Menagerie sweeps literary contests

Last year’s edition of Lyons Township High School’s literary magazine, Menagerie, was awarded more awards than any previous edition. Congratulations to Editor-in-Chief Class of 2019 Brie Voetberg, of LaGrange Park, and the entire staff.

For the eighth consecutive year, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association awarded Menagerie their highest award - a Gold Medal. They also awarded LT a Gold Circle for Cover Design, which was created by Class of 2019 Lucy Hawblitzel, of Western Springs, and senior Eleanor Keelan, of LaGrange.

In the American Scholastic Press Association competition, Menagerie was awarded Most Outstanding Literary-Art Magazine, 1st Place with Special Merit, and Outstanding Photo by Class of 2019 Kyle Niego, of LaGrange, entitled Break.

The National Scholastic Press Association awarded Menagerie First Class with three Marks of Distinction and an honorable mention in the Outstanding Photograph category, once again the same winning photo by Kyle Niego.

Finally, the National Council of Teachers of English recommended Menagerie for its highest award, REALM First Class, in the Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM) Program, ranking the issue among the best in Illinois high school magazines.

According to the Columbia Scholastic Press Association judges, “[Menagerie] is a quality magazine from cover to cover. The vibrant design, interesting artistic and literary contributions and the overall feel of the magazine is a testament to the hard work and creativity of the staff and the school community. The collection offers highlights and works rather consistently to offer something of interest to readers and artists on each page. Spreads consistently 'communicate' with one another, revealing and suggesting thematic links that compliment rather than contradict the works and the magazine's theme. The members of the magazine, and the school community as a whole should be incredibly proud of their accomplishment this year.”

To read the 2019 award-winning literary magazine, log on to www.lths.net/Menagerie.