Facets, the art and literary magazine at Butler County Community College, has transitioned through changes inside and out since the first edition debuted in 1984. From copies stapled on the side to bound copies printed on a color press, students now regularly win awards for their work. In 1996, computer graphics were used for the first time. Four years later, in 2000, the magazine won first place in its category in the national competition. The art on the cover of the 2002 edition is by Carole Demmy.

BUTLER TWP — It was the first time Ralph Scherder saw his name in print, and it gave him the confidence to become the author of a memoir and an editor of an outdoors magazine.

Scherder, of Butler, contributed to the art and literary magazine at Butler County Community College with short stories and poetry. In 2001, he was editor.

He says he didn't go to BC3 planning to join the staff, though.

"It was something that found me," he said.

What he found was a way to make a career out of writing. What he found was friends he still keeps in touch with today.

Saturday, he will join some of those friends as a commemorative edition of the award-winning Facets is celebrated.

Stories and poetry from the past 22 years will be read from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Succop Theater in a reunion marking the college's 40th anniversary. About 100 are expected to attend.

Eric Pedersen, English professor at BC3, acts as adviser for the magazine. He collected the best of each edition since it began in 1984 into one book of more than 100-pages. The book is at the printer and may be delivered in time for the reunion.

Scherder will read some of his work, possibly one of his short stories given first place by the American Scholastic Press Association in his category, "We Need to Talk" and "Broken Glass."

He's looking forward to seeing others who contributed to the magazine as well."We were all very close friends who pushed each other to be better writers," he said.The magazine also gave him an opportunity to write for publication.Scherder does that often, with a book, "The Taxidermist's Son," published in October, and as the Pennsylvania editor of Ohio Valley Outdoors Magazine.He credits Pedersen's writers club for getting him involved and Pedersen for improving the Facets during its history.The magazine originally consisted of 43 Xerox copies stapled together and illustrated with two cartoons, Pedersen said. The staff was six students, and Pedersen said copies of that first edition are rare.This edition of 180 pages is saddle stitched with an original glossy cover.The magazine took a cosmetic twist in 1996 when it first included computer graphics and won its first award.

The following year, the staff used software to design the magazine, which included a clip-art color cover.After that, the graphic arts club at the college paired with the writers club to include original art and more design elements."That's a testament to EP, Eric Pederson, always pushing us to do better," Scherder said.Other milestones in the magazine's history include:• 1984 — First edition• 1996 — First bound spine• 1999 — A dye-cut cover• 2000 — First magazine more than 100 pages• 2002 — Largest edition until this year of 151 pagesPederson was involved in the 1984 edition and has been involved in 15 of the editions. And he said he's seen great improvement in it as an adviser."Facets is one of the truly good things the college has done for writers," Scherder said. deck

<B>WHAT: </B>Creative Writing: Poetry Class<B>WHERE: </B>Butler County Community College<B>WHEN: </B>6:30 to 9:15 p.m. Thursdays during the fall semester<B>INFO: </B>Call 724-287-8711, Ext. 236.