‘Calliope’ wins big
Published: Thursday, January 20, 2011
Updated: Thursday, January 20, 2011 10:01
Armstrong first published its literary magazine, "Calliope," in 1984. The magazine is a collection of fiction, poetry and artwork, all submitted by Armstrong students. The American Scholastic Press Association recently presented the 2010 edition of "Calliope" a First Place with Special Merit award in the competition's magazine category.
Professor Christopher Baker, longtime adviser for "Calliope," is proud of the magazine's accomplishments.
"I am delighted that ‘Calliope' has received such a high level of recognition on a national level," Baker said. "We have consistently received high ratings over the years, but a First Place with Special Merit award is noteworthy."
Baker also recognizes the hard work of the students who put the publication together.
"The students who edited this issue of ‘Calliope' did an excellent job, and they are all to be congratulated, especially the editor, Brandon McCoy," Baker said.
"They worked effectively as a team to solicit submissions, judge them, design the printed text and see it through the production process."
McCoy served as editor-in-chief of the magazine for the 2010 publication and is happy to see the accomplishments of the staff and students pay off.
"As far as the award is concerned, I'd say that I am very proud of the students at Armstrong and their works," McCoy said.
Joseph Schwartzburt, a member of the "Calliope" editing staff, was proud to see one of his own poems make it into the magazine.
"I am proud to be part of it. We worked hard on picking the right selections to best represent the school's best writers," Schwartzburt said. "It is a privilege to have served as an editor as well as having had my work accepted."
Schwartzburt knows the stresses of submitting works for publication, since his selection gained entry into the magazine.
"People often think that being an editor automatically means that something of yours will make it in to the magazine – not the case when a panel of people is reading blind submissions," he said. "It was brutal to sit next to someone who did not like something you submitted, and they did not know you wrote it."
Despite the stressful experience, Schwartzburt encourages students to submit their works to future publications of the magazine.
"It is crucial to the artist and writer to find a medium for their work and seeing one's work in print," Schwartzburt said. "Even if students' work is not accepted, it helps them get used to the idea and action of submitting a piece."
Baker believes in the importance of Armstrong having a literary magazine.
"A magazine like ‘Calliope' is vital for providing a creative outlet for talented students regardless of major," Baker said. "For many students, it offers their first opportunity to have their writing or art published and so encourages them to explore new avenues of creativity."
McCoy said that a literary magazine is a welcome release from the pressure of always attempting to receive good grades.
"In a literary magazine," McCoy said, "a student's work is judged not on the scale of a grade point, but rather on its artistic merit, which creates a very different vibe in comparison to the general flow of academia."
Be the first to comment on this article! Log in to Comment
You must be logged in to comment on an article. Not already a member? Register now
is a member of the 
