Deadline
October 15, 2024
The National Yearbook Adviser of the Year program is designed to honor outstanding high school advisers and their exemplary work from the previous year, as well as throughout their careers.
A $500 award for the winner’s school, and up to four $500 awards for Distinguished Yearbook Advisers’ schools may be used to buy equipment for the yearbook classroom or to fund student scholarships to summer workshops. The Yearbook Adviser of the Year will have his or her travel and hotel paid for the convention when he or she receives the award. In addition, the recipient also will receive a personal $1,000 prize.
The Yearbook Adviser of the Year competition is underwritten by
- Balfour Yearbooks, Jostens Inc., Walsworth Yearbooks, Varsity Yearbook
Entry Criteria
Applicants must be a member of the Journalism Education Association to be eligible for this award.
All entries must be digital. It is suggested that the applicant prepare and save all answers to the essay questions on a separate document then copy and paste into the digital application in case of interruption or computer error. You will need to upload the following materials in addition to answering qualifying questions:
- An updated resume (PDF, maximum 500k).
- No more than five letters of recommendation from administrators, colleagues, current/former students or others who are familiar with your work. (PDF, maximum 500k each)
- Two JPEG photos of at least 200 ppi each: 1. A high-quality color head shot. 2. A candid photo of you teaching/working with students.
- PDFs of the following pages/spreads from the most recently published yearbook. Maximum 10 files at 10 MB each. Facing pages (a double-page spread) must be exported as one spread, not two single pages, for viewing/judging purposes.
- Cover
- Front Endsheet (include Table of Contents, wherever they appear)
- Title Page
- Opening Spread(s)
- One Divider
- One Index Spread
- One People Spread
- Colophon
- Closing or Parting
- Up to five spreads from inside coverage of your choosing (saved in one file).
Judging Criteria
A selection panel, made up of the most recently selected Yearbook Adviser of the Year and a team of student-media experts, will review the entries immediately following the submission deadline. Points will be awarded based on a rubric, and the top advisers will be named the H.L. Hall National Yearbook Adviser of the Year, Distinguished Yearbook Adviser or Special Recognition Yearbook Adviser.
Award Recognition
Announcement of winners will be made in December. Winners will be recognized during the Saturday awards luncheon at the Spring JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention where the Yearbook Adviser of the Year will speak. The Yearbook Adviser of the Year and Distinguished Yearbook Advisers will be featured in the convention program and will be part of a panel discussion about yearbooks.