UWSP’s Cornerstone Press sees authors recognized across literary awards
The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s student-staffed printing house, Cornerstone Press, earned 45 regional and national awards during the 2025-26 academic year, doubling its count from the previous year.
The awards included 22 authors from the 2025 season. Authors work directly with the press to edit and publish short fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, memoirs and autobiographies.
Photo/UWSP Staff
“It helps the reputation of the authors themselves first, and then by proxy, the press,” said Ross Tangedal, director and publisher of Cornerstone Press. “They feel beyond just our support; they feel an external support.”
Cornerstone Press, a university trade press established in 1984, is staffed by undergraduate students majoring in English, writing, publishing and editing.
Students enrolled in qualifying English courses at the university can work with authors to edit manuscripts, lay out books, design covers and establish marketing and sales campaigns through the press.
Photo/Ethan Laufenberg
“Students are able to go into the class, learn about the industry, but then also do something that is like directly related to these books that are being published,” said Lily Kulbeck, senior managing editor at Cornerstone Press.
The press is the only one of its kind in the UW System and one of five in the nation, distinguishing it from other university trade presses.
Author Bob Johnson won the Short Story Fiction category at the American Fiction Awards for his book, “The Continental Divide.” The title was named one of Literary Hub’s 100 Notable Small Press Books of 2025 and was longlisted for the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize.
“Close to a Flame” by Colleen Alles and “American Animism” by Jamey Gallager were also named to Literary Hub’s 100 Notable Small Press Books of 2025.
“An Ignorance of Trees” by Jim Daniels was named a Michigan Notable Book. Daniels also won the Michigan Author Award.
Other winning titles include “Trust Issues” by K.P. Davis, which won an International Impact Award; “The Hopefuls” by Elizabeth Oness, which won the National Indie Excellence Award; and “Dining on Salt” by Wayne Lee, which won the North American Poetry Book of the Year.
Other authors included in the list were finalists for national awards and received honorable mentions in their respective categories.
Books published by Cornerstone Press are available for purchase through multiple online and in-person outlets, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the Cornerstone Press website.
“No matter what, our books are available anywhere you buy books,” said Tangedal.
The award season has brought an influx of authors and students hoping to work with the press.
“I always told my students this: you never know what is going to be the positive thing that propels you forward. So you need to stay open to those opportunities, and then when one’s there, though, you make sure and rush to it, and do your best with it,” said Tangedal.
Ethan Laufenberg
Contributor
