The Laureate

Author

Brooklyn Hoover, Western Michigan UniversityFollow

Date of Defense

4-10-2025

Date of Graduation

6-2025

Department

Business - Interdisciplinary

First Advisor

Becky Cooper

Second Advisor

Jennifer Townsend

Abstract

The Laureate’s mission is to provide undergraduate students at Western Michigan University a medium through which to publish their fiction, poetry, nonfiction, photography, graphic novels, and other creative works. The Laureate strives to be a professional and engaging journal that appeals to all. The 23^rd edition of The Laureate is unique in that, despite having no strict guidelines on themes, mediums, or styles, we found that many students expressed themes of grief, recovery, self-discovery, and new beginnings. Together, these works create a complex story of introspection and reflection.

Co-editors, Grace Cieslikowski and Brooklyn Hoover facilitated the launch of the 23^rd edition of The Laureate through careful management of tasks and advertising such as creating and posting flyers across campus, having classroom and RSO presentations, reviewing and editing submissions, creating a logical narrative flow across the manuscript, and advertising the launch of the live-reading event. During the creation of the manuscript and collection of submissions, meetings and frequent communication with the design team were needed in order to establish a story with an appropriate corresponding cover image and incorporated design through the journal. Once the manuscript was finalized, launching the live reading event consisted of creating an RSVP list for authors who will be reading their work at the event, organizing a location and refreshments, introducing all authors and artists, and hosting the event.

The 23^rd edition of The Laureate was published under the Lee Honors College with the assistance of:

Co-editors: Grace Cieslikowski and Brooklyn Hoover

Assistant editors: Raven Peoples and Mia Perleberg

Faculty editor: Becky Cooper

Faculty Advisor: Jennifer Townsend

Dean: Dr. Irma López

Assistant Dean: Anthony Helms

The Design Center, Gwen Frostic School of Art

Art Director: Nick Kuder

Production Management: Paul Sizer

Design: Bailey Musculus, Haleigh Weatherwax, Avery Mandigo, Kiana VanNest, Gregory Babe, Jack Duval, and Rory Choker

Recommended Citation

Hoover, Brooklyn, "The Laureate" (2025). Honors Theses. 3971.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/honors_theses/3971

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Open Access