Jade Deming is a passionate artist whose work explores the depths of creativity through photography, painting, and drawing. She likes to capture moments and emotions in ways that inspire and engage audiences. Whether through the lens of a camera or the strokes of a brush, her art reflects an appreciation for the world around her. Constantly evolving and experimenting with new techniques, Jade continues to push her boundaries of artistic expression, making her mark in the world of visual arts. 

Her piece “Up In Smoke” won the 2025 Vanguard Award, selected by the internationally acclaimed painter, Eric Fischl, as a part of the Eric Fischl Lecture Series at the Phoenix Art Museum. This portrait of her dad captures the raw emotional weight he carries. The red lighting is a reflection of the flames from the house fire they experienced in 2023. Both the cigarette and his home go “Up In Smoke”. 

Check out her pages on Instagram @jadedeming and @jadedeyes.jpeg

Eleanor Moore is a freshman at P.C.  She loves having conversations about art with others who love art, so being an editor for Rise has been such a privilege. She has been reading the magazine since its first issue and has routinely found inspiration from the work showcased. Eleanor hopes one day to inspire others with her writing as she has been inspired, and Rise is a great place to start! Some of Eleanor’s favorite pieces of art are Studio Ghibli films (all of them), Avatar: The Last Airbender, the movie A Monster in Paris, Friedensreich Hundertwasser’s art and architecture, any song by Hozier or Gregory Alan Isakov, and everything her brother makes. Aside from school, Eleanor enjoys painting nails, especially her sisters’. Her best friend is her platonic soulmate and Eleanor would happily run away with her to be old crones in the woods who only talk to each other and their ten cats, two goats, and the murder of crows that adopted them.

Shelby Nesbitt is studying Creative Writing with a focus on nonfiction and poetry. She hopes to pursue further education in Chicago come Fall. When Shelby is not writing, she is most likely crocheting, collaging, shooting/developing film, hiking, or watching movies. 

Paola Ponce was born and raised in Arizona. She is in her freshman year at Phoenix College and is working towards a degree in Journalism and New Media. Paola adores anything with a story, whether film, art, or video games. Often, she finds herself discussing symbolism and theories with her friends. Indulging in her hobbies means spending time with people she loves.

Maggie Sepeda was born in Taos, New Mexico, but has lived all over the world, including New Zealand, Australia, Bolivia, and Alaska. She spent most of her 20s working and traveling, having spent time in jobs ranging from jaguar caretaker to apple tree planting. She has returned to school after eleven years away, and is about to graduate from Phoenix College with an AA in English before transferring to get a BA in Creative Writing and Journalism. Maggie is extremely passionate about literature, traveling, cooking, her husband, and their dog. 

Lauren Wilcox is a Phoenix native and aspiring editor. She currently lives with her parents and their cat, Webster. She has a natural talent for proofreading and copyediting, and loves to read and write. Their other hobbies include listening to music, making art, playing video games, watching movies and TV shows, and collecting stuffed animals. She also livestreams on Twitch, and they hope to make more videos online in the future. Additional information about them can be found at https://strawb3rrym1lk.carrd.co. 

Cody Wilson is a published poet who teaches English and Creative Writing courses at Phoenix College, where he serves as co-director of the Creative Writing Program. He enjoys riding bikes, writing, reading, playing music, and getting outdoors.

He facilitates the CRW298AC Rise Editorial Class at Phoenix College, open for enrollment once each year.