Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Volume 12 of “Illuminations,” Southeast Community College’s literary/artistic magazine, won first place in the Central Division of the literary magazine competition sponsored by the Community College Humanities Association. In 2010, Volume 11 of the publication took third place in the Central Division.
“The submissions last year (for Volume 12) were incredibly strong,” said Kimberly A. Fangman, SCC English instructor and editor of “Illuminations.” “We had a great number of excellent student writing pieces and artwork submissions. It was an especially strong year.”
Volume 12 of the magazine of creative expression by SCC students, faculty and staff was dedicated to Savana Riley, an Early Childhood Education student who died Aug. 24, 2010, from injuries she sustained in an automobile accident on Feb. 11, 2010, near SCC’s Lincoln Campus. Riley was in a seven-month coma and was to be married on June 19, 2010. One of Riley’s photo submissions, titled “There’s a Little Cowboy in All of Us,” appears on Page 64 of the magazine.
Katrina Bennett, an Academic Transfer student from North Platte, was awarded first place in the non-fiction category for her personal essay titled “Brown Walls.” Her essay will be published on the CCHA Website, and she will receive a certificate recognizing her work.
“Our talented students who contribute artwork, photos, poetry, essays, and short stories are the backbone of the magazine,” Fangman said. She said there were approximately 10 percent more submissions for Volume 12 than Volume 11.
“We’ve seen that about every year,” Fangman said.
“Illuminations” was one of 42 total entries spread across five divisions. However, the majority of entries were from the Central Division, Fangman said.
Fangman said she’s particularly proud of how so many people come together to collaborate on the magazine.
“One of the issues judges look at is the level of student involvement,” she said. “It’s really been such an effort from so many students. It’s an all-college effort, from all campuses, and people from different programs submit items.”
Fangman also recognized people who publicize, distribute and layout and design the magazine for their work.
“Our first-place finish also is a tribute to those who took part in the magazine’s production,” she said. “Instructors on all campuses have been instrumental in encouraging talented students to attempt publication of their work. The students in the Visual Publications program, under the leadership of Jennifer Muller, worked tirelessly on the design and print preparation of the book, and an editorial team of 15 students and five instructors spent hours reviewing and selecting those submissions to be published. Dozens of other staff and faculty members helped coordinate the publication and distribution.”
Fangman will be attending the CCHA conference in Fort Worth, Texas, Oct. 27-29, to accept the award.
Volume 13 of “Illuminations” is scheduled to be published in February 2012. Meanwhile, the deadline for submissions for Volume 14 is May 25, 2012. Persons must be an SCC student, instructor or staff member to be eligible to contribute.