Bunker Hill Community College Student Literary Magazine Awarded First Class Prize by National Council of Teachers of English
Thursday, February 16, 2023
Tell Magazine is one of 38 institutions internationally to be recognized for excellence in art and literary magazines
Tell Magazine, the student literary magazine of Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC), was awarded a First Class Prize in the Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM) contest by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). Tell was selected from more than 250 literary magazines from institutions worldwide.
“This is a well-deserved honor for the students who have made Tell a truly special publication,” said BHCC English Professor and Faculty Advisor to Tell Alison Ruch. “They have brought their unique voices and perspectives as poets, photographers, artists, and storytellers to each issue—skills they will carry with them into the next part of their college journey and into their professional lives.”
Established in spring 2018, Tell is a digital literary magazine produced in the fall and spring semesters as a project by students enrolled in Literary Publishing. Tell publishes original artwork, poems, stories, and essays by the BHCC community.
Tell is a student-driven publication, with BHCC students not only producing the magazine but writing its mission statement: “Tell facilitates an inclusive environment offering a voice via media representation of artistic expression to all BHCC students and community members. Tell is committed to advocating for racial and social justice and to centering and honoring the assets and cultural wealth of historically marginalized people.”
“We are incredibly proud of the work of BHCC students and faculty to create a magazine as engaging and inspiring as Tell,” said BHCC President Pam Eddinger. “The desire to tell your own story, to be heard on your terms, is universal, and BHCC students have amazing stories to share. Congratulations to everyone at Tell for doing it so wonderfully.”
This year, REALM saw 262 magazines enter the contest where nearly one-fourth of entries were first-time submitters. Of the submissions,157 magazines are in their first three years of submitting for the award. Entries from 42 states, Canada, and American schools in China, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico were reviewed by nearly 100 judges and the REALM committee. REALM offers four distinctions, the highest of which is the REALM First Class distinction. Thirty-eight magazines earned the REALM First Class distinction in this year’s contest.
Tell is published twice yearly and is available free on the BHCC website.