Thursday, October 1, 2026
“Fragments,” the student literary magazine at Wellington C. Mepham High School, has earned a “Superior” designation in the 2025 Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines program administered by the National Council of Teachers of English.
The distinction places the publication among the top student literary magazines nationally and internationally. For the 2025 program, the council reviewed 456 magazines submitted by schools in 44 states, Washington, D.C., and six countries, representing middle schools, high schools and colleges.
Nicole Maresca, the magazine’s faculty adviser and a creative writing teacher, said the recognition highlights the breadth of talent within the school community.
“From first-time poets to the published alumni featured on our final pages, Mepham continues to be a nurturing environment where young writers and artists find their wings and the confidence to take flight,” Maresca said. “Seeing our alumni continue to publish their prose and poetry long after graduation is a beautiful reminder of the creative spirit ‘Fragments’ has ignited.”
According to school officials, the “Superior” rating reflects the quality of student writing, editing and design, as well as the guidance provided by faculty advisers throughout the publishing process.
The REALM program recognizes outstanding student-produced literary magazines created with teacher support and aims to encourage schools to develop publications that celebrate the craft of writing and student expression.
