BLOOMINGTON – Two Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington students have earned national recognition from the Community College Humanities Association (CCHA) for their contributions to Ivy Tech Bloomington’s literary magazine, “Root and Branch.” The students earned awards in the 2018 Literary Magazine Competition, in the large colleges division.

  • Rachel Batka won 2nd Place for her photo “Equilibrium” (Photography, Central Region)
  • Salem Naylor won 3rd Place for her cover art “Silent Duel” (Artwork, Central Region)

“Root and Branch” (originally named [sic]) was started more than a decade ago by Emily Bobo, Ph.D., department chair of fine arts and humanities and English professor, who wanted to provide students with a creative outlet to share their text and art. “Root and Branch” has a new advisor, Christine Brandel, associate professor of English, who has advised the literary magazine for the past two years.

“Stepping into the advisor role after founder Dr. Emily Bobo’s tenure with the magazine was a little intimidating, so it means a lot that the first ‘Root and Branch’ continued her legacy of winning prizes,” said Brandel. “The students are looking forward to 2019 and taking on our next challenge!”

“Root and Branch” is currently a required text for select English courses and is for sale in the Ivy Tech bookstore for $8 plus tax. A portion of each sale is used to support future publications, editor scholarships, and writing and art contests for students.

About Ivy Tech Community College

Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.