, or make possible?” and tell a story about what negotiation means to them. The contest was sponsored in part by a donation from Target. Entries were judged based on connection to the prompt, creativity, and storytelling impact. Congratulations to Ramy Zamzam, who submitted the winning entry below. Thank you to the NW volunteers who served as judges for this contest and to Isa Salazar, NW’s Programs and Evaluation Coordinator who oversees the Alumni Ambassadors program.
FIRST PLACE / Ramy Zamzam:
Ramy explains his motivation behind this photo series: “These photographs use simple objects to tell a larger story about negotiation. I created this triptych to show that successful negotiation is about uncovering interests, communicating openly, and finding common ground. The figures begin with different desires, but through dialogue they discover that conflict is not inevitable when people listen and seek to understand one another. The progression from individual demands to collaboration demonstrates how negotiation can transform conflict into resolution, creating an outcome where everyone leaves with something they value.”
Congratulations also to second-place winner Linda,* for her “SLOW / NEW ROUTE / STOP” triptych, and third-place winner Alexis Green, for her “Waterfall” triptych. Both entries are shared below.
*Participant’s name has been changed to protect her privacy.
SECOND PLACE / Linda:
SLOW: Think before you speak. Communicate your wishes clearly and say something that will add a positive element to the discussion.
NEW ROUTE: You might discover that it's not possible to obtain what you want if you continue in your intended direction. You may have to change your strategy.
STOP: If the negotiation isn't going as you hoped, stop and consider your alternatives. (BATNA)
THIRD PLACE / Alexis Green:
The first photograph reminds me that hope often appears when everything else feels uncertain. The rainbow isn’t separate from the storm, it exists because of it. Before I could move forward, I had to negotiate between fear and faith.
The second photograph shows the immense force of Niagara Falls. Watching the boat move toward something so powerful reminded me that some moments in life cannot be avoided. The real negotiation isn’t with the obstacle itself; it’s with the choice to face it honestly. I chose accountability over escape.
The final photograph offers distance. From above, what once seemed overwhelming becomes part of a larger landscape. That perspective reflects what negotiation ultimately made possible for me: transformation. I learned that surrender is not always defeat. Sometimes it is the beginning of rebuilding trust, purpose, and identity.