Stewart Hall was filled with students and faculty on April 30 to celebrate the publication of both Write the Ship, SU’s undergraduate academic journal, and The Reflector, the campus literary journal. 

The celebration began with professor Nicole Santalucia welcoming the audience to Stewart Hall and recognizing each publication’s editors for their work. Write the Ship’s coeditor Pierce Romey then took the stage, thanking his coeditor Cynthia Obigle and others that supported the publication of the journal.

“This is the biggest journal that we have published in the last four years, and it’s the overwhelming of support of writers like you are the reason that we still are able to publish this journal,” Romey said. The Reflector’s Editor-in-Chief, Emily Dziennik, then followed by reading her letter from the editor.

English department chair Michael Bibby then presented students with the Piper-Gardenhour Prize of Excellence to three students: Jean Stinchfield, Pierce Romey and Lauren Pool, for their respective accomplishments in prose, poetry and art. 

The Provost Awards were then awarded by professor Shari Horner. Jalen Brownson was recognized for his creation of Write the Ship’s cover art. Matthew Smith, Raylynn Hupp and Emma Faschnaut received the Provost Awards for the colleges of arts and sciences, education and human services, and business. 

The Laura A. Rice Poetry Award was presented by professor Jordan Windholz to Shaley Spivey for her piece “A Sonnet On Lesbian Sex and the Medieval Warrior.”

Six published students then had the opportunity to read the audience an excerpt of their published works. Emma Fashnact read “Bombas Brand Assessment,” which was published in Write the Ship. Emily Brewer read “Developing Mind” and Emmett O’Bell read “The Difference Between Daughter and Son,” which were both published in The Reflector.

The event concluded with the passing of the torch, an annual tradition to recognize present and future leaders of The Reflector. 2024-2025 Editor-in-Chief of The Reflector, Jenny Russell, ended the evening by encouraging everyone to take photos and relish in their accomplishments. 

“Getting published is a big deal, and this event is to celebrate those that have had the opportunity to get published, so let’s celebrate them,” Russell said. “Tonight, let’s celebrate the arts, and carry this energy into the next school year and beyond.”

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