A completed quarter
Featured: BRAND NEW DAY: The members of the 2026-27 iliad Literary-Art Magazine Editorial Board and iliad re-founder and adviser David Ragsdale (center) pose for a photo outside of the Clarke Central High School Greenhouse on Sept. 22. Despite having two years of experience in the ODYSSEY Media Group, the 2026-27 school year is iliad Business Manager Lucca Fleenor’s first in the program. “I was going into (my position) thinking I (would) have to put in so much work and not get to create as much art of my own, but things like Monthly Favorites (posts), Inktober prompts and asking other people to submit to the iliad makes me want to make art for myself,” Fleenor said. Photo by Grady Dunston
The iliad Literary-Art Magazine Editorial Board has connected with the Athens and CCHS communities, planned its 51st volume and prepared for upcoming events during its first quarter.
Since the beginning of the 2026-27 school year on Aug. 5, the iliad Literary-Art Magazine Editorial Board, consisting of five members, has worked together to build the program’s footprint in the Athens and Clarke Central High School communities and plan for the projects to come.
The iliad began the school year with the annual Marketing Project, in which each Editorial Board member reached out to family, friends and members of their community to solicit donations to the iliad and identify potential patrons.
“All of (the current iliad members) are new to the iliad, so we're able to bring in some new patrons and readers,” iliad Business Manager Lucca Fleenor said. “There's always areas we can grow (in marketing), and it's nice that we have the whole rest of the year to keep on doing this.”
The iliad also participated in outreach opportunities in the Athens community, such as volunteering at the CCHS Mobile Food Markets, held on June 3, Sept. 2 and Oct. 7. Organized by CCHS Athletic Director Dr. Jon Ward and supplied by the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, the markets provide groceries to Athens community members.
“(The food markets) are a great way to engage with (the) community and do volunteer work,” iliad Design Editor Izzy Hammock said. “Everyone who's at these food markets needs the food that's there, so it is nice to be a part of something meaningful and helpful to so many people.”
Featured: COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS: iliad Literary-Art Magazine Design Editor Izzy Hammock poses in Clarke Central High School’s James M. Crawford Memorial Arena during the CCHS Mobile Food Market on Oct. 7. This market was Hammock’s first time volunteering since the start of the 2026-27 school year, but she has volunteered multiple times during the 2025-26 school year and enjoyed her experiences. “I like the community and the vibe that's (at food markets). It's always nice, fun and relaxed,” Hammock said. “(Volunteers) do important work, but we also have fun with it, and we get to talk to our friends, teachers and community members.” Photo by Cesia Martinez
The iliad held two monthly club meetings on Sept. 17 and Oct. 22, where attendees made collages and origami, respectively, from 7:45 to 8:30 a.m. in Room 231. Each meeting centers on a different creative medium and is open to all interested CCHS students and faculty.
“I liked the last (iliad club meeting with) the collages,” CCHS freshman Olivia Stichtenoth, who attended the Sept. 17 and Oct. 22 club meetings, said. “I like getting to come early in the morning and make something.”
Featured: CRAFTY COLLAGES: Clarke Central High School students collage at the iliad Literary-Art Magazine’s first club meeting of the 2026-27 school year on Sept. 17 in Room 231. iliad Editor-in-Chief Emlyn McKinney organized and managed the meeting, which consisted of an informational presentation about the iliad and a work period for attendees to collage. “(The iliad’s) first club meeting went better than I expected,” McKinney said. “We had a decent amount of people show up and they made a lot of cool art, which can be submitted to the iliad magazine.” Photo by Briony Brown
Outside of outreach, the iliad 2025-26 Editorial Board’s work on the 50th edition of the iliad magazine, “Eudaimonia,” was recognized for multiple awards, including a Gold Medalist distinction from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association on Aug. 21 and an All-Southern rating from the Southern Interscholastic Press Association on Sept. 16.
“I (was) very proud of my work on (assembling “Eudaimonia”) and I’m glad that it has come across well to evaluators,” 2025-26 iliad Editor-in-Chief Margo McDaniel, a Class of 2026 alumna, said. “Getting the Gold Medalist Award is such a great honor, but I am glad that all the artists, writers and (contributors) to the magazine are getting the recognition they deserve.”
Featured: SOUTHERN SUCCESS: Members of the 2025-26 iliad Editorial Board and iliad re-founder and adviser David Ragsdale (middle) pose in the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center on March 7. The Southern Interscholastic Press Association awarded the 2025-26 iliad program and magazine, “Eudaimonia,” with an All-Southern rating on Sept. 16. “‘(Eudaimonia)’ was my first time collaborating, designing, editing and producing something of that caliber, which was incredibly stressful,” 2025-26 iliad Managing Editor Finley Sleppy said. “I’m grateful the doubts surrounding those final months (of the 2025-26 school year) didn’t reflect our ultimate success.” Photo by Grady Dunston
For its 2026-27 magazine, the iliad officially opened its submissions on Sept. 13, scheduled to close on Jan. 29, 2027. The Editorial Board is currently finalizing the magazine’s theme, centered on the rises and falls of the creative cycle, which will guide its creative direction and the submissions it features.
“This year, we want to showcase a wider variety of mediums and voices than we have in past years, whether that’s music, choreography, textiles or writing in different languages,” McKinney said. “Our theme is centered on breath, so we’re also looking for more reflective pieces and submissions that focus on tensions and inspiration.”
Story by Emlyn McKinney
Emlyn McKinney is a senior at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Ga., and works as the iliad Literary-Art Magazine Editor-in-Chief. This being their first year in the iliad, McKinney hopes to connect with the creative communities of Athens and CCHS, and promote the iliad through eye-catching designs. McKinney has attended local, regional and national journalism conferences and has been awarded for their writing and leadership skills. In their spare time, McKinney enjoys reading and recreating designs from their favorite movies.