Phillipsburg High School yearbook honored with All-Kansas Award

The Kansas Scholastic Press Association released the All-Kansas Yearbook Awards on Monday, Dec. 2, and the Phillipsburg High School 2023 Yearbook “For the Record” was selected as one of two yearbooks in class 3A to receive this honor.

As stated by the KSPA office, “These outstanding publications represent the pinnacle of student journalism and creativity” across the state of Kansas. KSPA will honor the winning publications with features on social media throughout the week as well as distribute plaques to winning schools.

The KSPA All-Kansas critique service provides insightful advice and criticism on what publications are doing well and how staffs can improve their publications. The yearbooks are distributed to nationwide judges for evaluation on photography, writing, theme development and design.

“I like to send our yearbook in for evaluation, not necessarily for the award, but because the critique gives us helpful tips on what we can improve upon for the next year. With judges from all over the nation, we receive an evaluation that takes into account the trends from other areas and professionals in the industry. I’m always proud of the yearbook the students produce; the award is just a little more validation from outside the classroom,” publication teacher Robin Sides said.

Being a recipient of the All-Kansas Award is a long-standing tradition for the yearbook staff. The 2023 yearbook award marks the twenty-first time in school history that the Panther Yearbook staff has won the award since KSPA established it in 1990.

“There has been a clear standard of excellence for the publications department throughout the years. Previous publications advisor Vicki Constable set the bar high for the advisors and classes to follow, so receiving this award also honors her by working to maintain that standard,” Sides said. “I hope that when people look back at their yearbooks in years to come, they appreciate the yearbook staff’s desire to create not only an awarding-winning publication, but one that captures the essence of the school year.”