An excerpt from The Jaguar 2006.
The staff of the Southern University yearbook recently received an Award of Excellence for their design and coverage in their 2005-06 release.
The book, entitled, “Your Spot in Time,” is featured in Taylor Publishing’s “2007 Yearbook Yearbook” which showcases yearbooks selected by a panel of judges for their outstanding work.
“We are definitely elated to learn that Southern University was chosen as number one,” said Christopher Jones, assistant director of Student Media and faculty advisor for the yearbook. “To be featured in (Taylor’s) yearbook is rewarding for myself and the staff whom of which work so diligently on the book.”
According to a press release, Taylor Publishing recognizes less than five percent of yearbook programs with this honor. SU was selected out of 66 other colleges and universities who publish their yearbooks with Taylor as well.
Yearbooks published by Taylor for the 2006-07 school year were evaluated in one or more of the following areas: cover design, theme development, in-sheet design and layout design, according to the release.
“The competition gets tougher each year because staffs are doing an excellent job of creating great, student-oriented yearbooks,” said Marilyn Scoggins, editor of Taylor’s “Yearbook Yearbook.”
“We base our selection for the continuity from the beginning to the end,” Scoggins said.
Jones said the staff uses Taylor’s “Yearbook Yearbook” as a measuring stick for excellence in yearbook design.
“We have great photographers and their pictures speak for themselves,” Jones said. “We assign individuals to cover certain events and to capture the main essence of each event and what they bring back exceeds our expectations which is why the strength of our yearbook for the past 3 years has been an eye capturing piece.”
While Southern University students, faculty and staff flip through the glossy pages of the captured memories, staff members of the awarded winning yearbook said they remember the hardships it took to put it all together vividly.
“There was a lot of hardships and good times working on this yearbook,” said Kamilah Stroy, former editor in chief of the 2005-06 yearbook. “I recall being promoted to Editor in Chief when our 2004-2005 editor, Anthony Moore, had to leave for the military. The transition for positions was totally unexpected but it worked out for the better.”
Stroy said although there were some rough times, there was a lot of good times also.
“Although I have graduated and moved on, I want to commend the staff for doing an excellent job with the yearbook,” she said.
Taylor Publishing is a major publisher of yearbooks nationwide and the industry’s technology leader in digital innovation. The company headquarters is in Dallas and also operates facilities in El Paso as well.