Collaborative efforts between Three Rivers College (TRC) and Insta Print led to national recognition by the American Scholastic Press Association (ASPA) for the college's annual student publication "Confluence."
Designed by Lauralee Schrieber, the spiral-bound volume composed of creative writing in the form of prose and poetry earned, for the first time, a solitary win in the category of Outstanding Use of Graphics.
According to assistant professor Gregory Snell, "Confluence" is the only publication recognized in the category by the ASPA for 2017. The publication's theme, which changes annually to incorporate a different literary or cultural anniversary, reflects a milestone birthday of Missouri author Laura Ingalls Wilder that occurred in 2017.
"We were celebrating the 150th birthday of Laura Ingalls Wilder since we live in her backyard," Snell said of the author, who wrote the "Little House on the Prairie" series in Mansfield, Mo.
Designed to mimic a journal 12-year-old Wilder may have kept while traveling across the plains in a covered wagon, the cover features a postage stamp reflecting artwork reminiscent of that featured in the "Little House on the Prairie" books. Schrieber said it was important to use illustrations to fit the scenario, as well as match the words written by the students.
"Many hours went into finding the artwork to make it look like a journal, as if she were sketching or doodling as she was traveling," Schrieber said. "That was challenging, but it was very fun and rewarding. I had to really dig."
Three Rivers College President Dr. Wesley Payne said the initial meeting with Schrieber and Snell was tedious before agreeing on an achievable vision.
"We went everywhere from a die-cast of a covered wagon, where the book would come out looking like a covered wagon, and finally, coming around to 'How do we want to pull this theme off?'" he said.
Schrieber, who formerly designed for Insta Print, said while working on "Confluence," an emotional event occurred that prompted her to become thoroughly attached to the project.
"My dad's dog Gemma died," Schrieber said. "I knew we had a time schedule to follow, but because of losing her, it became important to me on an emotional level. To see something good come out of something so bad has been a rewarding experience."
"Confluence" also was one of seven schools to receive recognition in the category of Outstanding Theme, and one of 10 schools to earn First Place with Merit.