Shenandoah University Student Magazine Recognized For Excellence

By Jace Gibson ’26

Shenandoah University’s Avalon Literature and Arts Magazine was recently recognized as “Excellent” by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) in the 2025 Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM) contest. 

The REALM competition is an annual recognition and celebration of student-led literary magazines nationwide, run by the NCTE. This year, schools in 44 states, Washington, D.C., and six countries nominated 456 student magazines. Magazines from middle school, high school, and higher education were all welcomed for the 2025 contest. Award recipients were announced on Jan. 22, and Avalon received the “Excellent” designation, marking a notable improvement from their “Distinguished” recognition in 2024.

To me, Avalon is a landing place for the fantastical. It has always been more than just a literary magazine – it is people’s hearts and souls. Avalon is an advocate, and in such a tumultuous time, the work of curating, preserving, and promoting the arts is more important than ever.” 

Katherine Weinhold ’25, 2025 editor-in-chief of Avalon

“Every semester we have been able to set our sights on new heights and goals, and have exceeded the bar every time. Serving as an editor for Avalon has been a truly special honor,” said Katelyn Garback ’26, the spring 2026 editor-in-chief of Avalon. “I couldn’t be prouder of our editorial boards, both past and present, as well as all of our contributors. They are what make Avalon so special.”

The Avalon Literature and Arts Magazine is a student-led magazine that started in 2002 under the guidance of the English Department and faculty adviser Jack Balcer, Ph.D. The magazine continued as a volunteer project through 2012 and, after a four-year hiatus, was revived in 2016 by Associate Professor of English Sarah Canfield, Ph.D. Today, the magazine is helmed by Editor-In-Chief Katelyn Garback ’26 (Bachelor of Arts in English, Bachelor of Science in Psychology), alongside Managing Editor Caroline Berry ’26 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design and Production), and faculty adviser Jon Udelson, Ph.D.

Avalon is very much a student-led project, and I’m always impressed and proud of the spirit and resourcefulness our students exhibit when producing a new issue. It’s an honor to serve as the faculty adviser and de facto cheerleader for them each semester.”

Jon Udelson, Ph.D., associate professor of English and director of writing

“Being a part of just a sliver of Avalon’s history has been one of the greatest joys of my undergraduate career,” said Berry. “We continue to grow our outreach and impact through every issue, and it’s a privilege to have been a part of making that happen.”

Submissions for the Spring 2026 edition of Avalon are open until Feb. 22 and can be completed using this Google Form. More details about submitting projects can be found on the submission guidelines page of the Avalon Google site. Additionally, Avalon welcomes and encourages submissions from outside of Shenandoah University, and has published works from nine other universities both nationwide and internationally, and at both a graduate and undergraduate level.