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Calhoun Academy Named Jostens 2023 National Yearbook Program of Excellence
St. Matthews, South Carolina – Jostens, the leading producer of yearbooks and student-created content, today announced that Calhoun Academy’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.
Calhoun Academy's award-winning yearbook program was led by Gracin Parler '24, Editor and Jayden Waltz '24, Assistant Editor. The following students were staff members: Reagan Kizer '24, Business Manager; Claire Rickenbaker '24, Photographer; Farah Givens '25, Photographer; Ellie Sonne '24, Staff Member; Landon Barnes '24, Ad Sales; Cade Carson '24, Ad Sales; Cameron Crosby '24, Ad Sales; and Thomas Roland '24, Ad Sales. These students were under the direction of Lauren Culcasure, Calhoun Academy Yearbook Adviser.
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 Calhoun Academy's yearbook program for achieving defined criteria in between one and three of 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 21 st 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.