MCC magazine takes top honors in contest

BY KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer

KATHY CHANG The Middlesex County College literary and arts magazine, Myriad, has won the 2005 Silver Crown Award from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association for the second consecutive year. Some of the Myriad's staff stands with the awards that the magazine has won. Left to right are Maria Marshall, Andrew Lowe, Annamarie Kibala and Barbara Quilla. EDISON - They did it again.

For the second time in a row, Myriad, the Middlesex County College (MCC) literary and arts magazine, has won the 2005 Silver Crown Award from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA).

The Myriad competed among 1,472 magazines, newspapers and yearbooks. Among competitors was Harvard University's magazine "Tuesday," which won the College Gold Crown.

"We were surprised," said art adviser Maria Marshall. "The pressure was on when we won last year."

When Marshall became the art adviser four years ago, there was no art adviser for the Myriad.

"I had a student in one of my design classes ask me to come on board," said Marshall, who is a media arts design professor at MCC.

The magazine has evolved from a book of just literature into a book integrated with literature and art, said Marshall.

The magazine comprises submissions from students, faculty and staff, and alumni of MCC, whether it be poetry, prose, or a variety of visual art.

"Anyone can submit as long as they follow the guidelines," said Marshall. "We take submissions in the fall and then start working on the issue in January and February."

All works submitted to Myriad are reviewed by every member of the staff before final selections are made, said Marshall.

"We probably only take half of all submissions," said Annamarie Kibala, secretary and Web designer for the Myriad.

But we try to take one from each person who submits, said Barbara Quilla, president of the Myriad.

"There is a 10 submission limit," said Marshall.

The eight member staff, who also include Rosane Barreiro, Nicole Weik, Literart Advisor Christine Redman-Waldeyer, Katherine Kuzma-Beck, Jaime Jenkins, and Jared Martin, are still tweaking the 2006 Myriad.

"We are hoping that it will be done before the beginning of the school year, so we can hand it out in September," said Marshall. "We have made some changes from settle stitch to perfect binding and from 48 pages to 56 pages."

Working on the Myriad gives students real-world experience.

"It's a great portfolio piece," said Marshall. "It's different if you submit classroom work because the color may not be right, but seeing a design on press, shows that you know what you are doing."

Andrew Lowe, editor of the Myriad and a media arts major, agrees.

"All this work helps more," he said. "It makes you more aware of the actual process in the real world."

Quilla is interested in layout and advertising design.

"Working in teams for the Myriad helps," she said. "In the advertising world, you work in teams and it gives you self-motivation."

Kibala, a media arts major, hopes to continue with graphic arts in a four-year school.

"I definitely want to do something related to this," she said. "Working here definitely helps me."

The award has been a great motivator for the staff.

"After winning another award, we are all gung-ho," said Kibala. "This keeps us going and keeps us motivated."

In addition to the distinction earned by Myriad, four Gold Circle awards, honoring individual achievement, were presented to Middlesex students.

Honors went to Caroline Calogero, of Cranbury, for her essay, "Living Legacy"; Nicole Weik, of East Windsor; Barbara Quilla, of Perth Amboy; and Andrew Lowe, of Edison, for spread design; John Baginski, of New Brunswick, for black-and-white photography; and Brian Cole, of South Plainfield, for color photography.

For more information e-mail myriad@middlesexcc.edu.