{"id":2718,"date":"2026-04-09T17:35:03","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T17:35:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demo-ucf-cah.pantheonsite.io\/cah-ucf-edu-cypressdome\/?page_id=2718"},"modified":"2026-04-09T17:35:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T17:35:03","slug":"alumni-testimonials","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/cypressdome\/alumni-testimonials\/","title":{"rendered":"Alumni Testimonials"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cMy time spent in The Cypress Dome<\/em> not only provided an enriching and collaborative environment for the incredible feat of launching a literary magazine, but it also gave me valuable insight as to the complexity of the submission process from an administrative perspective.\u201d
\u2014Gian Arellano, Playwright of MILK<\/em> and The Last Bear<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Cypress Dome Society has been an invaluable resource to me on my writing life journey. It helped me see the world of writing beyond the undergraduate degree and gave me the skills I needed to make writing and editing a part of my professional career.\u201d
\u2014Madison Bernath, Solutions Development Manager at Alaka\u00b4ina Foundation Family of Companies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Cypress Dome<\/em> published my first poem, and in the next issue, another poem won first place in the annual contest. I still remember that flash of joy and astonishment, of unbelievable luck that others could value my work and publish it. I felt welcomed into the world of writing and writers in a very tangible way.\u201d
\u2014Kelle Groom, author of three volumes of poetry (Five Kingdoms, Luckily, and Underwater City) and the memoir I Wore the Ocean in the Shape of a Girl, named a Library Journal Best Memoir of 2011, a New York Times Book Review Editor\u2019s Choice, and a Barnes & Noble Great New Writers selection.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy experiences as an editor of The Cypress Dome<\/em> have been incredibly influential\u2013 not only in giving me the know-how to establish and advise a literary magazine for my students, but also in developing the interpersonal skills necessary to function in the professional world. Real world experiences like this are vital to a university cultivating well-rounded graduates.\u201d
\u2014Carly Gates, high school teacher, Palm Beach County, Florida<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe cypress dome was an awesome natural feature near UCF\u2019s campus in the early 90s. It\u2019s probably even more awesome now, but The Cypress Dome<\/em> was an excellent chance to work with Don Stap and my fellow creative writers in the early 90s, too. The Cypress Dome<\/em> helped us highlight UCF\u2019s writers\u2019 natural talents, as I learned lay-out skills and as we showcased all the best that the campus\u2019s creative chroniclers had to offer.\u201d
\u2014Adam Sonstegard, Professor of English, Cleveland State University<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among our illustrious alumni are the following writers, with their most recent publication listed. Many of them published in The Cypress Dome<\/em> and many also served as editors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jaroslav Kalfar<\/a>  Spaceman of Bohemia
Nathan Holic<\/a>, Bright Lights, Medium-Sized City<\/em>
Kandi Steiner<\/a>, author of scores of best-selling romance novels<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julie Iromuanya<\/a>, A Season of Light<\/em>
Jennifer Torres Sanchez<\/a>, YA author
Jen Glantz<\/a>, Bridesmaid for Hire<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dana Kantrowicz,<\/a> writer and editor<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Didi Jackson<\/a>, My Infinity<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kelle Groome<\/a>, How To Live: A Memoir in Essays<\/em>
Dan Lopez<\/a>, The Show House, A Novel<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Edgar Gomez<\/a>, Alligator Tears<\/em>
Lindsay Hunter<\/a>, Hot Springs Drive<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lu Chekowsky<\/a>, Don\u2019t Buy What I\u2019m Selling<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Francesca Battitstelli<\/a>, Christian singer\/ songwriter<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cMy time spent in The Cypress Dome not only provided an enriching and collaborative environment for the incredible feat of launching a literary magazine, but it also gave me valuable insight as to the complexity of the submission process from an administrative perspective.\u201d\u2014Gian Arellano, Playwright of MILK and The Last Bear \u201cThe Cypress Dome Society has been an invaluable resource […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":295,"featured_media":1372,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"our-story","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2718","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAlumni Testimonials - The Cypress Dome<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/cypressdome\/alumni-testimonials\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Alumni Testimonials - 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