OZ Journal Receives Scholarship Award for Excellence
Reprinted with permission of KSU Media Relations
The 2002 edition of Oz, the student-produced journal of Kansas State University’s College of Architecture, Planning and Design, is earning “ahs.”
Oz has received the 2002 Douglas Haskell Award from the American Institute of Architects’ New York chapter and the New York Foundation for Architecture. Jury members cited the high degree of professionalism shown by the publication, as well as its content, editing, layout and design. The honor includes a $1,000 scholarship award. Oz also received the Haskell award in 1989.
The theme of this year’s edition of Oz, the 24th since the journal was launched in 1979, is “The City As a Natural Machine.” The 60-page, black-and-white illustrated journal features essays and projects from national and international architecture, planning and design practitioners, scholars and artists.
“Their work examines the city as a natural machine, as a natural process of urban evolution and change,” said Josh Bender, a May 2002 bachelor’s graduate in landscape architecture, Wichita, and co-editor of Oz 2002 with Matt Benfer, a fifth-year senior in architecture, Longford.
Staff members also included Jason Kaseforth, May 2002 bachelor’s graduate in architecture, Hays; Kendra Kirchmer, fifth-year senior in architecture, Manhattan; Greg Spaw, senior in architecture, Prairie Village; Karen Hinkle, senior in print journalism, Wichita; and Jaime David, May 2002 bachelor’s graduate in interior architecture, Ravenwood, Mo.
Planning for Oz 2002 started in the 2001 fall semester, Benfer said. “I don’t know how to count the number of hours staff put in to produce Oz. I think the result is a well crafted journal, full of articles worth reading, especially if you’re interested in architecture.”
Oz faculty advisers are Matthew Knox and Ray Streeter, associate professors of architecture.
“Oz gives the editors a chance to contact and work directly with renowned architects, scholars and artists who, generally, are incredibly generous with their time and resources,” Knox said. “I’m always amazed that an architecture student in Manhattan, Kansas, can pick up the phone and ask these folks to write an essay or send in drawings of a recent project, and they do. That kind of direct contact with ‘star’ practitioners is something that adds immensely to our program.”
Oz is funded through sales of the journal, a portion of K-State’s fine arts fee and from gifts to the college. Bender said the $1,000 award will be used to help produce the 2003 edition of Oz.
Oz has received numerous awards for its graphic design and printing. Bender said he and his fellow staff members were pleased to continue the journal’s award-winning track record.
“We’re very proud to uphold the long tradition of outstanding architectural journalism associated with Oz,” Bender said. “There is a standard of quality that I know each staff of Oz has tried to meet. It feels great to have our work recognized.”
“The strength of Oz has always been the high level of commitment and effort the student editors and staff have put into the journal each year,” Knox said.
Bender, who also served as associate editor of the 2000 edition of Oz, will put his recently earned degree to work as a member of the Peace Corps for the next two years. He likely will serve in South America, assisting with environmentally-related projects. Bender is the son of Ed and Jan Bender, Wichita, and a graduate of Wichita East High School.
Benfer is the son of Kevin and Karen Benfer, Longford, and a graduate of Clay Center Community High School. He plans to be involved with the 2003 edition of Oz.
For more information, contact:
Matt Knox, 785.532.1112
Ray Streeter, 785.532.1125