Rockwall-Heath High School’s yearbook, The Talon, has been recognized for excellence and featured in the 2015 Jostens Look Book, celebrating the best-of-the-best in yearbook design and coverage. The Jostens Look Book is a collection of spreads and photos from outstanding yearbooks and their creative themes, cool covers, dazzling designs, relevant coverage, storytelling copy and action-packed photography. Along with design excellence, the annually published Look Book honors the important role well-crafted yearbooks play in helping schools chronicle the experiences, stories and achievements most relevant to students and that academic year.

The Talon Yearbook was created by Senior Editor-in-Chief Madeline Ward, Editors Carolyn Sherwin, Kenzie Woessner, and Haley Barrow, and the Talon staff, under the direction of Leah Voth, Talon yearbook adviser.

“We receive the Look Book and ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ over it every year, but we never dreamed that we would be included among the amazing designs! Obviously, our goal each year is to improve upon the book from the previous year. The burlap-type cover that is featured in the Look Book was actually conceptualized by my staff members from 2012, but we didn’t make the organic concept a reality until the 2013-2014 school year. The cover was very well-received—the students and staff had never seen anything like it. I am so proud to be the leader of this program,” Adviser Leah Voth said.

“Being in the Look Book was such a surprise. Creating the yearbook last year was such an amazing, yet hectic experience, but it was all worth it in the end! I will never forget this wonderful award!” 2-year staff member and 2015 Talon Senior Editor-in-Chief Kenzie Woessner said.

The Rockwall-Heath Yearbook was one of only 476 yearbooks selected from approximately 3,000. The 2015 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 344-page 2015 Look Book.

“Yearbooks are unique, limited edition books created by students to capture the stories and events for all of the school’s students and Jostens is proud to celebrate the yearbook tradition and the 476 yearbooks selected for the 2015 Jostens Look Book, said Gary Lundgren, editor. “Today’s yearbooks are very sophisticated in terms of visual presentation and the relevant and inclusive content that is featured.”

Leah Voth and her yearbook staff received a copy of the 2015 Jostens Look Book and certificate 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 www.YearbookAvenue.com and www.facebook.com/JostensAdviserandStaff, Jostens online destinations for yearbook creation ideas.

Article and photo by: Leah Voth