The Incomparable Reece Maguire
Photo by Scarlett Hendricks
Reece Maguire is the kind of person who will, one moment, as a joke, fully acknowledge her own brilliance and then turn around and grossly undersell herself the next.
Those who know her respect her acute intelligence. Those who don't (at the very least) have to respect her obvious fashion sense. The glint of her rings and the clunk of her boots herald a forward-thinker with sharp insight and keen wit. Reece combines capability, fashionability, and unique charm to bring a sense of urbanity to the quaint halls of Centenary College of Louisiana.
A rising junior, during her time at the College, Reece has proven herself a skilled academic and artist. As an upper-level English major, she is adept at both creative writing and analysis in poetry and prose.
In her work, Reece exhibits an inherent passion that fuels the hard-hitting sobriety of her work. She has an impressive grasp of her characters and the worlds she crafts and a skill for painting the bigger picture. Her artistry and drive are two of the things that made the English Department first take notice of her, and as a result, she was awarded the Sigma Tau Delta Award for Literary Excellence this past May.
"In only two years, Reece has pushed herself far beyond expectations. In terms of academics: she is exceptional, accepting nothing but perfection from herself and always seeking constructive criticism. She has presented papers at regional conferences (the 2022 LSUS Regional Scholars Forum) and, as only a sophomore, was accepted into The Richard Macksey National Undergraduate Humanities Research Symposium, sponsored annually by Johns Hopkins University. Reece continues to challenge herself and set the curve. Centenary and the English Department is very lucky to have her." Dr. Jefferson Hendricks, Chair of the English Department.
In addition to her writing, Reece possesses an adept eye and burgeoning talent for photography, graphic design, and a smattering of French. This past year she has used these talents to help restart the Conglomerate as the Life & Times editor and writer; she developed a recurring column that focused on the "Hidden Gems" of Shreveport-Bossier and highlighted places such as Pham's Sandwich Shop on Youree Drive. For the 2022-2023 academic year, she will serve, alongside Jordan Fong, as the Congo's resident copy-editors.
Photo by Reece Maguire
The upcoming year will be Reece's second year serving as the Junior Editor for Pandora Magazine. When approached, Anna Jane Storms, a rising senior, Lead Editor of Pandora, and personal friend to Reece, had only lovely things to say:
"Reece is maybe the coolest person I know. Her bewitching eye makeup, layers of jewelry, and signature sheer tights immediately capture the attention of any room. Just like with her stylish appearance, Reece also adorns her creative writing--but with gritty details and aloof characters. I'm always lingering on her stories, wondering how Reece can write about loss in such an alluring way. However, despite how cool Reece is, she is the best team player I know. Her professionalism and earnest work ethic are as central to her being as her fantastic style."
Anna Jane's commentary on her talent, style, and professionalism align with all that I have personally witnessed from Reece.
I have known Reece for two years now, and in that time, I have learned a few things about her: She is stylish and fantastic, skilled and professional, cool and earnest, and is in possession of beautiful talents. She is intelligent and competent, and I firmly believe that there is nothing she can't do. She is wickedly funny at the most shocking times. She is thoughtful and empathetic and one of the most loyal people I have ever had the privilege of meeting. And I know, and you should too, that Reece Maguire is a force to be reckoned with and someone, very much, worth admiring.
Callie Fedd
My name is Callie Fedd. I used to be an English major and Editor-in-Chief of the Conglomerate. However, I recently staged a jailbreak and am now considered an alum. My weekends are now spent with my dogs, cats, cringe sci-fi shows, and an overwhelming sense of existential dread.
