A Wider Horizons cover story featuring a long-time Lethbridge College Facilities department employee and alumnus received a bronze award in the Feature Writing category today in Seattle at the CASE District VIII 2018 Communication Awards ceremony. The winning submission, written by senior communications specialist Paul Kingsmith, was titled “Whistling While He Works” and appeared in the fall 2016 issue of Wider Horizons.
In addition, the Alberta Magazine Publishers Association (AMPA) announced its showcase finalists for the 2018 Alberta Magazine Awards on Monday, and the list included two Wider Horizons features. The first, “Lethbridge College Love Stories,” written by Lisa Kozleski, was recognized in the profile category. It told the love story of Dick and Yvonne Kerber, students in the college’s very first class in 1957, and included other love stories of couples who had met during their time at the college. The second, “People Make the Place,” which included stories by Lisa Kozleski, D’Arcy Kavanagh and Dave McMurray and illustrations by Brent Bates, was recognized in the editorial package category. This 22-page feature showcased 60 interesting and inspirational people who helped make and still make the college a great place to learn, work and grow.
Kingsmith’s story focused on one of the most familiar faces on the Lethbridge College campus, Clarence Slomp, whose cheerful whistling has echoed through the hallways and stairwells of the institution for more than 35 years. Kingsmith spent a day shadowing Slomp, the building and ground maintenance supervisor/project lead, and provided insight into the countless ways this much-revered colleague keeps the physical and emotional heart of the campus humming along.
“Paul wrote a wonderful story about one of the most respected and valued members of the Lethbridge College community, and in the process let readers have a better sense of what makes the college such a special place,” says Wider Horizons editor Lisa Kozleski. “Clarence’s story – and Paul’s thoughtful way of telling it – clearly stood out for the judges in this competitive category that featured the best writing at college and university magazines throughout Western Canada and the northwestern United States. We are thrilled to see Paul to receive this industry recognition for his efforts.”
This is the ninth award the college has received from CASE VIII in the last dozen years. The college previously won a gold award for feature writing in 2017; a silver award for photo series; and six other bronze awards for its website, for its viewbook and for Wider Horizons (three times for the magazine and once for photography).
The competition includes submissions of marketing and communications materials from colleges and universities of all sizes in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut as well as the states of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Kingsmith’s award was given in an “open” category, which means it was judged against colleges and universities of all sizes in the district, including the universities of Alberta, British Columbia, Calgary, Washington, Oregon and more.
The 2018 Alberta Magazine Awards honour and celebrate the work of Alberta’s magazine creatives, art directors, writers, photographers, editors and illustrators, all of whom will be celebrated at the 2018 Alberta Magazine Awards Gala on March 8 in Calgary. Some of the other finalists in the editorial package category are Avenue Calgary, Western Living Magazine, WestJet Magazine and alumni magazines from the University of Alberta and Mount Royal University. Other finalists in the profile category include Avenue Edmonton and Alberta Views, among others.
“Collectively these individuals bring insight to our unique Alberta culture and ensure Alberta voices and stories are shared and heard throughout the province and beyond our borders,” says Suzanne Trudel, executive director of AMPA.
Wider Horizons, which is designed by Dana Woodward and edited by Lisa Kozleski, is published each January, April and September and goes out to more than 33,000 alumni and community members. To read the latest issue, pick up a copy at the racks around campus or at newsstands with Lethbridge Living magazine throughout the community, or check it out online.