UPB Literary Magazine Baily's Beads Celebrates Award, New Issue

The staff of Baily’s Beads, the literary magazine of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, will have two reasons to celebrate Wednesday night.

The first is the unveiling of the 2011 edition. The second is accolades received for the 2010 issue.

The public is invited to join the unveiling and celebration at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26, in the Mukaiyama University Room. The event will include refreshments, readings and an open mic for those wishing to share their original work. The free event is part of the university’s Spectrum Series.

Also during the celebration, Mandy Colosimo, editor of the 2010 edition, will accept the Best College Magazine award from the American Scholastic Press Association. The award is given to the top scoring magazine in each enrollment category.

The 2010 edition scored 990 out of a possible 1,000 points, receiving marks of distinction in both writing and editing and concept.

Judges wrote that that the edition was, “unique and breathtaking … this is a gorgeous edition … Everything in the magazine speaks of professionalism.”

The edition also received a first-class award from the National Scholastic Press Association/Associated Collegiate Press.

During the unveiling of the 2011 issue, former Pitt-Bradford professor and local poet Helen Ruggieri will present awards for first, second and third prize for the best poetry and creative nonfiction.

Forty pieces of work make up the 2011 magazine, including creative nonfiction and three interviews with alumni. Fourteen poems by area elementary school and high school students are also published in the magazine.

“The staff experimented with a couple of new features in this issue,” said Dr. Nancy McCabe, the magazine’s adviser, and the director of the writing program at Pitt-Bradford. “One is the Kids’ Corner poems by area schoolchildren. We have pieces by kids in first grade through high school. The other is the interviews with recent writing graduates.

“The pieces by children include a song by a then-first-grader, Colby Laird, ‘O Alligator,’ meant to be sung to the tune of ‘O Christmas Tree.’ When the staff sang it, it completely won us over.”

Among students and staff whose work appears in the magazine are Les Buhite, technical director of the Bromeley Family Theater and KOA Art Gallery; Andrew Cauley, writing major from Bradford; Jenna Prechtl, a chemistry major from Brockport; Stewart Skeel, a writing major from Carlisle; and Yvon Woappi, a biology major from Hanover.

Other contributors include graduates Jessica Hamilton, Angela Nuzzo, Shane Phillips, Ross Sharkey and Cheri Thomas, community member Cecelia Prosser, and former Pitt-Bradford students Brian Cavanaugh and Kim Katilius.

Mackenzie Miller, a writing major from Attica, N.Y.; editor Michael Reeder, and Cauley contributed interviews with alumni Thomas, Jillian Polaski and Andrew Marsh.

Editor Sarah Dorben, a writing major from North East, said, “I am very proud of the product and am excited to have it finally released to the public. I hope everyone enjoys the art and work that went into the magazine.”

Work got under way on Baily’s Beads 2011 last January. Staff chose pieces of writing by April, and they edited them during the fall term.

Seventeen students worked on the magazine. Editors are Michael Reeder, a writing major from Murrysville, and Dorben. Reeder also did layout, and Arpad Hervanek, a biology major from Bradford, designed the magazine.

Poetry, short stories, novel excerpts, memoir, travel writing, personal essays, plays and translations are accepted year-round.

Submissions should have a cover sheet with the author’s name and contact information, but the author’s name should not appear anywhere else on the manuscript. Poetry should be single spaced, while prose should be double spaced. Writers may submit up to 20 pages. Submissions may be dropped off at 103 Blaisdell Hall or mailed to Baily’s Beads, 300 Campus Drive, Bradford, Pa., 16701.