Letter From The Editor

Kaija Gilbertson Hall, iliad Editor-in-Chief

Good afternoon and welcome to the 2023 ODYSSEY Media Group End-ofYear Banquet!

As many of you know, the iliad Literary-Art Magazine is the sister publication of the ODYSSEY and our mission is to create a forum for the creative works of Clarke Central students. We strive to publish a wide variety of students from all grade levels and backgrounds and to highlight the written, visual and musical pieces they create.

I found my way to the iliad Literary-Art Magazine after joining the ODYSSEY Media Group as a freshman in the Journalism 1 class. While I loved the challenge and impact of my ODYSSEY work, I struggled in the rigidity of journalistic writing and craved a place where I could truly let my creativity guide my work, and I was lucky enough to find the perfect fit in iliad. I applied for and was accepted to the Editorial Board as Social Media Coordinator in my sophomore year and served as Editor-in-Chief for my junior and senior years.

My journey in iliad has brought me more than I could have imagined when I applied after 9th grade. I found a relentlessly supportive community of creative individuals, discovered my passion for encouraging and uplifting the unique creative gifts of every student, and gained leadership and writing skills that I know I will be able to use for the rest of my life.

I cannot express how valuable the opportunity to pour my full creativity into the compilation of this year’s magazine has been and I am endlessly thankful to my Editorial Board, my Managing Editor Ethan Caspary, the iliad club, and the students of Clarke Central, without whom we could not exist.

Additionally, we are so grateful for our parents, patrons, our adviser Mr. David Ragsdale, and the OMG Booster Club, who helped make our program and this event possible

I cannot wait to see what the future holds for the iliad, and once again, thank you all for being here tonight.