Webster University's "Ampersand" Finalist for Top National Award

Webster University's student magazine, "Ampersand," is a finalist for the Columbia Scholastic Press Association's 2010 Crown Award. The 2008-2009 publication competed against hundreds of other collegiate magazines to become one of only 33 other college magazine finalists and is guaranteed to receive either a gold or silver crown award at ceremonies to be held in March. Ampersand editors being honored are Anthony Hagan and Liz Miller along with Karen Burch, faculty advisor. The Association is part of The Journalism School at Columbia University in New York.

"Creativity, quality and innovativeness are hallmarks of Webster University School of Communications students," said Dean Debra Carpenter. "The Ampersand staff and their faculty advisor Karen Burch consistently produce a collegiate magazine that exemplifies these qualities. I'm proud this is the second time The Ampersand has been recognized with this prestigious national award. The competition is fierce, but out students' work rises to the top because of their dedication, talent and education. Congratulations to all."

"I was blown away with the response that we received for the spring issue," said Editor Anthony Hagan. "As if winning the ACP Pacemaker Award wasn't enough, to be recognized by the CSPA for their top honor as well reaffirms The Ampersand's status as a forward thinking collegiate publication. Many late nights and innumerable cases of Red Bull went into that issue and it is simply an added bonus to be publicly recognized for our work."

"We worked together to create a product that we were proud of and it's beyond exciting to see it honored," said Miller.

"I'm proud and excited for the Ampersand students," said Advisor Karen Burch. "They work very hard and put in so many hours.  It is wonderful that they get the recognition they deserve."

Ampersand won the Gold Crown award in 2005 and recently received The Pacemaker Award, given by the Associated Collegiate Press in November.

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