Why We Do iliad

We asked the 2023-2024 iliad Editorial Board Team why they do iliad, and this is what they said.

Olivia Hendershot, Editor-in-Cheif

During my time at Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School, I was intrigued by the iliad Literary-Art Magazine. My older sister, who was a senior at Clarke Central High School at the time, would bring home magazines for me to look through and I admired the creativity put into the magazine even though I didn't fully understand the program's mission. The iliad provides an outlet for student creativity as well as opportunities for students to celebrate. I believe in the many ways in which art can be expressed.. whether that be through visuals, music, words and so much more, art elevates the CCHS community. Through our club meetings, bake sales, and presentations the iliad is committed to connecting the student body through art. I have a passion for expressing the importance of art, so I've grown a passion for the iliad.

Cate DeMaria, Managing Editor

I took a risk and applied to be a part of the iliad’s Editorial Board during my freshman year. I loved how the iliad strived to showcase the artistic capabilities of all students and teachers at Clarke Central High School. As a freshman, I did not fully grasp what I was getting myself into by joining the iliad team. Throughout that first year and the rest of my time in iliad, I have taken leaps and bounds further than I ever thought I would go. I have been presented with opportunities I would not have received otherwise. These possibilities have put the publication and me in positions to win national awards, but we would not be a nationally recognized publication without the hard work of our team. With this being my third year serving on the iliad’s Editorial Board, I can easily say that every year has looked different, but every year we strive for success and succeed.

Sam Caspary-Poucher, Business Manager

I’m a part of iliad because I want to grow in an environment where creativity is encouraged; I love to make art and music. The iliad fosters creativity in young artists and writers by creating a platform for their work to be seen and appreciated. iliad does this through publishing student work and hosting club meetings. I love to see how the club meetings cultivate a community within Clarke Central High School for writers and artists to uplift each other. I work to make the iliad successful by keeping track of the iliad’s funds and merchandise so that we can continue to showcase the youth’s talent. The program has helped me grow as a person and an artist and I hope to continue to support creative minds.

Niles Flath, Outreach Director

I take part in iliad because of the unique way the program showcases the creative body’s of both Clarke Central High School and the overall Athens community. iliad does more than just publish a magazine each year; the iliad has stories and reviews published on its website. The program highlights creative events and artists in the community, which fosters a safe space for creativity to blossom. I love how this feeling transitions to working with my team of Editorial Board members. iliad gives me a sense of community at CCHS; working with club members and artists in the community and connecting with them about their art and writing is a special experience that I’ve only ever found with CCHS iliad.

Flannery Reagen, Visuals Coordinator

I’m part of iliad because I love encouraging people in the Clarke Central High School community to share their work, get published and win awards. As the Visuals Director I am able to interact with many talented student artists as well as the wonderful art department through class talks; I get to go to classrooms and talk about the iliad and other events that the iliad hosts for the community, including our monthly club meetings where any CCHS student is able to create art and writing while connecting with other creative students. My favorite meeting is our collage meeting. We always have a great turnout and it’s awesome to see everyone sharing their ideas and talking to each other while creating their own unique pieces of art.  I am proud to be on the staff of a magazine that gives our community an outlet to express themselves and inspire others in the process.

Margo McDaniel, Writing Director

I was drawn to the iliad because of my love for creative writing. The iliad gave me an outlet to express myself and connect with my community in a way that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. I think that the iliad’s mission of creating an inclusive publication that provides a creative platform to Clarke Central High School is really important, and I am proud to be a part of helping engender the iliad’s mission into our community. I also enjoy the learning aspect of the iliad. Becoming a part of the program has given me a chance to express my creativity through creative writing and art at club meetings. The iliad has also allowed me to strengthen my leadership and journalism skills through teamwork, conferences, training, and other leadership development opportunities. This program is so special to me and has contributed to my growth as a writer and as a person.

Victoria Garland, Social Media Coordinator

After being a journalism student my first two years of highschool, I realized I was only trying to write about the creative aspects of Clarke Central High School. I looked into the iliad and felt that it would be a better fit for me and what I wanted to focus on. The iliad’s mission drew me in; the program strives to serve as an outlet for people in our school to showcase their creativity. We’re able to report and document the talent here at CCHS, which isn’t an opportunity for most high schools. Through both online and print we spend the entirety of the year working to live up to our mission which, I think, is something really special. I hope to continue to grow within the program and help strengthen our community through all forms of art.