Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s 2010 Ouachitonian yearbook has been recognized for excellence and featured in the 2011 Gotcha Covered Look Book, Volume 9. The Look Book, published annually by Jostens, is a collection of spreads and photos from outstanding yearbooks around the world and is a popular resource for yearbook advisers and staffs seeking creative design and coverage ideas, trends and inspiration.

The Ouachitonian was one of only 400 yearbooks selected from more than 3,000 submitted to a panel of judges that included nationally recognized scholastic journalism professionals and award-winning yearbook advisers. This is the second consecutive year it has been included in the book.

The Ouachitonian was specifically recognized in the Look Book for its “Who’s Who” spreads featuring environmental portraits with cut-out backgrounds capturing the personality of the recognized students. The spread is also noted for its use of bullets creating visual interest and readability in the text. 2010 Ouachita graduate Megan Lindsey served as editor of the book, and Dr. Deborah Root, chair of Ouachita’s Rogers Department of Communications, serves as faculty advisor.

“I’m excited that the Ouachitonian has been featured in the recent edition of Jostens’ Look Book,” Root said. “The yearbook is a showcase of our students’ writing, design and photography skills, and it’s always nice when they are recognized for their talent and rewarded for their hard work.”

“Yearbooks capture once-in-a-lifetime stories and events while showcasing yearbook staffers’ incredible design, photography and journalistic talents that ensure that these stories will be remembered for generations,” 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.”

Root and her yearbook staff received a copy of the Look Book and a certificate from Jostens to recognize their outstanding achievement.

The 2010 Ouachitonian has also been recognized by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association in New York with six Gold Circle Awards for writing as well as the Gold Medalist award, the highest award given by the CSPA.