Illinois yearbook staffs did outstanding work covering the 2023-24 school year! Through a combination of solid reporting, colorful writing, creative graphics and eye-catching photos, yearbook journalists once again captured the full range of high school life in memorable fashion.
In recognition of this, IJEA is delighted to announce the winners of our 2024 Yearbook Contest:
• Division 1 | Enrollment up to 209 | Results
• Division 2 | Enrollment 210 to 349 | Results
• Division 3 | Enrollment 350 to 749 | Results
• Division 4 | Enrollment 750 to 1,999 | Results
• Division 5 | Enrollment 2,000 and greater | Results
The books were judged in eight individual categories: copy writing, divider pages, graphics, layout & design, overall coverage of school year, overall coverage of sports, photography and theme development.
Books earned points based on how they placed in each category:
• First place in a category = 5 points
• Second place in a category = 4 points
• Third place in a category = 3 points
• Honorable mention in a category = 1 point
The three books with the highest scores in each division received first, second and third place for Overall General Excellence in their respective divisions. Other books in each division received honorable mention as recommended by judges.
The judges were drawn from the ranks of experienced journalists, teachers and advisers. Judging in each category was guided by criteria used in similar contests nationwide.
Congratulations to our winners for overall general excellence!
Division 1 | Overall General Excellence | Top Three
• 1st: Regina Dominican HS | The Star | Kathleen Houston, adviser
• 2nd: Okawville HS | Timepiece | Dana Donovan, adviser
• 3rd: Lewistown HS | Legend | Lisa Welker, adviser
Division 2 | Overall General Excellence | Top Three
• 1st: Meridian HS | The Talon | TillieAnn Steele, adviser
• 2nd: Teutopolis HS | The Afterglow | Emily Petty, adviser
• 3rd: Camp Point Central HS | Wrapped | Vicki Eilers, adviser
Division 3 | Overall General Excellence | Top Three
• 1st: Richmond-Burton Community HS | Endeavor | Beth Marshall, adviser
• 2nd: Carterville HS | The Lionite | Jenny Dorris, adviser
• 3rd: Mount Zion HS | Zionoiz | Amanda Renshaw, adviser
Division 4 | Overall General Excellence | Top Three
• 1st: Pekin HS | Pekinian | Alyson Smith, adviser
• 2nd: Carbondale Community HS | DIAL | Brandi Jones, adviser
• 3rd: Springfield HS | The Capitoline | Heather Roan, adviser
Division 5 | Overall General Excellence | Top Three
• 1st: Prospect HS | CREST | Nicole Stoltz, adviser
• 2nd: Edwardsville HS | The Tiger | Amanda Thrun, adviser
• 3rd: Huntley HS | Harmony Yearbook | Lauren Teeter, adviser
Schools could submit their 2023-24 yearbooks up to the mid-October deadline, ensuring that fall-delivery books were included in the judging. This was the fourth year in the contest’s history in which advisers submitted their entry forms online.
Congratulations to all of our contest participants! We are proud of the amazing work you do each year throughout Illinois. Best of luck on your continuing coverage of the current school year; we can’t wait to see next year’s entries!
