“Parnassus” recently received another student literary award.

“Parnassus,” Northern Essex Community College’s student, literary magazine, recently received a 2018 Magazine Pacemaker Award for literary/art from the Associated Collegiate Press, a prestigious, national, educational nonprofit

This is the second time “Parnassus” has received this award. The last time was in 2011. In 2017 the magazine was a finalist for the award.

Northern Essex was the smallest college to receive the Pacemaker Award in this category. “Parnassus” was judged on the quality of the writing and editing, photography, art and graphics, layout and design, and overall concept or theme.  Published each spring, the magazine includes student poetry, creative nonfiction, and fiction, and photography and artwork.

The magazine, in its 53rd year of publication, has received numerous awards over the decades. Faculty adviser Patrick Lochelt, a Northern Essex English professor, said, “This is a tremendous honor for the “Parnassus” staff. It validates the endless hours of creativity and designing that go into an award-winning publication.” Lochelt has been the adviser for 12 years.

NECC’s staff graphic designer Susan Stehfest was the lead designer of the publication as she has been for the past 14 years.

The Associated Collegiate Press, a division of the National Scholastic Press Association, based and incorporated in Minnesota as a non-profit educational association, provides journalism education services to students, teachers, media advisers and others throughout the United States and in other countries.

“Parnassus” is a student-run publication consisting of short fiction, poems, creative nonfiction, and all types of printable art and photography. It’s a venue that has existed since 1965 for creative NECC students to share their arts and talents with the entire school and beyond. New editions are published yearly at the end of each spring semester. “Parnassus” allows NECC students an opportunity to express themselves and provides an opportunity for the entire student body, faculty, and staff to share the arts and talents of students.

Work from any NECC student may be submitted to “Parnassus” staff at any time during the semester. Acceptance of material is determined by a vote of active staff members. Any active NECC student can join the staff; calls for new members go up at the beginning of each new semester.

For additional information on the magazine or the award contact Lochelt at plochelt@necc.mass.edu

Northern Essex offers associate degrees in liberal art: writing and journalism/communication, both of which prepare students for entry-level positions as writers or journalists or for transfer to a four-year program.