Thu, 09/24/2015 - 12:00pm

KATRINA CLARK, Staff Reporter

The award presented to the 2014-2015 Yearbook Club. Courtesy of Heather Lorrain

Even after they graduated, last year's seniors are still bringing in the honors.

The 2014-2015 Yearbook Club was just awarded the National Yearbook Program of Excellence Award, in recognition of “outstanding performance by the adviser and staff.”

Three schools in Maine received this award. The other two were Catherine Mcauley High School in Portland and Hall-Dale High School in Farmingdale.

The yearbook club is made up entirely of seniors. Last year’s club included Nicole LaBrecque, Kyle Alamo, Karl Alamo, Ashley Reed, Taylor Walby, Lindsey Buckingham, Brenna Alley, Courtney Brewer, Christopher Groneng, Kirstin Latter and Chloe Hoecker.

“The kids decided early on they wanted to do something different with their yearbook,” Yearbook adviser Heather Lorrain said. “The yearbook is typically page after page of photo collages, and they decided to approach it from a journalistic view. There was a lot more writing, they covered events from the year such as Honor Roll winners, BikeMaine, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

“They alone stuck to a theme throughout the book, blue and gold, and did each section with templates and specific layout to create a sense of continuity. They did a lot of research and spent a lot of time writing and I'm very, very proud of them.”

According to Lorrain, when the award was presented to her last week, it was a “total shock.”

“I had no idea we were even in the running. I don't know if we were nominated, my best guess is that when it came through production it must have stuck out to them.”

According to the website www.jostens.com, which processes yearbooks and presents the award, the criteria for this award included the yearbook being a meaningful book for all students; a book in every student's hands, meaning as many students as possible get to enjoy the yearbook; and effective product management, meaning all deadlines are met.

“They did a really good job,” Lorrain said. “I'm very proud of them, they were an amazingly committed and dedicated group of kids. I just wish they were all here to enjoy it.”