History of the Phoenix...
On May 13, 1959, the Penguin Daily Bulletin announced that the student readers' group would publish a small collection of writings including essays, poetry and short stories. In an effort to connect the literary booklet with the school's recently adopted penguin mascot, one student jokingly remarked, "How do penguins recreate? They lay eggs!" Though suggested in jest, the name caught on and the students adopted Egg as the charter publication's title.
The first editors quickly organized the material, mimeographed the pages, and created the first Egg using something resembling cardboard for the cover. On June 1, 1959, the "limited edition" Egg - with a unique hand-drawn egg on each cover, and a price of only one dime- sold out in half an hour. The forerunner to the Phoenix was a success.
During subsequent years, graphic arts and printing students joined the literary editors and helped to produce fourteen more Egg magazines. In addition to the customary essays, short stories and poems, the editors added satire, literary criticism, plays and foreign language poems. A few selections written by celebrities and by Clark College instructors appeared in the publication. From time to time, the magazine contained illustrations and photography. Then, in utter contrast to the Egg's whimsical beginnings, the back cover of the 1974 edition alluded to internal controversy and financial difficulty, and 1974 saw the last Egg.
In 1981, Clark College students decided to resurrect the literary magazine, and in an attempt to connect the new publication with the original Egg, the editors chose the mythical Phoenix as a representation of rebirth. The second magazine rose from the ashes of the first and became the Phoenix. Some early editions gave the phoenix myth partial focus. Others used the myth as a major theme with contests and fantastic illustrations spotlighting the mythical bird. Eventually, the practice of relating content to myth lost its enamor.
Subsequent issues of the Phoenix focused primarily on poetry and prose, while issues representing the visual arts moved in and out of favor. In 1990, the first music selection in the magazine's history was debuted. In addition to magazine content changes, the scope and layout improved steadily. 1990 also saw the expansion of the publications' schedule to include the entire academic year. This change gave students a predictable atmosphere in which to make suggestions, develop concepts, and achieve advancements. The 1991 Phoenix reflected the results: a polished appearance, professional layout and an intensified promotional campaign, both on and off campus. The most rewarding consequence, however, was an astounding achievement: the Phoenix received the 1992 Literary Magazine Competition Award for Excellence, the highest honor bestowed by the Washington Community College Humanities Association. Since then, the Phoenix has received numerous awards and honors. The most current publications have fully integrated graphics with the literary entries. Since 2011 we are proud to be able to feature additional online content such as musical performance, animation and video. Check it out in our gallery.
Timeline
1959 - The first issue of the magazine, called "Egg"
1974 - last issue of the "Egg"
1981 - first issue of the "Phoenix", the magazine reborn
1990 - first music selection
1991 - polished appearance, professional layout and promostional campaign
2008 and 2009 - back-to-back "Best Art and Literary Magazine Nationwide" Awards from ASPA
2010 - first musical performance selection
2011 - first video selection
Awards
1992 - literary magazine competition award for excellence
2006 - first place with Special Merit Award in the annual magazine competition of the ASPA and second place honors in the Pacific-Western division of the National Community College Humanities Association
2007 - first place with Special Merit Award in the annual magazine competition of the ASPA
2008 - first place with Special Merit award as "Best Art and Literary Magazine for junior colleges with enrollments of 2501+ nationwide" by the ASPA
2009 - first place with Special Merit award as "Best Art and Literary Magaine for junior colleges with enrollments of 2501+ nationwide" by the ASPA
2010 - third place honors in the Pacific-Western division of the Community College Humanities Association, and third place in the "Print Rocks" competition in the art books category
2011 - first place with Special Merit award with American Scholastic Press.