Literary Magazine Reaps Accolades

students recently earned national recognition for their literary magazine, Myriad 2011-Platinum Edition.

The group received top awards from both the American Scholastic Press Association (ASPA) and the National Council for Teachers of English (NCTE). ASPA awarded the student staff “First Place with Special Merit,” its top award. NCTE ranked the magazine with its “Superior, Nominated for Highest Honor” award.

The South Gwinnett High students earned the awards competing with literary magazines from across the nation. In fact, South Gwinnett High’s Myriad has often been a nationally top-ranked magazine.

"I'm extremely proud that this past year's staff was able to excel and also carry on tradition," said Keren Giles Brown, the literary magazine advisor and a language arts teacher at the school. "They worked so hard, and it’s wonderful for them to know others enjoy and applaud their efforts. The magazine is a collective effort and represents the best of South Gwinnett’s artists, designers, and writers.”

Myriad began 20 years ago as a thin, hand-mimeographed, hand-stapled publication that blossomed over the years into a full-color glossy, polished magazine. Each year, the staff reviews student submissions that represent a wide range of talents -- photography, creative writing, essay writing, music scores, all art forms from all media. The staff accepts as much of the work as they can publish, and then they edit the content and design the layout using strict guidelines. Students use fundraisers and donations to publish the final product.

"Sometimes raising the publication costs is the toughest job for our staff," Brown said. "However, our teens are motivated, for they love the magazine."

The 2011 winning student staff of Myriad 2011 Platinum Edition includes:

• Julia Zwicky, editor-in-chief
• Marqueisha Pless, Madison Craytor, and Abbie Skeines; senior proof and copy editors
• Alicia Avitable, prose editor
• Katelyn Crook, Jasmin Lindsay, and Elissia Olinger; prose staff
• Chynna Downie, art and photographer editor
• Raven White and Ian Walls, art and photography staff
• Henry Moore, publicity director
• Jacob Fox, Nick Gatling, and Dana Watkins; publicity staff
• Megan Rosenberger, poetry editor
• Nehara Bryan, Jamiscia McBride, and Diandra Galdos; poetry staff
• Rachel Harrison, finance director

(Editor's Note: This article comes from a press release from Gwinnett County Public Schools.)