Crowder Quill

Neosho, MO – The Crowder Quill, the literary/art magazine of Crowder College, recently won prestigious national awards. The magazine has again been awarded “Most Outstanding Community College Literary-Art Magazine for 2021” for the 2500+ enrollment category from the American Scholastic Press Association (ASPA) as well as “First Place with Special Merit,” designations the publication has held since 2010. 

The ASPA, located in College Point, New York, critiques college and high school publications for content, organization, design, presentation, and creativity. 

The Quill’s national awards are based on the spring 2021 publication with the following students: Catie Abruzzo, Neosho; Rachel Campbell, Neosho; Samuel Carlson, Independence; Dora Gilreath, Neosho; Kherz’den Humphrey, Joplin; Sarah Jones, El Dorado Spring; Lindee Mitchell, Cassville; Nona Stewart, Kodiak, Alaska; and adviser Latonia Bailey, Neosho. 

A student entry by Hailey Koester, Carl Junction, also won an award for “Outstanding Art” chosen from among other publications’ art entries.


The 2022 contest has been extended until Feb. 1. 2023, and any entries already submitted will be held until the 2023 contest. During the pause until next year’s contest, the Quill will undergo a makeover to its categories, process, and the magazine itself. 

“We are examining the contest and magazine to streamline and update in conjunction with a revamp of the entire journalism program and course,” stated Latonia Bailey, Crowder Quill adviser.

A new Digital Media Marketing certificate has been provisionally approved, pending final Board of Trustees confirmation, to be effective fall 2022. The new program prepares students to enter the workplace with skills in digital marketing campaign strategies that include media content and web development, search engine optimization and data analytics.

As part of the new certificate, the course that produces the Crowder Quill will be called “Applied Graphic Design and Social Media Campaigns.” Students will practice and apply principles in social media content management, audience engagement, graphic design and other communication skills.  

For more information about the contest, see CrowderQuill.com or email Quill@Crowder.edu. For entry instructions, see www.crowderquill.com/to-enter-contest/. For information about the Digital Media Marketing certificate, contact Latonia Bailey via email: LatoniaBailey@crowder.edu.


The Quill has been published since 1980 and is distributed free on campus and in the community with the mission of showcasing and encouraging artistic works of local writers, artists, and photographers.

Last Updated on February 1, 2022 by Steven Brunson