El Paso Community College showcases its latest annual edition of Borderlands, celebrating student writing and regional history. The tradition, dating back to 1983, offers a platform for student voices from the English 1302 Composition II class to be featured, highlighting the cultural tapestry that is El Paso. This year's publication includes diverse articles, ranging from profiles of local icons to in-depth looks at the region's involvement in the film industry, according to EPCC News.
The publication spotlights works such as Nathaniel Peralta’s piece on wrestler Sin Cara and Andrea Melendez's exploration of El Paso as a setting for film productions. Stories also delve into the El Paso Classic Film Festival, with Fatima Garcia Meraz bringing light to the event's significance in "Spotlight on Cinema." Professor Richard Barakat, acting as Faculty Advisor, believes that "Borderlands provides a rare opportunity for EPCC students to publish their work, for a large readership at the start of their college journey, and it gives El Pasoans a greater knowledge of the richness of life, culture, and history in our part of the world," as noted by EPCC News.
Students don't just contribute with their writing; they also lead the editorial front. Among the editors is David Ibarra, a mechanical engineering major inspired by his mother's story. Together with Jacqueline Lepe, Mina Tavakoli, and Lead Editor Krystal Tilley, these students embody the editorial spirit that drives Borderlands. They are credited with steering their fellow students' essays from initial drafts to the final printed pieces ready for community consumption. Borderlands is available both in print and online, and can be picked up for free at all EPCC libraries and as an insert in El Paso, Inc.
