09/24/2018
The 2018 Dragon Yearbook does it again!
Incredibly proud to announce that the 2018 Dragon Yearbook won a Spartan, the highest award in the state. Some of the comments from the judge include:
Unifying Concept
•MORE is a superb unifying theme. The MORE I looked (in amazement) at your page layouts, perused your captions and summary copy, and studied the meticulous attention to detail, the MORE impressed I was.
• My positive first impressions (e.g., reading Stephanie Orth’s summary of how the staff chose the “More Than a Dragon” theme) were reinforced from the title page all the way to excellent closing spread. Just as MORE was spotlighted on the opening spread, it was appropriately spotlighted again on the closing spread. And everywhere in between, I kept seeing (and marveling at) how much more effort, talent, and quality appeared in More Than a Dragon 2018 than in the vast majority of other high school yearbooks.
Coverage
•Using chronological organization helped sections flow smoothly from summer to spring.
• The special coverage blocks that appear throughout the Index pages are a major asset, because they provide an alphabetical list of everything for each area. For instance, the Student Life block lists
everything from blood drive, college signings, and homecoming to student jobs, school scheduling, and studying at Starbucks. Along with Student Life, the coverage blocks include: academics, community, clubs and organizations, fall, spring, and winter sports.
• Well-written student profiles and pictures appear on each spread throughout the book. They do an excellent job of showing the variety of student personalities, interests, and talents that make LOHS such a special school.
Clubs and Organizations
• Pages 262-64. It’s exceptional to have a sports program that includes varsity bowling, Special Olympics basketball, and mountain biking.
• Pages 274-277. Magnificent photos of instrumental and vocal music groups. This is the finest presentation of music groups I’ve ever seen. Every group looks elegant and professional.
• The 32 clubs at LOHS are covered with pictures and stories. Some of my favorites are the Military History Club, Television Production Workshop, and Bully Busters. The Clubs and Organizations section of the yearbook features outstanding page design and professional-grade photography.
• Pictures and stories about clubs and organizations appear throughout the yearbook.
Academics
• Twenty-one stories related directly or indirectly to academics were included. Each of story noted that academics at LOHS is more than just participation, it’s about working together and striving for high achievement.
• Cutting-edge technology is used in classes like auto technology and engineering.
• Television Production Workshop is available to students interested in media.
Sports
• Being able to offer 64 varsity and junior varsity sports is incredible. Included in that list of sports are: mountain biking, skiing, girls powerlifting, bowling, lacrosse, and water polo.
• Special Olympics sports receive prominent coverage.
• Some of your finest writing is found in the profile of Lucas Spencer and the “Dedicated from the start” boys basketball feature. Both use specific facts, examples, and direct quotes to explain WHAT makes these people special. I especially like the background details about the JVA basketball players.
• Anytime a football team saves its only home victory of the season for its last game, that is big news. The photos and summary copy of that victory will provide long-lasting memories.
• Page 66. The six girls basketball pictures produce an EXCELLENT mini-design. They illustrate the rule of “Less is more.” Their success comes from starting with two large action photos and complementing them with four smaller photos, each of which has a different size and shape and uses a unique angle. Together, those six photos have strong visual appeal.
People
• The people at LOHS are more than just teachers and students, they’re leaders, best friends, motivators, and high achievers.
• Student profiles are your forte, because they blend engaging quotes with interesting quotes to make each student stand out. The profiles prove LOHS students are MORE than ordinary. They’re special. Some of my favorites include: Emma McWilliams (page 14), Erin Gallaher (page 34), Sydnee Keuker
(page 45), Lucas Spencer (page 64), Liberty Mason (page 67), Caden Barker (page 70), Special Olympics (page 76), Alexander Basigkow (page 93), Andrew Remer (page 100), and Madison Dober
(page 106).
• The student profiles add interest to the Index pages.
• Pictures and stories are devoted to groups like the Special Olympics.
Advertising
Advertising pages feature the same professional-grade photography and design found elsewhere in the yearbook. The senior ads are visual knockouts.
• Index pages are well organized and display a lot of conscientious time, effort, and creativity. Everything about the pages, from page design to content, is first class. The special info boxes (for “Academics, Community, Clubs and Organizations, Fall Sports, Spring Sports, Student Life, and Winter Sports) are super time-savers for readers. The large senior photos and profiles prove that “the best is often saved for last.” Each senior wears an extra-bright smile that seems to say, “I’m more than a senior, I’m a Dragon!”
Writing
• Solid writing fundamentals (e.g., sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, and paragraph construction) are a major strength.
• Attribution is used correctly.
• Objectivity is maintained in all types of writing.
• Your finest writing uses specific details. The “Sell out for Soldiers” story (page 62) is filled with informative facts and examples that show the enthusiasm of ORH students who participated in helping raise money for soldiers to call home. The skillful use of facts, examples, and quotes makes this one of
your finest stories.
• Page 82. The school’s emphasis on education is spotlighted in the coverage of the Science National Honor Society. I like how the summary copy explains that the society meets after school and requires community service. Those are exceptional ways to teach life lessons like responsibility and commitment. The Makerfair sounds like a valuable way to promote the SNHS.
Design, Graphics, Typography
• Division spreads and divider pages are outstanding. Skillful use of Adobe InDesign and Photoshop give those pages extra visual appeal. I especially like how part of the dominant photo on each division spread includes the name of each section (e.g., summer, fall, people). Finally, using a transparent background for the “More than” info boxes is uniquely interesting.
• Little things often mean a lot. That’s true of your careful attention to design details (e.g., screens, page folios, the contrasting headline fonts, info graphics, and design credits). It’s that meticulous attention to detail that makes your book stand out.
• Professional-grade photography is a major reason for the impressive spreads.
• The winter divider is extra special because of the kaleidoscope of vibrant colors and shapes. Advanced Photoshop and InDesign skills are evident.
• Terrific full-page divider pages are a major asset for the panel pages. The XXL divider photos feature the book’s very best storytelling. Those photos are more than ordinary, they’re extraordinary!
• Some of the finest page design, especially for spring sports, are found on the 12 pages starting on page 113. That is mainly because those pages follow the rule of “More is less.” Large/dominant action photos are flanked by smaller photos of varying sizes. Soccer balls and softballs are adeptly featured. Together, they display powerful storytelling.
Photography
• Exceptional photography is a major asset throughout the More Than Dragon 2018. Photo quality, content, and storytelling are remarkable. In many cases, like the XL panoramic shot of OHS (pp. 2-3) and the summer fireworks photo (pp. 4-5), the photos rival anything found in professional publications like Vogue and Sports Illustrated.
• Photographers understand the nuances of using a camera. A good example is the marching band photo (title page). I like who the background was blurred to call attention to the musicians in the
foreground.
• Close-ups capture a wide range of fascinating facial expressions.
• Photographers show savvy in using Photoshop special effects, like incorporating pictures inside large single words.
• Pictures accentuate the positive. They show students collaborating, encouraging, and helping each other. More than that, they show students enjoying school activities.
Reader Services
• Everything about your yearbook is first class. Meticulous attention to detail is found on every page.
• Your book is a shining example of how genuine quality is conspicuous. It contradicts the old axiom “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” Your distinctive cover instantly establishes interest. That interest grows as the reader moves through book’s 295 pages.
• Solid organization is a major reason for reader enjoyment. Sections are clearly separated by captivating divider pages and division spreads.
COMMENDATION
The judge has designated one of the above category areas as worthy of commendation for the effort students have put into this book. This often is the top-scoring category (in percent), but may be another category the judge deems worthy of praise.
Your yearbook has earned a commendation for excellence in Unifying Concept.
Summary Comments
SUMMARY COMMENTS:
More Than Dragon a 2018, is much more than a yearbook. It’s an exquisite keepsake filled with a lifetime of golden memories. I applaud Adviser Stephanie Orth, Editors Alisha Briley and Makayla Smirnow, and every member of the yearbook staff for the extra time, effort, and quality that you incorporated in More Than a Dragon 2018.
Conscientious effort and meticulous attention to detail are major strengths; they’re conspicuous throughout your book. Prime examples are the special way the bold and script fonts introduced on the cover are used; the impressive way design, writing, and photo credits appear on each spread; and the gifted use of Photoshop special effects, like merging photos into copy blocks. Including student profiles throughout your 295-page book is quite a feat, and it proves that LOHS is more than just a school. It’s where the pursuit of excellence happens because of encouragement and collaboration. The large senior photos and profiles on the Index pages prove that “the best is often saved for last.” The extra-bright smile worn by each senior seems to say, “I’m more than a senior, I’m a Dragon!” Consistency of excellence is maintained in photography and content. Some of your finest photography appears on the divider pages that introduce the seniors, juniors, sophomores, freshmen, and faculty panel pages. Using full-page photos accentuates the exceptional storytelling in those photos. The same is true for the pictures on the fall, winter, spring recap (pages 113-15).
Creative design is also commendable. Nowhere is that more conspicuous that on pages 36-37. Kudos to the person (s) who designed the three special foldouts and how seamlessly they fold together
to form an XL pep rally photo. The “Altogether as a community”; “More than (1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th place; “Snap out of it”; and “Connecting a community” pictures and stories on the flip side of the folds feature well-written accounts of what LOHS students did to compete, have fun, and raise money for worthy causes. Innovative design is also an asset on the fall, winter, spring sports recap pages.
More Than a Dragon 2018 closes just as impressively as it began. The XXL photo of LOHS at twilight conveys a sense of completion: School is over and it’s time to go home. But at the same time, the photo seems to say, “We’re more than just a high school. We’re the home of the mighty Dragons!”
