Quill and Scroll – the international honor society for high school journalism – holds an annual competition to recognize national winners of a Yearbook Excellence Contest. There were 179 schools who won for remarkable reporting, captions, photography, and design throughout the whole book.
Above these victors are the sweepstakes winners: 36 individuals from across the country who are recognized among 18 categories. These sweepstakes winners receive a plaque and gold key for a single spread with exceptional content. One of the only two winners in the Clubs and Organizations category (and the only winner from Illinois) was Huntley’s Kayla Yakimisky in collaboration with 2017-18 design editor Sarah Caputi and Editor-in-Chief Katrina Troy.
“My name is the one on the plaque, but if I could add the names of the girls who I worked with, I would in a heartbeat,” Yakimisky said. “I think this award shows not only the creative power of our Harmony staff, but the scope of amazing things that our members can produce when we put our heads together.”
The award was given for the spread titled “Into the Darkness,” a layout about the 2018 thespian show, Metamorphoses. The staff chose it to be submitted for its particularly gorgeous photography, in-depth reporting, and beautiful design.
“I’m extremely grateful to have a platform at HHS to create such incredible things,” Yakimisky said. “Our yearbook program, along with all Huntley Pubs, truly is underappreciated for what we produce. I hope that awards like these bring more attention to our spectacular staff and encourage people to join in creating this extraordinary content.”
