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ACM Expressions Magazine Wins First National Award

September 30th, 2022 by WCBC Radio

Expressions, Allegany College of Maryland’s student literary magazine, was named Best Magazine in 2022 by the Community College Humanities Association as part of its annual literary magazine competition. Original essays, fiction, poetry and artwork of 30 Allegany College of Maryland students were featured in Expressions.  

“Expressions was chosen the top National Magazine from among thirty-four literary magazines submitted from community colleges in five different geographic regions across the country: Eastern, Southern, Central, Southwestern, and Pacific West. The Best Magazine category is judged holistically on the criteria of aesthetics, correct editing, ease of navigation, and strength of student work,” said Professor Evan Balkan, one of the competition judges and Coordinator of Creative Writing at the Community College of Baltimore County.   

Contributors included: V. Bowser, Meredith Briskey, Zack Crowe, Alexander Currence, Brielle Disque, Allison Dora, Azh Dozart, Melissa Jayne Franks, Robert Gomer, Jonathan Harper, Ethan Hawk, Colt McDonald, Matti McMillen, Faith H. Myers, Reiss Mikula, Donna J. Morgan, Madison Musselman, Sierra Petersheim, Zhynae J. Rogers, Logan Shuck, Rafe Sibley, Faith Steele, Mackenzie Stotler, K.T., Victoria Timmons, William Toye, Bradley VanHorn, Dawn Varner, Sydney Wilfong and Faye Yan֮ez.  

An opening reception for the Expressions 2022 exhibition was held in September near the time of CCHA’s Best Magazine announcement. Several contributors including the magazine’s student editor, Donna J. Morgan, and Faith H. Myers, Bradley VanHorn, and Sydney Wilfong elected to read and/or discuss their works. Works by Alexander Currence, Sierra Petersheim, and William Toye were read by faculty and staff.  

“It’s a student win,” said Tino Wilfong, Ph.D., associate professor, noting that ACM has submitted an Expressions literary magazine to the competition each year since the early nineties.  

The magazine is compiled each spring. Donna S. Morgan and Dr. Wilfong served as student and faculty, respectively. Heather Greise, assistant professor, was Expressions’ assistant editor for Poetry. A team of advisors and an editorial board provided direction and assistance. Shannon Burnside designed Expressions. Expressions 2022 is online at www.allegany.edu/expressions with hard copies available in ACM’s Learning Commons.