PORT ANGELES — Peninsula College’s 2013 Tidepools magazine has won the best small budget literary magazine award from the Washington Community College Humanities Association.
The award, which comes with a $100 prize, was announced at the group’s annual conference Oct. 18-19 at Peninsula College in Port Angeles.
The magazine’s staff plans to use the prize money for marketing and printing the 50th anniversary double issue that will be released in June.
Anniversary issue
Tidepools also has been awarded additional funds from the Associated Student Council to make the special anniversary issue possible.
Tidepools, which contains contributions from across the North Olympic Peninsula, is published annually by Peninsula College students and staff, and is sponsored by the Peninsula College Associated Student Council and the Peninsula Daily News.
Each year, the humanities association takes entries, in divisions of small and large budgets, from literary and arts magazines produced on community college campuses statewide.
Tidepools is run and managed by student co-editors.
“I’m proud of the students who produce the magazine,” said Michael Mills, faculty adviser.
“They work incredibly hard to not only keep this magazine alive but improve and expand it every year.
“I’m also proud of the history of the magazine itself,” Mills said. “Tidepools is 50 years old this year.
“Finally, I’m proud of all the contributors. It is difficult to submit work, knowing that it might not be accepted.
“But our contributors are loyal, and when their work lands in the magazine, holding the physical copy in their hands and sharing it with an audience is a meaningful experience.”
Bound magazine
Hailey McLaughlin, managing editor of the 2013 issue of Tidepools, said the magazine originally began as a hand-typed, stapled stack of papers and now has evolved into a full-color bound magazine with a CD that showcases the work of writers, artists and musicians.
“It will be interesting to see what direction it takes in the next 50 years,” she said.
“Tidepools isn’t just a platform that showcases the talent of those on the Olympic Peninsula,” McLaughlin said. “It’s also a great motivator to create and keep creating.”
Looking through past editions, McLaughlin said she has seen some writers and artists grow and evolve throughout the years.
“I have seen fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, brothers and sisters published in Tidepools. It’s great to be a part of something that allows for that,” McLaughlin said.
Co-editor Lacey Wahl said, “The most gratifying part is to facilitate the readings once the magazine is out.
“The best part is to see the faces and hear the voices of the people who contributed.”
Submissions accepted
Submissions are being accepted now until Jan. 11 for the 50th anniversary edition of Tidepools. Prizes will be announced March 15.
Entries can be emailed to tidepools.magazine@gmail.com.
Adult entries are $5; youth entries are $2.50. Checks or money orders, made payable to Peninsula College, can be mailed to Tidepools Magazine, Maier Hall, Room 138, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles, WA 98362; or paid through PayPal.
For details about submissions, visit www.pencol.edu/tidepools.
For more information on Peninsula College, visit www.pencol.edu or www.facebook.com/PeninsulaCollege.