Yearbook nominated for national award

By Shane George

The 2009 edition of the Griffon Yearbook has been nominated as one of the top yearbooks in the nation.

The Griffon Yearbook was one of only 14 yearbooks chosen as a finalist for the Pacemaker award by the Associated Collegiate Press.

The yearbook is also only one of six in the category of 314 pages and under selected.

The ACP has been awarding the Pacemaker since 1927 and it is unofficially known as the “Pulitzer Prizes of student journalism.”

A panel of four judges will make their decision based on writing/editing, design, content, concept, photography, art and graphics.

Amy Chastain, one of the co-editors-in-chief, was happy to hear about the award.

“A lot of the top yearbooks in the country don’t even get nominated,” Chastain said.” Being our yearbook we are gonna put everything into it.”

Chastain also gave a nod to her partner at the yearbook Raphael’le Drew who was the other co-editor-in-chief of the 2009 Griffon.

“I was the editor for the 2008 yearbook,” Chastain said. “This year it was Raphael’le’s baby.”

Ann Thorne the yearbook advisor was also pleased to hear the good news.

“It has been a while since we have been on a pacemaker finalist list,” Thorne said. “It was a big thrill just to be noticed.”

Since Thorne took over as advisor the yearbook has won numerous awards such as the Pacemaker, the Silver Crown Award and Gold Crown Awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, and numerous All-American ratings from the Associated Collegiate Press.

Not only has the yearbook won awards but also individuals such as writers, photographers and designers.

The 2009 Griffon Yearbook has already won six awards given out by the national College Media Convention in New York, New York.

The Gold Circle Awards are a national competition sponsored by Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

Five of those awards went to Drew including Third Place, Academic Spread multi-page presentation, and four Certificate of Merits in Academic Spread, black and white, Academic Spread multi-page presentation, Sports Page black and white, and another Academic Spread, black and white.

The other award went to Anna Flin, Certificate of Merit, Feature Writing, Student Life.

Other editors included Kailey Alexander, and Linda Shireman, photography co-editors, and Sarah Derr, business manager. Chastain also served as the copy editor and Drew as the design editor. Staff included Missy Clinton, Hallie Delagardelle, Lauren Dillon, Melissa Friger, Amanda Hake, Jourdan Huffman, Harvey Jackson, EmmaLee Jones, Heather Kietzman, Olin Kinsey, Bonnie Land, Shawn Lesny, Ashley McIntosh, Frank Nemeth, Emma Piehl, Courtney Puett, Brittany Rivers, Raya Shafer, Courtney Slater, Carmen Smith, Erica Stevens and Kelsey Wear.
Lauren Dillon was happy that she could participate in a year it would receive national recognition.

“I’m pretty excited it was the first semester I was on the yearbook,” Dillon said. “Even though none of my stuff was chosen, I was still thrilled to be a part of it.”

The awards ceremony will be held in Louisville Ky., on Oct. 30. during the ACP/College Media Advisers Fall National College Media Convention