diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/open_ended_image_submission.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/open_ended_image_submission.py
index 13cee1f9e1..ae95914429 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/open_ended_image_submission.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/open_ended_image_submission.py
@@ -82,6 +82,27 @@ def run_image_tests(image):
     image_properties = ImageProperties(image)
     return image_properties.run_tests()
 
+def upload_to_s3(string_to_upload, keyname):
+    '''
+    Upload file to S3 using provided keyname.
+
+    Returns:
+        public_url: URL to access uploaded file
+    '''
+    try:
+        conn = S3Connection(settings.AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID, settings.AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY)
+        bucketname = str(AWS_STORAGE_BUCKET_NAME)
+        bucket = conn.create_bucket(bucketname.lower())
+
+        k = Key(bucket)
+        k.key = keyname
+        k.set_contents_from_string(string_to_upload)
+        public_url = k.generate_url(60*60*24*365) # URL timeout in seconds.
+
+        return True, public_url
+    except:
+        return False, "Could not connect to S3."
+