Opus 66 Wins Big: Herricks High School’s Literary Magazine Earns First Class Distinction

📸 Photo Caption: Herricks High School’s literary magazine, Opus 66, has been awarded the First Class distinction from the NCTE REALM program for 2024.
📷 Photo courtesy of Herricks Public Schools.

By Williston Post Staff

Herricks High School’s Opus 66 has once again proven the power of student creativity, earning the prestigious First Class award from the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) REALM program for 2024. This recognition places Opus 66 among the top student-run literary magazines in the country, celebrating its excellence in writing, art, and editorial vision.

A platform for student voices, Opus 66 showcases a diverse collection of short prose, poetry, essays, photography, and visual art, thoughtfully curated by the dedicated student editorial team. The magazine’s commitment to literary excellence and artistic expression has now been honored on a national level, setting a high bar for student publications.

This year, 422 student magazines from 46 states and five countries competed in the NCTE Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM) program, with only 125 earning the distinguished First Class honor. Herricks’ achievement highlights the dedication and passion of its young writers, artists, and editorial staff.

The district extends its congratulations to the Opus 66 editorial team, contributing student writers, and faculty advisor Alan Semerdjian for this outstanding accomplishment. Their work continues to inspire and elevate the literary arts within the Herricks community.