NGU News


‘The Mountain Laurel’ Receives National Awards

Posted on: March 12, 2021
By LaVerne Howell, laverne.howell@ngu.edu

Tigerville, SC (February 17, 2020) The Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) recently announced the winners from its 36th Gold Circle Awards program. This year, these categories attracted 5,309 yearbook and digital media entries submitted in 91 categories, and 7,187 news and magazine entries submitted in 86 categories.

These entries come from publications produced by students at colleges, universities, and secondary schools through the United States and abroad who follow an American education plan.

NGU’s 2018-2019 literary magazine “The Mountain Laurel” (TML) titled “The Golden Journey” had two students’ submissions to receive individual recognition from CSPA by earning Gold Circle Awards for their pieces. Karley Conklin (‘19) was awarded second place in the Closed (Traditional) Form Poetry category for her poem “A Crime of Understatement.” Also, Katie Casamassa (‘17) received a certificate of merit in the Photography – Single Artistic Photograph Category for her piece, “Insecurity.”    

Entries were accepted from student yearbooks and digital media publications published from October 11, 2017 through October 1, 2018. Student journalists working on these print or electronic media chose from 39 yearbook categories and 41 digital media categories.

And entries were accepted from student print news and magazine published from June 11, 2018 through June 10, 2019. Student journalists working on these print or electronic media chose from 51 news categories, 35 magazines, 39 yearbook categories and 41 digital media categories.

Judges cited a total of 747 winners for yearbook and digital media, 807 winners for new and magazine for either first, second or third place or for certificates of merit for those deemed worthy of honorable mention in a category. Entry categories included those for yearbooks and digital (online) media, in its annual competition for individual achievement by student writers, editors, designers and photographers.

“CSPA recognition demonstrates the high quality of writing, artwork, editing, and book design by The Mountain Laurel staff as well as the NGU students who submitted pieces to the journal. The 2019 faculty advisors, Instructor of English Sarah Bailey and Instructor of Art Hayley De Gonzalez, also deserve recognition for their outstanding work on ‘The Mountain Laurel,’” said Assistant Professor of English and TML Adviser Rachel Roberts.

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