In its 35th issue, Wayne Community College’s “Renaissance” is still living up to its name, still being reborn.
This year the new twist was three covers.
All 78 pages of this year’s edition of the College’s writers’ and artists’ magazine are crammed full of prose, poetry, and art by students and employees.
There were so many great submissions that the editors couldn’t pick one piece of art for the cover, instead choosing to do three different covers that feature six works. In total, 55 pieces of art were included in the publication.
“Mrs. Waller likes to make our job hard,” said Editor Jeff Williams of the college’s art instructor. “She creates an environment in which they can do the best that they can do.”
Consequently, the “Cover Award” went to six artists:
Gracie Casey for an acrylic painting titled “Colorful Soul,”
Tiffany Hill for a charcoal and pastel pencils drawing titled “Madagascar,”
Whitney Joyner for the charcoal, pastel pencil, and gold leaf paint piece titled “Dare,”
Cristina Saldivar of the color pencils and pastels work titled “Dancing in Water,”
Britney Sawkiw for an acrylic painting titled “The Serpent,” and
Sarah Whipple for an acrylic painting titled “RUSSIA.”
The Art Award winner was Jose Velazquez for a white charcoal drawing of an owl titled “Freedom.”
Twenty-nine literary works were selected for print. Williams noted that the volume of writing submissions was huge. “This was the most writing we’ve ever had to work through.”
Kailauna Candi White earned the Poetry Award for “On the Bus to Tacoma.”
The Prose Award and the Beatrice K. Balkum Renaissance Literary Award were presented to Joshua Foy for his short story “An Album of Homes.”
The Balkum Award, which recognizes the best literary work by a new writer, comes with a $1,000 scholarship. It was established with the Foundation of Wayne Community College by Vicki Balkum in memory of her mother, Bea Balkum, who served the college as a faculty member and head of the Liberal Arts Department as well as a trustee for two terms.
For some, just having a piece included was reward enough.
“This is amazing to me,” said Cindy Adams whose colorful “Adam Antelope” painting made it onto page 52. “I feel honored.”
“They are excellent,” she said of the other art students. “I’m just here.”
Two pages later is Rosemarie Morgan-Parks’ essay “My Name.” She wrote it two years ago and English Instructor Paula Sauls encouraged her to put it in for consideration. “This time I submitted it,” she said as she autographed it for Adams, participating in a release party tradition of collecting the signatures of fellow authors and artists.
Adams was still stunned. “I’ve been published,” she said, staring at her page before signing it for Morgan-Parks. “It is like you have to pinch yourself.”
This year’s “Renaissance” and past issues from as far back at 2009 can be viewed at www.waynecc.edu/renaissance/.
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves 12,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 70 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.