Conway High School’s The Wampus Cat and Conway Junior High’s The Blueprint yearbooks have been recognized for excellence and featured in the Jostens Look Book 2021, celebrating the best-of-the-best in yearbook design and inclusivity. The Jostens Look Book is a collection of outstanding yearbooks and their creative themes, cool covers, beautiful designs, relevant coverage of school events, meaningful storytelling and stunning photography. Along with design excellence, the annually published Look Book honors the work of the students who create the yearbook over the course of 6-12 months. Through it, they chronicle the experiences, stories and achievements most relevant to students and that academic year.

The 2020 Wampus Cat was created under the leadership of seniors Nabiha Khetani, Aaliyah Bonner and Madeline Alfano.  It was selected for superior sports coverage, specifically dominant elements, use of modules, use of white space, excellent photo quality, and quality captions.

The 2020 Blueprint was created under the leadership of freshmen Maggie Lyon and Isabel Ruckle.  It was selected for superior dividers, specifically aligned elements, dominant elements, use of quick-read design, and quality captions.

Both books were created under the direction of Jamie Bratton, yearbook adviser for both campuses.

“Both staffs worked especially hard on the 2020 books, but because of covid, neither staff really got the recognition they deserved because we couldn’t have a traditional yearbook distribution and celebration of their work.  Being chosen for this national showcase is an honor, but it also helps to draw a little bit of attention to all their hard work last year as we prepare for everyone to see this year’s books,” Bratton said.

The Conway books were two of only 460 yearbooks selected from thousands of yearbooks submitted. The 2021 panel of judges, comprised of nationally recognized scholastic journalism professionals and award-winning yearbook advisers, selected the best examples of yearbook spreads and covers to make up the 304-page Look Book 2021.

“The Jostens Look Book showcases the hard work and dedication of students who tell the story of the school year through photos and words. It is their collaboration and communication, as well as creative thinking in challenging situations, that results in the fine designs shown in this book,” said Sara Sausker, Senior Manager of Customer Experience. “We are very proud to celebrate the ability of this country’s future leaders and communicators by showcasing their sophisticated designs and photography.”

Bratton and her yearbook staffs will receive a copy of the Jostens Look Book 2021 with a plaque and banner from Jostens to recognize their outstanding achievement.

The Jostens Look Book is a must-have resource for yearbook advisers and staffs seeking creative design and coverage ideas, trends and inspiration. The Look Book complements Jostens online destinations for yearbook creation ideas.

 The 2020 Conway High School Wampus Cat Yearbook was titled “Same Place, New Face” and juxtaposed the school’s traditions with the school’s rebranding in the spring of 2019.  The staff sold over 1000 copies of the book, which earned recognition for project management as a Jostens National Program of Yearbook Excellence.  The staff is awaiting results from this year’s Arkansas Scholastic Press Association spring awards.

The 2020 Conway Junior High Blueprint Yearbook was titled “View from the Blue” and told a visual story of the school year using eye chart graphics and bright colors.  The staff sold a record 800 copies and was also recognized as a Jostens National Program of Yearbook Excellence.

Both 2021 books are set for distribution this spring.