Written by Colin McEvoy | February 3, 2026 | SHARE
The student-run literary magazine Voices has received an award and a "Superior" ranking from the National Council of Teachers of English.
Voices, a student-run literary magazine at Lehigh University, has received an award from the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).
The magazine received the rank of Superior from NCTE’s 2025 Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM) Awards, which publicly recognizes excellent literary magazines produced by students with the support of their teachers.
“From all of us at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), congratulations to you and your students on this exceptional publication,” said Emily Kirkpatrick. “NCTE Executive Director. “We commend you for inspiring a love of writing that your students will remember for the rest of their lives.”
The recognition comes as Voices is celebrating its 10th anniversary. More than 100 students and members of the Lehigh community submit art, poetry, and creative writing for the magazine each year.
“Since our first release in 2014, the magazine has remained a vital celebration of creativity and intellectual exploration,” said Teresa Cusumano, Language Specialist with the International Center for Academic and Professional English (ICAPE).
“An achievement of this magnitude is the result of the club's long-standing tradition of excellence and the commitment across campus to Voices's mission,” said Cusumano, who has been a faculty advisor for Voices for the last 10 years. “This honor belongs to a decade of artistic contributors, Eboard members, faculty advisors, and campus sponsors who have shaped this publication’s identity and enduring impact.”
A total of 456 student magazines were submitted for consideration to the REALM Awards this year. They included publications from middle schools, high schools, and higher education institutions in 44 states, Washington, D.C., and six countries.
Voices was one of 25 magazines in Pennsylvania to receive a REALM Award, and was one of only 17 from the state to receive a “Superior” or higher ranking.
“One of life's lessons that has been clearer for me as I've grown older is searching my voice, in times of uncertainty or trouble; it is one's voice that makes a difference,” said ICAPE Language Specialist Maria Cristina Montufar, who serves as Voices faculty advisor along with Cusumano. “I know how valuable and meaningful Voices is as a space is to be able to write profoundly or to write goofy stories and shape a voice, respected, shared and in each issue enjoyed.”
Voices celebrates Lehigh’s diverse community of student, staff, and faculty artists, photographers, and writers. It is run by students, with support from Lehigh’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) and ICAPE.
“Your magazine is a fine example of this mission in action, and the REALM committee looks forward to seeing future publications from your school,” Kirkpatrick said.
NCTE is devoted to improving the teaching and learning of English and the language arts at all levels of education. It is the nation’s oldest organization of pre-K through graduate school literacy educators.
The REALM program was designed to encourage all schools to develop literary magazines that celebrate the art and craft of writing.
Previously named International Voices, the title was changed to Voices last year to emphasize that submissions are open to all, not just international students. However, many international students at Lehigh have contributed submissions, helping them feel connected and heard after adjusting to a new environment.
“I’ve seen so many students here from different countries—from places like Asia and South America,” Lizi Tevdorashvili ‘28, president of the magazine’s executive board, previously said. “We have a very diverse student body here at Lehigh. I’m proud to be part of that, and to be part of something like Voices that celebrates that diversity.”