WSCC Gallery Earns State Recognition

“Gallery,” Walters State’s literary and arts magazine, has been named the top such publication among Tennessee community colleges. Above, Chippy McLain, head of the English department and technical advisor for the magazine, shows the award to Autumn Johnson, editor-in-chief.

“Gallery,” the literary and arts magazine of Walters State Community College, has been judged as the best magazine produced by Tennessee community college students.

The news came just as the 2014 issue rolled off the presses. The magazine features short stories, essays, poems, drawings, photography and other artwork submitted by Walters State students.

“This was one of the best issues of the magazine in its 41-year history,” said Sarah Eichelman, associate professor of English and advisor for “Gallery.”

“The staff did a very good job choosing the work featured, and then staff members did a great job putting everything together,” Eichelman added. Eichelman is assisted by Chippy McLain, head of the English department and technical advisor for the magazine.

Autumn Johnson led the staff this year as editor-in-chief. She served as text editor in 2013.

“We looked through previous issues and designed what we liked. There were so many excellent submissions that choosing the work for publication was the hardest decision we had to make.

“Our cover was actually submitted by a student as a drawing,” Johnson said.

Johnson is an English major planning a career writing for newspapers or magazines. She said her experience working on “Gallery” gave her a head start on her career.

“So many school-related activities are headed by a sponsor who makes most of the decisions and has the final say. Ms. Eichelman and Mr. (Chippy) McLain were always available, but students are really responsible for the publication,” Johnson said.

“For me, this was a great learning experience. I learned more about what people wanted to read and how to write.”

Other staff members for 2014 were Ashley Owens, text editor; Megan Schefter, art editor; and Taylor Odom, design editor.