photo credit: Hannah Hansen

With flying colors \\ The yearbook staff, the Dynasty, was presented with an Award of Distinguished Merit for their 2021 yearbook, Some things never change. “I really liked our theme and how we incorporated our theme throughout the book, and I feel like it was really fitting for that year,” current editor-in-chief Mallory Hatch said. “It was a really fun book to create.”

Reaching for stars

Yeabook wins award

writer: Hannah Hansen, Editor-in-Chief

March 2, 2022

Yearbook received their evaluation for last year’s book, Some things never change, and were awarded high scores across the board.

“The amount of coverage you have in the ‘21 book is astounding,” the judge of the yearbook said. “You did such a great job covering so many topics.”

In ILPC scoring, yearbooks have the opportunity to win Award of Merit, Award of Honor, Award of Achievement, and Award of Distinguished Merit, with the last being the top score. This book received an Award of Distinguished Merit, which was the seventh Distinguished Merit in a row for yearbook.

“Quite honestly, this was one of my favorite books and I had hoped we would get this ranking, and I was satisfied with the judge’s comments,” Yearbook Adviser Casi Thedford said.

The yearbook was judged on a variety of topics such as photography, headlines, and coverage of different parts of school life like academics, organizations and student life.

“I really liked our theme and how we incorporated our theme throughout the book, and I feel like it was really fitting for that year,” current editor-in-chief Mallory Hatch said. “It was a really fun book to create.”

In addition to awards, a yearbook can be nominated for Star competition, if at least three categories of the book are marked as having Star potential.

“Your best section!” the judge said on the academic coverage. “From fine arts to criminal justice to robotics – nice coverage!”

The yearbook was nominated for the Star competition, with unifying concepts, people, academics, and organizations all being marked as exceptional.

“Receiving the Star nominations validates all of our hard work and proves, not only did my students do a great job, but one of the best jobs in the state,” Mrs. Thedford said.

The book, with Katie Borchetta and Kyndal Nystrom as the editors-in-chief, was also graded as a Distinguished Merit book in 10 out of 13 sections.

“I really enjoyed going through your book and I am confident the students just loved it!” the judge concluded.

photo credit: Casi Thedford

Fruits of labor \\ The yearbook staff celebrates the 2021 yearbook’s recognition in the Jostens’ annual Look Book. The book was selected from among 1,000 and 2,000 books submitted for consideration. “It’s great to be featured in the book; I worked hard,” sophomore sports editor Tori Thedford said. “I want everyone to feel that way when seeing themselves in the yearbook.”

Some things never change

Yearbook featured in international Look Book

writer: Heath Hadley, Editor in Chief

Last year’s yearbook, the Dynasty, themed “Some things never change” was recognized in the 2022 Jostens’ Look Book April 5.

“Way to go, Mrs. Thedford and team,” Assistant Principal Angela Arp said. “As always, they produce an amazing yearbook that is definitely one to set the standard for others to look to and see how it’s done.”

The book was one of 458 selected from between 1,000 and 2,000 books that were submitted for consideration by a team of journalism experts.

“Everyone at Jostens is proud to have played a part in producing your outstanding yearbook,” Jostens representative Tread Sheffield said. “We celebrate your success.” Of the 14 yearbooks produced since the school’s opening, the yearbook program has been featured 12 times.

“It is an honor because we are compared to books across the nation and selected from two thousand,” adviser Mrs. Casi Thedford said.

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It is an honor because we are compared to books across the nation and selected from two thousand.

— adviser Casi Thedford

Co-editors in chief Katie Borchetta and Kyndal Nystrom led the staff last year. Borchetta is currently attending the University of Texas and Nystrom is at Wichita State in Kansas.

Junior Tori Thedford’s spread on sports medicine was selected to be featured, along with one of her photos from a photo contest in which she got an honorable mention.

“It’s great to be featured in the book, I worked hard,” Tori said. “I want everyone to feel that way when seeing themselves in the yearbook.”

More than 11,000 high schools will receive the Look Book in the United States, Canada, and Internationally to use as examples of excellence for inspiration when planning their own yearbook’s design and coverage.

“This was the next to the last yearbook I made and I hope the 15th, this year’s yearbook, is featured as well,” Mrs. Thedford said. “We’ll find out next April.”

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About the Contributors

Hannah Hansen, Editor-in-Chief

Hello, everyone! I’m Hannah, this year’s Editor-in-Chief. I am a senior, which is both exhilarating and absolutely terrifying. Outside of newspaper,...

Heath Hadley, Editor in Chief

Hello! I am Heath Hadley, the Editor in Chief for Blue Print for the second time this year. I am a senior (cries) and I want to be an astrophysicist. Outside...

Casi Thedford, Adviser

Heads and tales
I teach my students all the workings of running news publications. This website allows us to showcase all the different journalistic styles...

Reaching for stars

Some things never change

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