Jostens, the leading producer of yearbooks and student-created content, today announced that Hemlock High School’s yearbook program has achieved the Jostens 2023 National Yearbook Program of Excellence award at the Gold Level. The National Yearbook Program of Excellence recognizes engaging yearbooks that reflect a broad representation of the student body while helping students develop 21st century skills such as communication, collaboration, and information and communication technologies (ICT) literacy.
The Hemlock High School’s 22/23 award-winning yearbook program is under the direction of Mrs. Jennifer Whitford yearbook adviser. Mrs. Whitford said, “After receiving this award last year, as a first-year adviser for the yearbook class, I was even more determined to produce another award-winning yearbook. Again, my students did not disappoint; they put in countless hours both in the classroom and out to produce a fantastic product. I would like to thank Hemlock High School's students and staff who helped in countless ways. Also, the community members who supported our yearbook through advertising sales, donating yearbooks to needy students, and purchasing much needed equipment for our program. I'm extremely proud to have received this national recognition and we will strive to create another outstanding yearbook this school year.”
Jostens’ National Yearbook Program of Excellence Awards are presented twice a year, in spring and in fall based on the yearbook’s arrival date at the school. The award was presented to the Hemlock High School yearbook program for achieving defined criteria in the following categories: creating an inclusive yearbook, generating school engagement, and successfully managing the yearbook creation process.
“Jostens is proud to recognize those individuals who have created an exceptional yearbook for their school and community,” said Tammy Whitaker, Jostens VP and COO Yearbook Division. “These schools did an exceptional job on multiple levels, despite the challenges presented by this school year. Yearbooks are a critical part of capturing and telling a school’s story, and Jostens is dedicated to supporting yearbook staff members as they do their important work.”
Founded in 1897, Jostens has produced school yearbooks for over 60 years. Schools rely on Jostens and their local Jostens representatives to provide a combination of journalism education and technology tools to deliver a learning experience that helps students develop 21st century skills in journalism, photography, writing and design, leadership and business while creating the permanent record of the school year. Jostens invests in state-of-the-art technology, best in class service, educational curriculum and award-winning print manufacturing platforms to plan, design, build and produce yearbooks.
Pictured on Left: Returning staff members, seniors Madison Penny, Riley LaFrance, Katie Grzenia and Cayla Konop. Pictired on Right: The entire 22/23 yearbook staff.