progenitor
/proh-jen-i-ter/
noun
something from which another idea develops or serves as a model or ancestor
Progenitor is Arapahoe Community College's official annual literary publication, and has occurred every single year that the college has existed. It features works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama as well as art and photography from ACC students and, sometimes, creators from all around the world. The Progenitor is edited, organized, and designed by ACC students every single year. We are pleased to present the 57th annual Progenitor, and hope everyone is able to see pieces of their own journey within ours.
Student Staff
Illustrator Cassie Roosa is an illustrative graphic designer who specializes in all things nerdy. Earning her Graphic Design Degree at ACC this year, she looks forward to the new adventures she gets to go on. As a D&D GM and Player, she has developed maps for several homebrew games and has a passion for designing worlds and the things that fill those worlds. You can find more of what she's done on any social media under @witchlightdesigns.
Graphic Design Lead Devon Chayet is a graphic designer and digital artist finishing his degree in Multimedia, Graphic Design and Illustration at ACC. He was one of the Graphic Design Leaders for this year's Progenitor. His passion for bold, vibrant and impactful design has motivated him to continue getting design education at the University of Colorado Denver this fall. You can view Devon’s art and design work at his website: devon.digital
Drama Editor Donella Danielson is a graduate of the University of Colorado-Boulder. She has worked for newspapers in Colorado, Texas, and New Mexico. She’s a fan of reading, writing and theater, and has enjoyed taking ACC courses on those topics.
Poetry Editor Douglas Robert Alexander Francis Ownbey is a 25-year-old who currently lives in Parker, CO. He works at Panera Bread as a Team Lead and is attending Arapahoe Community College, though he plans to transfer to a four-year school this autumn. Some of his hobbies and interests include Dungeons & Dragons, chess, card games, video games, reading, and writing. Douglas enjoyed his time as part of the Progenitor team immensely.
Fiction Editor Ellie is currently a Graphic Design Major at ACC, but she has a passion for Creative Writing. Her interests include drawing cartoons, cooking new meals she’s never tried, and taking long walks with her 10-month-old puppy. She enjoys Sci Fi and will never shy away from creating new ideas for stories or cartoons that include said subject. Ellie has enjoyed her time on the Progenitor as Fiction Editor and hopes to get published in the magazine one day herself.
Graphic Design Lead Emily Forney is a graphic design major at ACC. She was one of the Graphic Design Leads for this year’s progenitor edition. She has a passion for design and loves using her talents whenever and wherever she can. When not designing or doing homework she loves to paint pet portraits, go on walks with her dogs, hangout with family and friends, and take good naps. You can find Emily on Instagram @emiloves_art
Illustrator Hannah Monks is the Illustrator for Progenitor’s 57th Edition. She has always loved to draw and is thrilled to be finishing up her degree for Graphic Design & Illustration at ACC. When she’s not drawing, she can be found watching movies, reading, thrift shopping or crocheting. You can view her work at hanneliza.com and shop at hanneliza.redbubble.com
Graphic Designer Lydia Gmerek is a graphic design major at ACC and as a result, worked on the Progenitor 57 layout and website. After graduation in May, they will continue towards a graphic design BFA at University of Colorado Denver. Along with redesigning book covers and running independent anthologies (not unlike the ACC Progenitor) to avoid school work, Lydia is an aerialist and what they fondly term as a "paid LARPer" at Meow Wolf Denver.
Graphic Designer Porter Ganong is a Graphic Design Major in his last semester at ACC. He is a Colorado native with a passion for design learning more everyday through school and in using his knack for design in his daily life. Outside of school he is a sneakerhead and loves to find old shoes to restore and make new.
Art & Photography Editor Reese Vickers is an English major with an affinity for creative writing. He’s a lover of the arts, enjoying reading and writing and listening to music whenever possible. In his free time he likes to relax, without having to worry about responsibilities.
Graphic Designer
Creative Nonfiction Editor Savignon Swimmer is an Indigenous (Lakota Oglala) writer finishing his last semester at ACC and is working towards a degree in journalism. He is the Nonfiction editor for the 57th edition of Progenitor and considers the genre to be one of his favorites. You can find his work in Native Max, a Denver-based Indigenous fashion magazine. When he's not spending hours writing articles at his computer, you can find him indulging in nerd culture to the max.
Editor in Chief Viviana Nelson is the editor in chief for this year’s progenitor edition. She has found a love for publication she never knew she had before this class. The Progenitor has been a wonderful and truly unique experience. She will be attending Colorado School of Mines for a mechanical engineering degree in the fall. When not writing or studying, Viviana loves to paint, go for hikes, and hang out with her friends. She frequently bothers her cats, as well.
ACC Faculty
English Faculty Trotter has taught at ACC in the English Department since 2008, and this is his fourth year as Faculty Advisor to the Content Team side of the Progenitor. Each year is a new and exciting and challenging ride, the best part being witnessing how the students come together to meet those challenges. Second best part is all the fame and glory the Progenitor garners him, and also the significant financial boost.
Graphic Design Faculty John Hall, Progenitor Faculty Advisor for Design, is a professor in ACC's Multimedia, Graphic Design & Illustration program. A self-proclaimed type-geek, he loves it when students produce a book with the quality of this year's Progenitor. When he's not getting words & pictures ready for print, he's usually with family and attempting to grow bigger, better, and more vegetables.
Colorado Gallery of the Arts Director Trish Sangelo is the Gallery Director, Study Abroad Coordinator, and Photography Professor at ACC. She is a professional photographer, artist, public speaker, traveler, and lifelong learner.