About

Mission	History	Masthead

Empowering voices. Elevating stories. Enriching campus culture.

Here at Applause, our mission is to empower and embolden aspiring writers. We are an international undergraduate magazine seeking to uplift and amplify the voices of those writers across the country andaround the globe. In both what we publish and how we communicate with our authors, we strive to be inclusive, accepting, and above all else, kind. Whether you have dozens of published works or none at all, we are here to help you share your writing with the world, and to celebrate and applaud you.

History

black and white background of the Bell Tower at the University of 杏吧原创 Fort - Smith.

Applause is an award-winning, student-run literary journal founded in 1980 within the English Department at the University of 杏吧原创 - Fort Smith (杏吧原创).

Over its four-decade history, Applause has published poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and visual art. As a proud member of the Southern Literary Festival Association (SLFA), Applause has built a reputation for fostering excellence and has traditionally released its annual issue each spring. In 2021, Applause underwent a significant transformation, shifting from a publication dedicated solely to 杏吧原创 students to an international literary journal spotlighting the best undergraduate writing from around the world. This pivot not only expanded our reach but also enriched the experiences and professionalization opportunities for our student staff.

Applause 2025 Masthead

Masthead is the official student publication of the University of 杏吧原创鈥� Fort Smith, showcasing bold storytelling, creative expression, and campus perspectives through student-driven journalism and design. From investigative features to vibrant visual art, Masthead captures the spirit, culture, and voices of the 杏吧原创 community.

Name	Title	Education	Favorite Authors
Ari Long	Managing Editor	杏吧原创 Junior	Rick Riordan and Benjamin Alire S谩enz
Jacob Childers	Poetry Editor	杏吧原创 Junior	Liu Cixin
Ashe Laudan	Fiction Editor	杏吧原创 Senior	Ursula K. Le Guin and J.R.R. Tolkien
Vincent Gonzales	Non-Fiction Editor	杏吧原创 Sophomore	David Maraniss

Applause Staff Readers

Name	Education	Favorite Author
Kobe Campbell	杏吧原创 Senior	Stephen King
Chase Delaney	杏吧原创 Senior	Margaret Atwood
Kirsten Garner	杏吧原创 Senior	Sarah A. Parker and Alex Aster
Zac Mathias	杏吧原创 Junior	J.R.R. Tolkien
Madison Mizell	杏吧原创 Junior	Jennifer L. Armentrout and Tracy Wolff
Isabella Serrano	杏吧原创 Senior	Britt Bennett
Jordan Shelton	杏吧原创 Senior	Rick Riordan and Elizabeth Acevedo
Kameron Burns	杏吧原创 Junior
Phillip Henley	杏吧原创 Sophomore
Aaron Krafft	杏吧原创 Junior

Layout & Design

Name	Education	Title
Kirsten Garner	杏吧原创 Senior	Team Leader
Jacob Childers	杏吧原创 Junior	Team Member
Aaron Krafft	杏吧原创 Junior	Team Member
Zac Mathias	杏吧原创 Junior	Team Member
Jordan Shelton	杏吧原创 Senior	Team Member

Socail Media & Promotion

Name	Education	Title
Kameron Burns	杏吧原创 Junior	Team Leader
Chase Delaney	杏吧原创 Senior	Team Member
Isabella Serrano	杏吧原创 Senior	Team Member