School of Communication alumnus Fred Maglione (B.S. ‘95) released his first children’s book, Apix Discovers Florida State, a book about personal growth and self-acceptance.  

“When my two boys were very young, we would read children’s books together, and they were great, but I wanted them to see that the real places they love can become just as magical as any fictional world,” said Maglione. “To me, that’s what FSU is.” 

Apix Discovers Florida State follows a Bee, Apix, that visits FSU for the first time, going on a journey of self-discovery and experiencing the magic of Florida State. 

“I wanted a book that was more than a campus tour. I wanted a real plot and character arc, an inspirational and educational theme, and high-quality illustrations,” said Maglione. “Children’s books like this were not out there. So, I decided I was going to write and produce this type of book myself.” 

Through Maglione’s involvement at FSU as Vice President of the Student Body and his later education at the FSU College of Law, he developed a deep appreciation for the university and the opportunities it offers its students. With his book, Maglione wanted to capture that same sense of possibility that can be found in the ordinary, everyday places that make FSU special.

“I went back and forth with which locations to use because I had to keep the story concise,” said Maglione. “I knew I had to include Doak, but I didn’t want it to be on game day. I wanted to show that the building and structure is beautiful and exciting on any given day.” 

Today, Maglione serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Chattahoochee Valley, a non-profit organization focusing on youth development. His career in fundraising leads all the way back to his time at the College of Communication and Information (CCI), and it laid the foundation for his professional career.  

“Almost all of my career can be traced back to an internship I had during my senior year within CCI. My advisor worked with me to create a fundraising internship with the Vice President for Student Affairs, which ultimately led me to work with a nonprofit fundraising consulting company for over 20 years,” said Maglione. 

Throughout his career, Maglione has contributed to initiatives focusing on youth development and leadership. His children’s book is an extension of this work as he continues to strive for growth and improvement in young children.  

“Many professionals told me to keep the sentences short and use 3-letter words to make it easy for children,” said Maglione. “But I thought, ‘Why not let kids rise to the occasion?’ We should be challenging them, and based on feedback, children can read the book just fine. So why limit them when we can help them grow?” 

To get a copy or learn more about the book, visit campusstripes.com.