The most recent edition of Scribendi, a student-made national literary and fine arts magazine based at The University of New Mexico Honors College, was recently announced as a winner of the Associated Collegiate Press’ 2025 Pacemaker award. This national award recognizes excellence in design, contents, and overall quality, and is a highly sought-after recognition.

Volume 39, which can be viewed online at scribendi.unm.edu, competed against 14 other collegiate publications, and was one of four to receive the award. This is the eighth time Scribendi has been nominated for a Pacemaker and the fourth time it has won, the most recent being for its 36th volume in 2022. The news was announced Oct. 18 to much celebration.

"The UNM Honors College is delighted, honored and humbled to receive this national recognition once again, especially as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of this creative arts magazine, edited by our amazing honors students under the leadership of Professor Amaris Ketcham, and drawing submissions from honors students from all over the US and beyond. This honor, like Scribendi itself, is testimony to the power of interdisciplinary, inclusive honors education that foregrounds creativity, curiosity, and, above all, community. We are grateful to Professor Ketcham and her students for their dedication, hard work, and pursuit of excellence," says Naomi Yavneh Klos, the UNM Honors College dean.

Amaris Ketcham, the organizing faculty advisor of the magazine, says, "When I look at this edition, I see all the labor and dedication of my students, from their early days learning InDesign, graphic design, and copyediting, to reviewing submissions, to spilling coffee on slips of paper and scanning each one. I am incredibly proud of the work they have done and delighted that we are recognized with this award."

The staff and students themselves are equally proud and celebratory. Editor Kadra Guillermo, when asked for comment about her experience with the magazine, said, “Getting to create a container to house other people's work is an art itself (one I take very seriously), and getting to see/handle people's vulnerable creations is always so special. I think the 2025 magazine is truly shaped by the submitters and the staff. I am really looking forward to seeing how volume 40 will come out!”

The highly-anticipated 40th anniversary edition of Scribendi is currently in production and set to release in April, 2026, and the student staff are determined to make it better than ever.

About Scribendi:

Scribendi is a nonprofit, annual print publication that publishes creative work from undergraduate honors students nationwide. It began as a publication of The University of New Mexico and has grown to include more than 800 institutions in the Western Regional Honors Council and National Collegiate Honors Council. Scribendi is produced by students for students, encouraging and publishing creative expression of all forms.

For further information or inquiries, please visit scribendi.unm.edu or email scribendi@unm.edu.