Every year, we all wait patiently until the month of June, not only because it marks the end of the school year, but also because it is when the yearbook is released. This year, a bigger yearbook will be offered at a better price. Dan Blank, assitant principal, negotiated the change of publishers from Jostens to Lifetouch, in order to offer a more affordable yearbook at a lower price to students.
The price currently is $70 until Dec. 17, when it will go up to $75, continually increasing by $5 every month thereafter. Even with the price going down, the book is getting even bigger, estimated to have about 256 pages, offering “more bang for the buck,” as Kyle Laughlin, yearbook adviser, stated. It is Laughlin’s first year having an experience as a yearbook advisor, which he “likes a lot.” He is “passionate about empowering students to create a voice for themselves and take ownership of the yearbook to represent a student’s perspective [of the school].” Because he is a firm believer in students being able to express themselves, he encourages that all final decisions be voted on. He also has the belief that the yearbook should not cater to only one class, such as the seniors, but that it should be an inclusive, authentic snapshot of everyday student life. He hopes that through the yearbook, Uni will be able to bridge the gap with people in the community, local businesses, and organizations. This will be a year of many firsts. For the first time in Uni history, yearbook class is offering the opportunity to customize the cover of the book; $8 for 1 line, $12 for 2 lines. Also, the Pawprints staff has revealed the yearbook theme for the first time ever: “Life is a rollercoaster, and we’re all in this together.”