The University of New Mexico Honors College will celebrate the 40th edition of Scribendi, its student-produced literary and arts magazine, with a pair of events Saturday, April 18, at Hodgin Hall.
The City of Albuquerque will recognize the milestone, with Mayor Tim Keller designating April 18 as “Scribendi Day,” according to Scribendi Faculty Advisor Amaris Feland Ketcham.
The celebration will begin with a Scribendi Alumni Mixer from 4 to 5:30 p.m., followed by a formal release party from 6 to 8 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public.
The alumni mixer will bring together former Scribendi staff members alongside past faculty advisers Leslie Donovan and V.B. Price. The event will give attendees an opportunity to reconnect, revisit past editions of the magazine and reflect on their time with the Honors College.
Honors College alumni are encouraged to RSVP in advance. The college defines alumni as anyone who has completed at least six credit hours within the Honors College.
The release party will feature a full program highlighting the new edition of Scribendi, including readings and discussions from student contributors. Published authors will share insights into their creative process, answer questions and present selections of their work. Current staff members will also discuss the development of the 40th edition and their experiences producing the magazine.
Both events will include light snacks and refreshments. Copies of the new edition, along with Scribendi merchandise such as T-shirts, tote bags and stickers, will be available for purchase.
Scribendi staff say the 40th anniversary edition reflects both the publication’s history and its connection to New Mexico.
“Being a part of the 40th edition has been an honor, but it’s also come with a bit of pressure as we all try to honor the last four decades of our magazine,” said Scribendi staff member Andres De Santiago. “We wanted this edition to feel like a love letter to our roots here in Albuquerque and the larger Southwest.”
Originally known as the UNM Honors Review, Scribendi is an annual publication that showcases student work across a wide range of creative disciplines, including poetry, short fiction, creative nonfiction, visual art, photography, foreign language and multimedia projects. Produced by Honors College students, the magazine serves as a platform for emerging voices and interdisciplinary storytelling.
This year’s edition continues that tradition with a wide range of themes and subjects.
“For those unfamiliar with Scribendi, we publish work in poetry, short fiction, creative nonfiction, visual art, photography, foreign language and open media,” De Santiago said. “Our readers can expect to ride a rollercoaster of emotions as they go through this edition.”
The publication has also received national recognition. Scribendi Volume 39 was named a Pacemaker Award winner last year, one of the highest honors in collegiate journalism. The award-winning issue can be viewed at news.unm.edu.
Organizers encourage alumni, contributors and community members to attend the events and celebrate the publication’s milestone year.
To RSVP for the alumni mixer, visit unmalumni.com.
If you cannot attend and would like to support the publication, donations can be made to the Jackie Schlegel Memorial Honors Endowment for Scribendi at: unmfund.org.
