AHA's literary magazine, "Blueprint," earns national recognition

Demarest, NJ: The creative crew that produces “Blueprint,” the Academy of the Holy Angels’ literary magazine, recently received national recognition. Their 2021 publication received the rank of Merit from Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines, a program run by the National Council of Teachers of English. AHA was one of 209 schools from across America to submit a publication for adjudication by the national panel. 

“Blueprint” is edited by English teacher Anna May Thurchak and Principal Jean Miller. Student editors of the award-winning 2021 magazine include Isabella Dail (editor-in-chief), Suha Patel, Arda Hajjar, Graicen Van Blarcom, Sienna Speed, and Emma Spadora. Principal Miller encouraged Mrs. Thurchak to enter the 2021 “Blueprint” in the REALM contest.  

NCTE Executive Director Emily Kirkpatrick announced the news.

“From all of us at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), congratulations to you and your students on this exceptional publication,” Kirkpatrick wrote to Thurchak. “We commend you for inspiring a love of writing that your students will remember for the rest of their lives.

“The mission of NCTE’s REALM program is to publicly recognize excellent literary magazines produced by students with the support of their teachers. REALM is designed to encourage all schools to develop literary magazines that celebrate the art and craft of writing. Your magazine is a fine example of this mission in action, and the REALM committee looks forward to seeing future publications from your school.”

Founded by the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1879, the Academy of the Holy Angels is the oldest private girls’ school in Bergen County. While AHA is steeped in Catholic tradition, this prestigious school serves young women from many cultural and religious backgrounds.