Interviewing, photographing, designing and more are all tasks that the Edmond Memorial High School yearbook staff spend its year doing in order to produce the best yearbook possible. This year, the yearbook staff took home 29 awards out of the 36 categories available at its state competition.
To be a member of the yearbook staff, one has to have the determination and drive to accomplish all that needs to be done. Being part of the yearbook staff is a responsibility that extends beyond just daily class, it is a commitment to put one’s best foot forward at all times.
“Yearbook is an incredibly challenging endeavor,” co-editor of photography Cooper Bortmess said. “We start our process toward the beginning of April, so still during the previous school year, and we work for 11 months (April – March) working to create the best yearbook the school has ever printed.”
Yearbook staff is not only a place to sharpen skills such as photography, writing and interviewing but is also a place to make friends and be part of a community all while contributing to the school. These skills may help students who plan to pursue careers like this in the future.
“Having pride in our staff has allowed me to be thankful no matter what happens during the award ceremony at state,” co-editor of photography Kennedy Day said. “We might not win 6A first place, but getting to spend a whole year with all the staff members is enough of a win. No prize needed.”
Learning from mistakes is an important part of improving in almost any area of life, and yearbook is no different. State competition is not only a time for awards; it is also a time for reflection. Having judges view the product may allow for possible improvements that may have been overlooked by staff.
“Each November after returning from State, we look over our [critiques] and successes and immediately begin putting those things into the book we are currently working on in order to continue the success and improve where we can,” Bortmess said. “So the state [competition] is the driving force for our continued success and improvement.”
Working on a team can be just the motivation needed to succeed in a difficult competition such as yearbook state. Each member has their own roles and responsibilities, making sure that everything comes out as best as it can.
“My favorite memory was last year during deadline week when we all stayed the night at someone’s house and got the book fully submitted,” Day said. “I really got to know everybody on a different level. Stress and hard work can bring out everybody’s true personalities, and not just their school one. It is so much fun to eat dinner as a staff, get last-minute interviews, watch movies and laugh together over everything and nothing at all.”
Even though the workload is heavy, memories that yearbook members make are full of fun and something to cherish. All the hard work is sure to pay off at the end of the year during yearbook distribution week, seeing the finished product.
“It is a year full of chaos, fun, work and communication,” yearbook adviser Elanna Dobbs said.
Attending events, interviewing, photographing, editing and more are all things that yearbook does throughout the year to make sure everything runs smoothly. These students not only put in the work for awards but to create memories and the best yearbook they can for the whole school.
Contact Emma Eischeid at [email protected]
