The Alexander Muse

Published students in The Alexander Muse 2019 edition

Front row, left to right: Abby Mullins (3^rd Place Art), Savannah Smith (1^st Place Art & Front Cover),

Isabella Addington (3^rd Place Photography),

Maia Southers (2^nd Place Photography),

Jacob Palmer (3^rd Place Poetry),

Kristin Moose (Honorable Mention (HM) Art),

and Serena Russell (HM Photography).

Back row, Mason McLain (3^rd Place Prose),

Caleb Austin (1^st Place Photography & Back Cover),

Mikayah Parsons (HM Poetry), Emma Hackett (2^nd Place Art), Miranda Shaffer (1^st Place Poetry), Kei Vang (1^st Place Prose), Tatiana Pierre (2^nd Place Prose), Courtney Gant (HM Poetry), Jessica Settlemyre (HM Art), CJ Ester (2^nd Place Poetry),

and Emily Fox (HM Prose).

Not pictured: Dorothy Locklear (HM Prose),

Gabrielle Maynard (HM Art), Christian Gonzalez (HM Art), Wyatt Wolk (HM Prose), Lydia Branson (HM Poetry),

Damaris Gonzalez (HM Photography),

and Breanna Bowman (HM Photography)

On April 16, 2019, The Alexander Muse teen art and literary magazine debuted its 10^th anniversary publication at a reception sponsored by Alexander Friends of the Library. Since the magazine’s inception in 2010, the collaborative effort of Alexander County Schools and Alexander County Library has published over 200 high school student works of poetry, short story prose, art, and photography.

Judges who helped determine this year’s published students were: Poetry – NC Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green, Joyce Brown, and Tim Peeler; Prose – Robert Canipe, Mel Jolly, and Mark Vogel; Photography – Fanjoy/Labrenz, Glenn Fox, and Milt Hawes; Art – Les Brown, Bud Caywood, and Leslie Newton.

“Each North Carolina poet laureate since Cathy Smith Bowers in 2011 has provided their talent at some point to adjudicate the poetry entries. We were so excited when our current poet laureate, Jaki Shelton Green, joined us on the night of judging at Alexander Central High School. We have been blessed to have powerhouse judges in every category to assist us each year,” says Melissa Hager, children’s librarian at Alexander County Library and the editor of the magazine.

Current NC Poet Laureate, Jaki Shelton Green,

photographed March 7, 2019

at Alexander Central High School in Taylorsville.

The Alexander Muse coordinators wish to thank Alexander Friends of the Library for their continued support of the collection. They assisted in printing the magazine, the judges’ dinner, student prizes, and the reception. Many thanks also to the Douglas and Joy Watkins family who helped fund student prizes, Reformation Lutheran Church for hosting the reception, Allison Hager for providing entertainment, reception volunteers Lilah Terrell and Autumn Pennell, and Alicia Addington for taking photos.

This will be the last publication for The Alexander Muse. Coordinators for the magazine - Alexander Central High School instructors Robbin Isenhour Stewart and Beth Duncan, along with Hager - felt the magazine has come full circle.

“We are definitely ending on a high note with these works. Beth, Mel, and I are thrilled with the final magazine,” said coordinator Robbin Isenhour Stewart.

The Alexander Muse 2019 edition is available for purchase at Alexander County Library, Bethlehem Branch, and Stony Point Branch for $5.