‘Red Cents’ honored with state literary awards

Seven Goshen College students earned literary awards at the Indiana Collegiate Press Association’s (ICPA) annual convention on March 30 for their work with Red Cents, Goshen’s literary arts journal that showcases student writing, visual art and graphic design.

“I’m thrilled to see this recognition for the students who worked so hard on Red Cents last year,” said English Professor Ann Hostetler. “The ICPA literary magazine awards do not have any ‘tiers,’ so it means a lot to earn these awards competing with the biggest schools in Indiana.”

First place award winners included:

• Siana Emery, a junior English major from North Yarmouth, Maine, for best overall design
• Siana Emery, Courtney Crapser, a senior English major from Churubusco, Indiana; Maddy Keener, a junior English major from Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Elsa Lantz, a senior writing and TESOL major from Denver, Colorado; and Carter McKay-Epp, a senior English major from Erie, Colorado, for best single issue.

Third place award winners included:

• Olivia Copsey, a senior journalism major, for best photo, “Wishful Innocence.”
• Christi Sessa, a senior peace, justice and conflict studies major from Goshen, for best creative nonfiction with “Trust.”

“The crowning achievement of Red Cents 2017-18 is how willingly it puts its content first,” wrote one of the competition’s judges. “The Goshen College team built a stage for art and quickly got out of the way. No over explanation or sales pitch － they gave the art an expertly-made platform on which it can stand, shine on its own terms, and cohere into an exceptional collection. Moving through Red Cents felt like moving through a monolithic yet multi-modal text, with its creators reading over my shoulder as fellow, enthusiastic fans.”

Red Cents is edited and published each year by Goshen College students through the college’s Pinchpenny Press.