MORGANZA, Md. (April 13, 2011) — Chopticon High School's yearbook, The Chopticonian, has been recognized for excellence and featured in the 2011 Gotcha Covered Look Book, Volume 9. Jostens' Look Book, published annually, 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. The Gotcha Covered Look Book features the extraordinary work of yearbook staffs and advisers from around the world and is a popular resource for yearbook advisers and staffs seeking creative design and coverage ideas, trends, and inspiration.
The Chopticonian, created by the student staff, under the direction of Ms. Monica Cerkez, Chopticon's yearbook adviser, was one of only 400 yearbooks selected from over 3,000 submitted to a panel of judges that included nationally recognized scholastic journalism professionals and award-winning yearbook advisers.
"Jostens is passionate about helping schools create inclusive yearbooks that will be remembered for generations and we are honored to celebrate these 400 yearbooks that represent the incredible design, photography and journalistic talents of yearbook staffers," said Gary Lundgren, Jostens senior program manager/education. "Yearbooks remain incredibly popular to students and entire school communities as a way to share and tell school traditions and experiences. The yearbooks selected for the Jostens 2011 Gotcha Covered Look Book reflect the sophistication and relevance of yearbook programs."
Ms. Cerkez and her students received a copy of Jostens' 2011 Gotcha Covered Look Book and certificate from Jostens to recognize their outstanding achievement. This award was the latest for The Chopticonian, which took best in show in 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2009 at the Jostens' yearbook summer workshop, as well as top theme concept honors in 2006 and 2009. The Chopticonian has also received gold medals for Journalism for the 2008 and 2010 books from Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the student publication division of Columbia Graduate School of Journalism in New York.
Source: St. Mary's County Public Schools