The National Yearbook Adviser of the Year program is designed to honor outstanding secondary yearbook advisers and their exemplary work from the previous year, as well as throughout their careers.
The Yearbook Adviser of the Year competition is underwritten by Balfour Yearbooks, Jostens Inc., Varsity Yearbook and Walsworth Yearbooks.
Entry Criteria
Applicants must be a member of the Journalism Education Association to be eligible for this award. The committee seeks those with at least five years’ experience. Advisers with less than five years experience are encouraged to apply for Rising Star Award.
Please review this PDF for all application details. This document contains all the questions that will be asked on the application form, so applicants can start working on their responses at any time during the year.
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 500 KB).
- No more than five letters of recommendation from current/former students, parents, colleagues, administrators or others who are familiar with your work (PDF, maximum 500 KB 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 of 15 files at 10 MB each. Please upload your PDF files as spreads in this specific order:
- Cover
- Front endsheet
- Title page
- Opening spread(s)
- One divider
- One people spread
- A spread showing a scoreboard
- A spread showing club photos
- One index spread
- Colophon
- Closing
- Up to three other spreads from inside coverage of your choosing, include any special features you feel are specific to the theme, or that your staff added to the book to carry out the theme.
We encourage you to request help from your yearbook rep or company, if necessary, in order to provide the examples as spreads at a high enough resolution so that photos are not pixelated.
How to Apply
The application process will be an all-digital submission that follows these application requirements. The application link will be available on or around May 15 and must be submitted by Sept. 15.
Application link on Submittable
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, Commended Yearbook Adviser, Distinguished Yearbook Adviser or Special Recognition Yearbook Adviser.
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 be invited to speak.
Award Recognition
The Yearbook Adviser of the Year Committee may, on certain occasions, recognize one or more applicants as a Commended Yearbook Adviser. This award is for applicants who have received Distinguished Adviser in the past and have submitted exemplary portfolios in this year’s Yearbook Adviser of the Year competition. This award allows the committee to recognize outstanding advisers who have already received Distinguished in a previous competition. It is the prerogative of the Yearbook Adviser of the Year Awards Committee to choose when or if this recognition will be awarded.
H.L. Hall National Yearbook Adviser of the Year receives:
- an award plaque
- a YAOY pin
- a $500 award for the winner’s school, to be used for the yearbook classroom or to fund student scholarships to summer workshops
- a $1,000 personal prize
- an invitation to speak at the adviser recognition luncheon on Saturday of the Spring JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention, which includes two complimentary meal tickets for the winner and a guest
- roundtrip airfare and up to three nights paid lodging for the spring convention where he or she receives the award (note that convention registration is not covered, if the winner wishes to attend events beyond the luncheon)
- an invitation to participate in a panel discussion about yearbooks as a NHSJC breakout session
- a feature in the convention program with JEA award winners
Each Commended Yearbook Adviser receives:
- an award plaque
- one complimentary meal ticket to the adviser recognition luncheon on Saturday of the Spring JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention where he or she will receive the award (note that travel, lodging and convention registration are not covered)
- a feature in the convention program with JEA award winners
Each Distinguished Yearbook Adviser receives:
- an award plaque
- a $500 award for the winner’s school, to be used for the yearbook classroom or to fund student scholarships to summer workshops
- an invitation to participate in a panel discussion about yearbooks as a NHSJC breakout session
- one complimentary meal ticket to the adviser recognition luncheon on Saturday of the Spring JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention where he or she will receive the award (note that travel, lodging and convention registration are not covered)
- a feature in the convention program with JEA award winners
Each Special Recognition Yearbook Adviser receives:
- an award plaque
- one complimentary meal ticket to the adviser recognition luncheon on Saturday of the Spring JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention where he or she will receive the award (note that travel, lodging and convention registration are not covered)
- a feature in the convention program with JEA award winners