2023-2024 iliad Editorial Board members (from left to right) Sam Caspary, Margo McDaniel, Ollie Hendershot, Cate DeMaria, Niles Flath, and Flannery Ragan share the stage at the iliad Creative Celebration on Aug. 30, 2023. The 2022-23 edition of the iliad, “flourish” was recognized as a Crown Award Finalist on Dec 13 by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. “Kaija Gilbertson Hall, our editor-in-chief last year, put together a beautiful book, but more importantly, I saw her grow as a leader and developer of people,” iliad adviser David Ragsdale said. “This magazine is a testament to her and the whole 2023 team.”
The iliad’s 2023 edition, “flourish,” was named a Crown Award finalist by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.
The iliad Literary-Art Magazine is up for consideration for top honors from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. The 2023-2024 iliad Literary-Art Magazine/iliadlitmag.com was named a Crown Award finalist on Dec. 13.
Crown finalists receive either a Gold or Silver Crown Award during a special presentation at Columbia University in New York City on March 15, 2024.
“This is an impressive feat, as CSPA’s Board of Judges selected only 213 finalists from 672 entries submitted from across the country and around the world. Not every publication that enters is selected as a Crown finalist,” CSPA Director Jennifer Bensko Ha stated in a congratulatory letter on Jan. 17. “Your school’s staff exemplifies the type of journalism and storytelling that CSPA is proud to recognize and feature during its annual awards Program.”
“I’m grateful to have been on the Editorial Board last year because I was able to see Kaija’s process of creating the magazine and then the final product just months later. The award is very deserving to her, our staff last year and all the artists included in the book.”
— Olivia Hendershot, 2023-2024 iliad Editor in-Chief
Crown Awards recognize overall excellence in either print or digital student publications, chosen by a panel of judges working as a team. Entries are compared against one another with similar age and experience levels such as high school yearbooks against other high school yearbooks. The iliad has been recognized as a Crown winner in multiple years including 2013, 2020 and 2022.
A formal letter of commendation from Columbia Scholastic Press Association Director Jennifer Bensko Ha to CCHS Principal Dr. Swade Huff is shown. Iliad adviser David Ragsdale along with Huff received the letter, which prompted Ragsdale to reflect on the 2023 iliad team. “Kaija Gilbertson Hall, our editor-in-chief last year, put together a beautiful book, but more importantly, I saw her grow as a leader and dev of people,” Ragsdale said. “This magazine is a testament to her and the whole 2023 team.”
“Websites, newspapers, magazines, and yearbooks that were published during the 2022–2023 academic year were eligible for judging in the 2023 Crown Awards program. From September to November 2023, Crown entries were judged by scholastic and professional media experts,” Ha stated.
For 2023-2024 iliad Editor-in-Chief Olivia Hendershot, the recognition is inspiring.
“I’m grateful to have been on the Editorial Board last year because I was able to see Kaija’s process of creating the magazine and then the final product just months later,” Hendershot said. “The award is very deserving to her, our staff last year and all the artists included in the book.”
iliad adviser David Ragsdale enjoyed seeing “flourish” come to fruition and is pleased to see the work of student leaders recognized.
“Kaija Gilbertson Hall, our editor-in-chief last year, put together a beautiful book, but more importantly, I saw her grow as a leader and developer of people,” Ragsdale said. “This magazine is a testament to her and the whole 2023 team.”
