Press Release: Fall 2025 Georgia Scholastic Press Association Awards
Above: CAMARADERIE: The 2024-25 iliad Literary-Art Magazine Editorial Board poses in front of Clarke Central High School’s Ceremonial Entrance on Aug. 13, 2024. The current iliad Social Media Coordinator Scarlett Alston had her piece “Metal Head” published in the iliad’s 49th volume “Sound & Color.” “It’s really cool seeing the organization I work with, and my (art that was) published in that exact magazine, getting recognition,” Alston said. “I feel like it’s very well deserved for how much work the editors put into it last year (and) I’m very excited for what comes next and what we’re gonna do this year.” Photo by Aza Khan
The Georgia Scholastic Press Association recognized the iliad Literary-Art Magazine as All-Georgia, its top honor, in its Fall 2025 awards presentation for the Yearbook and Literary Magazine competition on Nov. 18.
The 2024-25 iliad Literary-Art Magazine was recognized multiple times in the Literary Magazine category by the Georgia Scholastic Press Association, which released its annual awards for the Fall 2025 Yearbook and Literary Magazine competition on Nov. 18 through a broadcast video.
The iliad was named a Superior magazine in the category of General Excellence for literary magazines. After winning Superior, the iliad was recognized as the only All-Georgia Literary Magazine for medium-sized schools in Georgia, the highest rank for literary magazines through GSPA.
“I’m glad to know that the iliad team from last year (and I were) recognized and all (of) our hard work paid off,” iliad Editor-in-Chief Margo McDaniel said. “Our program’s prestigious history and the awards we have received definitely feel like big shoes to fill, but it’s really inspiring because I know our school’s creative potential, and I look forward to seeing how we can continue to improve the magazine this year.”
Above: FUTURE FOCUSED: 2024-25 iliad Managing Editor Victoria Garland stands at the 2025 Georgia Scholastic Press Association Spring Conference on March 24. Garland was recognized twice in the Fall 2025 GSPA Awards in the Advertising Design category. “I see what the (current) iliad (Editorial Board) is doing through social media, but hearing from the team about receiving recognition for our efforts is a good feeling,” Garland said. “I hope it’s not only positive for us, but motivating for them and others.” Photo by Miriam Silk
In individual awards, 2024-25 iliad Managing Editor Victoria Garland and ODYSSEY Media Group Senior Copy Editor Cooper Jones were awarded All-Georgia recognition in Advertising Design for Garland’s design featuring Jones’ art piece “Without Lips” submitted through the iliad. McDaniel was also awarded an All-Georgia recognition in Social Media Promotion, a slideshow that she put together showing how the iliad uses social media to engage their audience.
“Seeing my name attached to awards for the social media presentation I compiled was a little bit surreal,” McDaniel said. “We're such a highly regarded publication, but now that I've made a much more personal contribution to that, it just feels surreal to see how much I've grown.”
Above: AWARDED DESIGNS: 2024-25 iliad Managing Editor Victoria Garland’s designs featuring “Without Lips” by Cooper Jones (left) and “Embracing the Predator” by Jay Braswell (right) are shown. Garland was recognized in the Georgia Scholastic Press Association Fall 2025 awards, which named “Without Lips” an All-Georgian design and “Embracing the Predator” a Superior design. “It’s great to know that my painting was recognized as a part of that design,” Jones said. “It’s one of my favorite pieces I’ve ever done, so I’m proud to see it win an award along with Victoria’s advertising.” Designs by Victoria Garland
Additionally, the iliad received four Superior individual awards in the categories of Artwork, Cover Design, Spread Design, and Advertising Design. Garland and iliad Outreach Director Jay Braswell were Superior winners in Advertising Design for Braswell’s art piece “Embracing the Predator.”
“I was shocked when I heard that my art that I submitted to the iliad two years ago won Superior at GSPA,” Braswell said. “I’m so grateful that Victoria chose to use my art to represent the iliad. It really shows what you can achieve by simply submitting your creative pieces to the iliad.”
Story by Jay Braswell
Jay Braswell is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia, and is the Outreach Director for the iliad Literary-Art Magazine. Braswell hopes that her contribution to the iliad will help inspire young artists around the Athens community. When they aren’t hanging out with friends, Braswell enjoys listening to music and painting.