iliad Literary-Art Magazine announced as a 2021 Pacemaker winner
iliad Literary-Art Magazine 2020-2021 Co-Editors-In-Chief Natalie Ripps (middle) and Lucy Hines (right) present an award to iliad contributor Salai Diekumpuna (left) at the 2021 ODYSSEY/iliad End of Year Banquet at the Jittery Joe's Roaster on May 15, 2021. Hines graduated from Clarke Central High School in 2021 and feels honored to have contributed to the Pacemaker Award-winning edition of the iliad. “Natalie and I worked so hard on that magazine and spent so many hours and (put in so much) effort to make a good finished product,” Hines said. “And I'm glad that that work paid off for sure.” Photo by Luna Reichert.
The National Scholastic Press Association announced the winners for its highest honor, the Pacemaker award. Clarke Central High School’s student literary-art magazine was named a winner.
The iliad Literary-Art Magazine was named a winner of the National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker award in the Literary Magazine category on April 9 at the National High School Journalism Convention in Los Angeles, California.
“The Pacemaker is the association’s preeminent award,” NSPA Executive Director Laura Widmer said in an April 9 press release. “NSPA is honored to recognize the best of the best.”
The Pacemaker awards are given annually and reward excellence in student journalism. Publications are evaluated in several categories by a team of three judges.
“When the process was completed, 20 Literary Arts Magazine Pacemaker finalists were named representing the top 30 percent of all entries. The six Pacemaker-winning magazines represent the top 10 percent,” reads the NSPA website.
The other five recipients of this award were Reflections Literary & Arts Magazine from Gulliver Preparatory Upper School in Miami, Florida; Itinerary from The Episcopal School of Dallas in Dallas, Texas; Vibrato from The Hockaday School in Dallas, Texas; The Skaldic: Pensive from Geneva High School in Geneva, Illinois; and The Tartan from McLean High School in McLean, Virginia.
“The literary arts magazines selected by the judges reflect both classic and contemporary formats,” Gary Lundgren, associate director and coordinator of the Pacemaker competition, said in an April 9 press release. “The quality of the art, photography, poetry and prose showcased on the pages of these magazines is amazing.”
iliad 2020-2021 Co-Editor-In-Chief Lucy Hines believes that this award could not have been achieved without the efforts of the Editorial Board.
“You have to have a team behind the scenes to make things happen. And if you don't have that team, then it's not going to happen.” Hines said.
This is the second Pacemaker that the iliad Literary-Art Magazine has been awarded, the first being for the 2010 edition of the magazine titled “Coffee Break.” The iliad was also named a Pacemaker finalist for the 2020 edition of the magazine, “FLOW.”
“The iliad has a proud history at CCHS and this recognition, especially coming during a production cycle almost completely virtual, is a testament to the leadership of Ms. Hines and Ms. Ripps,” David Ragsdale, iliad adviser said. “While the magazine won a Pacemaker, these young women will be pacesetters for years to come.”
By Kaija Gilbertson Hall
