BAHS 2022 yearbook program receives gold award

Submitted by BASD

BELLEFONTE – Jostens, the leading producer of yearbooks and student-created content, announced that Bellefonte Area High School’s yearbook program has achieved the Jostens 2022 National Yearbook Program of Excellence award at the gold level.

The National Yearbook Program of Excellence recognizes engaging yearbooks that reflect a broad representation of the student body while helping students develop 21st-century skills, such as communication, collaboration and information and communication technologies (ICT) literacy.

The Bellefonte Area High School award-winning yearbook program, La Belle, is led by a group of hard-working students under the direction of Andrew Weigold, the yearbook adviser.

The La Belle staff consists of students Kate Harman, Tyler Harter, Samuel Henry, Madison Melius, Hailey Miller, Kierra Narehood, Sara Proctor, Naomi Putnam, Hailey Rimmey, Collin Sharp, Lauren Skrzyski and Abigail Weiser.

“I have been the yearbook adviser at Bellefonte for nine years. Each year our staff embarks on a journey to create a book that encompasses many events throughout the year as well as showcase our school spirit on each page of the book. Our staff uses new techniques to finish the yearbook on time and also gets to add their own creative spin on their pages,” said Weigold.

“We wanted to add catchy titles to this year’s book as well as keep a theme-based book. I am so proud of this year’s group who helped to win this award.”

Jostens’ National Yearbook Program of Excellence Awards are presented twice a year, in spring and in fall, based on the yearbook’s arrival date at the school.

The award was presented to the Bellefonte Area High School yearbook program for achieving defined criteria in between one and three of the following categories: creating an inclusive yearbook, generating school engagement and successfully managing the yearbook creation process.

“Jostens is proud to recognize those individuals who have created an exceptional yearbook for their school and community,” said Tammy Whitaker, Jostens vice president and COO of Yearbook Division.

“These schools did an exceptional job on multiple levels, despite the challenges presented by this school year. Yearbooks are a critical part of capturing and telling a school’s story, and Jostens is dedicated to supporting yearbook staff members as they do their important work.”