Foliate Oak Celebrates Awards and New Print Edition

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Nancy Stephan

Staff Writer 

   The University of Arkansas at Monticello’s literary magazine, Foliate Oak Online, received several awards during a recent convention of the Arkansas College Media Association held at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock. 

   The Foliate Oak received the second place Magazine of General Excellence Award. In addition, it received first place in nonfiction for Angie Friedel’s “Sunday Drivers,” first place in fiction for Michael Mirolla’s “The Sand Flea” and first place in poetry for Holly Perrault’s “Marriage to a Poet.”   

   Staff members and guests celebrated the awards and the unveiling of the 2006-2007 Best of the Foliate Oak Online print edition, which contains the best prose and poetry collected from the monthly online editions. The ceremony took place in the Senate Room of the John F. Gibson University Center April 25. 

   “No matter what your political, religious or general views on life are, this anthology houses creative writing from all regions of the world and all viewpoints of life,” said Editor Brooke Burger of the 2006-2007 print edition. 

   During the luncheon, several writers read excerpts from their submissions to the award winning magazine, which included Hanna Shelby’s “Wedding Stress,” Jim Barton’s “Dying Wish,” Colt Roan’s “Killing Me No More,” Brooke Burger’s “Discontented” and Special Sanders, “A Life Lesson in Five Minutes.” 

   “I have learned to read and edit submissions to the Foliate Oak, and as a returning staff member, I find the task both challenging and rewarding,” said J.J. Jackson, staff member. “We have a pretty good turnover each semester, and we learn to teach editing skills to a new group of students every time.” 

   Faculty Adviser Diane Payne extended her gratitude for all who submitted to the magazine, and she mailed awards and copies of the literary work to all the winners. 

   Chancellor Jack Lassiter expressed his gratitude to Payne for her leadership, direction and encouragement and to all the students for their contributions to the magazine. 

 “The dedication of the contributors and editors of the Foliate Oak confirms our values of literature,” said Dean Mark Spencer. “The Foliate Oak is the face of UAM.” 

   The 2006-2007 Best of the Foliate Oak Online print editions are available for free in the Writing Center of the Memorial Classroom Building. The April-May issue of the online version of the magazine can be seen at FoliateOak.uamont.edu.
 

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