Seaswells 2001 Unveiled at First Copy Program
by the Seaswells staff: Andy, Holly, Annie, Tom, and Courtney - reprinted with permission from the April 2001 Mariners' Log
The hard-working staff of Seaswells finally came out of the Publications Office in the Science Building on Friday, April 27, to unveil the 2001 edition of CGCC's award-winning art/literary magazine at the annual Seaswells First Copy Program. Following a hugely successful year for Seaswells 2000, culminating in that issue's being named the Most Outstanding College Literary Magazine by the American Scholastic Press Association, the staff knew that they had a mountain of work to climb, and they succeeded! The First Copy program, an annual tradition on campus, was the first change to get a copy of Seaswells 2001 as well as the chance for the contest winners to claim their prizes and bask in their glory. It was indeed a celebration of all things Seaswells.
Following up what advisor Sharon Bartkovich called the best cover she's ever seen on the 2000 edition, the staff searched high and low for something that could come close to that level. After a lot of discussion, the staff chose to put a photograph on the cover. The wrap-around shot, featuring the sun gleaming on the water (with fence) was taken by Deborah Alcantara, a former literary magazine editor herself at Brunswick High School.
This year's First Copy Program was set on our very own Seaswells Beach, complete with almost 30 beach balls and accessories from chairs to sand toys to boogie boards. The beach motif was set off by the blue background featuring waves and fish. All winners, presenters and readers during the program received pens adorned with miniature maracas as momentos of the program.
The ceremony began at noon with comments from editor-in-chief Andy Moseley, followed by the presentation of the very first copy to Dr. Dorothy L. Lord, CGCC's president, which she accepted on behalf of the College. A first copy was also presented to John Broz, president of the Student Government Association, who accepted for the entire student body.
The First Copy Program continued with thanks for the numerous people who were all a part of Seaswells, including the cover photographer, all the supporters of the Sweets Swap in the fall, the hundreds of contributors, all the contest judges, Darien Printing and Graphics, and BJ Corbitt and John Broz, who assisted the staff during layout.
Next was the presentation of awards, starting with the Phi Theta Kappa Photo Contest. These were presented by Phi Theta Kappa's president, Anne-Marie Peeples. The theme for this year's contest was "Water, The Origin and Destiny of Life." Shannon Bjorneby won third place and $20 for her photograph of a mist-enshrouded boat on the river, which she titled "Lady II in the Rain." The second-place prize of $30 was awarded to Deborah Alcantara for her beautiful underwater photograph, "Silence of the Deep." First place and a check for $50 went to Regina Cruz for her fabulous photograph catching her daughter at the bottom of one of the water slides at Summer Waves. The photo is entitled "Wet and Wild." Seaswells staff were very excited that, with the doubling of number of color pages in the magazine (from four to eight), they were able to present all three photos on a single two-page color spread this year.
Next to be recognized were the winners of the Seaswells Art Contest; Holly Palmer presented these awards. Emily Girrens took third place for "Knot Reliable." The prismacolor drawing of shiny, twirling ribbons won Emily $50. An ink wash on Japanese rice paper--"Who's That Lady?"--won second place and $75 for Shannon Bjorneby. The still life of the woman's torso fit perfectly on the page with the story by Tom Hamman.
First place and a $100 check went to John Broz for his prismacolor drawing of "Lost in Space." This colorful, imaginative picture of space-walking astronauts is filled with incredible detail, and John's technique of spilling the art over onto the picture's mat makes it that much more interesting.
The fun continued as the awards for the Austin/Garner Prose Contest were next. Staff member Annie Carter presented these awards. Third place and $50 went to Threse Tootle for "The Devil's Soul." Read by Darryl Toler, it is an interesting rendering of the selling-one's-soul-to-the-devil motif that many famous authors have employed. The $75 second-place award went to Amanda Stokes for "Excalibur." Katie Berhow-Krannich read this throughly engaging look at the King Arthur legend through the eyes of his sword. For his first-place prose entry, "Hallow's Eve", Tom Hamman received a check for $100. Tom Wenzka read Tom's tender story of how a father learns about grieving and guardian angels from his daughter as they are trick-or-treating.
This year's Seaswells Photography Contest awards were then presented by staff member Courtney Type. This year's best color photo was taken by Jill Jones. The photo, entitled "If Roses Are Red, What Color Are Angels?" is an image of a little girl holding on to a rose on a summer day. The contrast of the red rose with the child's blue dungarees is magically brought out by the brilliant green grass. Jill received a check for $75. This year's best black and white entry belongs to Deborah Alcantara: "What a Tangled Web." The photo shows both great detail and wonderful depth. The picture with grape vines in the foreground and an old silo behind an orchard in the background won Deborah $75. The grand prize in photography for the best overall photo--and $100--was awarded to Donna Roberson. Her "Sunset in the Colden Isles" captures one of the many positive characteristics of the area's beaches.
Staff member Tom Hamman passed out the awards to the final group of winners, the poets. Third place in the Barr Poetry Contest went to Dennise McLaughlin for "The Swing." Dawana Gibbs read Dennise's poem, a tribute to her grandfather which earned the poet $50. Second place and $75 went to January Hough for "Once." Joyce Jackson's reading was perfect, capturing the bittersweet experience of maturing and leaving one's childhood behind. Finally, the big $100 first-place prize went to Shelly Carrigan for her wonderful poem "The Great Hunter." With all the hunting and fishing afficionados in the audience, it is no wonder that Dave Leenhouts's reading was one of the best moments of the program.
Following the presentation of the awards, a group of CGCC faculty and staff read their favorites from Seaswells 2001. The "read-around" is always one of the most popular parts of the First Copy Program, as the faculty and staff put their own unique stamps on the work that they picked to read. Dr. Mary Jones honored fellow mathematics professor Bob Balman by reading his poem "Stopover." Jo Demmond's reading of Rory Finnerty's "Opus for a Windchime" was excellent, too. But the highlight of the readings was, without question, Kathy Upham's rendition of Dave Leenhouts's poem "I Love Your But(t)." While Ms. Upham is certainly a valued member of CGCC's nursing faculty, perhaps she missed her calling by not going into the theater.
Following final words from Andy Moseley, a reception was held in the lobby, featuring delicious treats provided by Dave Leenhouts and the student life crew. Those who attended the program marveled at the many works of art from this year's magazine that were displayed in the lobby. The Seaswells staff, grateful for a few months' respite from running around and covering the campus with publicity, relaxed for the first time in weeks.
As the beach scene on the Science Lecture Room stage was disassembled, Seaswells 2001 was finally complete. Of course, the staff is already accepting entries for the 2002 edition. Remember, while only currently enrolled students are eligible for Seaswells contests each year, every student who has ever attended CGCC and every faculty and staff member who has ever worked for the College is forever after allowed to submit entries. Every year the magazine contains several poems or photographs from talented former students in particular, and we look forward to this year's contributors maintaining that tradition.
Finally, those who submitted photographs and artwork for the 2001 magazine should stop by the Publications Office in SB-174 to pick up their entries.
The Seaswells 2001 staff would again like to thank everyone who helped make this year's edition a success. Back in October, many students, faculty, and staff members stopped by our tent outside to swap an entry for a delicious sweet. We'd like to thank the faculty and staff who assisted us under the tent, as well as Dr. Choate and the fine folks in Phi Theta Kappa for their support as they shared the tent with us for their hot dog sale. (I'll miss those hot dogs.) We would also like to thank the instructors who allowed staff members to interrupt their classes early in the fall to beg for entries. Of course, one of our biggest thanks is reserved for the staff of Darien Printing and Graphics who printed the magazine. As always, their patience and attention to detail are a major part of the reason we are able to win the awards we do for Seaswells.
Most of all, thanks to those of you who have gotten your copy of Seaswells 2001. Hours and hours of hard labor went into this magazine, and we did it just for you. Feel free to send us any feedback at our e-mail address, seaswell@bc9000.bc.peachnet.edu, or feel free to stop any of the staff members to tell them what you think. We'll see you next year!
