Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s 2015-2016 yearbook, Ouachitonian, is featured in the 2017 Jostens Look Book, celebrating the yearbook’s design excellence among the best in yearbook design and coverage.

The Jostens Look Book is a collection of spreads and photos from outstanding yearbooks and their themes, covers, designs, coverage, copy and photography. Along with design excellence, the annual Look Book honors the significant role that well-crafted yearbooks play in helping schools chronicle the experiences, stories and achievements relevant to students during the academic year.

“Learning we had earned a place in the nationwide Look Book was such an incredible surprise,” said Amber Easterly, a senior business administration and mass communications double major from Alexander, Ark., who served as Ouachitonian co-editor-in-chief. “They showcased our Student Life Divider, which was one of my favorite spreads in the book because of Grace 's great photo and incredible writing from Robert . It's an honor to be featured among hundreds of other high school and college books from around the country.”

“It is a great honor to be featured in the Look Book,” said Ouachitonian faculty sponsor Dr. Deborah Root, chair of Ouachita’s Rogers Department of Communications. “The staff members know the Ouachitonian has a strong tradition, and they work hard to continue that tradition. They take great pride in what they do and know that it is a valuable learning experience for them.”

The Ouachitonian was chosen along with 417 other books out of about 3,000 submissions. The 2017 panel of judges, comprised of nationally recognized scholastic journalism professionals and award-winning yearbook advisors, selected the best examples of yearbook spreads and covers to make up the 2017 Look Book.

“Yearbooks are unique, limited edition books created by students to capture the stories and events for all of the school’s students, and Jostens is proud to celebrate the yearbook tradition and the 418 yearbooks selected for the 2017 Jostens Look Book,” said Gary Lundgren, Look Book editor. “Today’s yearbooks are very sophisticated in terms of visual presentation and the relevant and inclusive content that is featured.”

Dr. Root and the Ouachitonian staff received a copy of the 2017 Jostens Look Book and certificate from Jostens to recognize their outstanding achievement.

The 2015-2016 Ouachitonian was co-edited by Amber Easterly and Robert DeSoto, a senior mass communications and Spanish double major from Sheridan, Ark. Grace Finley, a 2016 mass communications graduate, served as photo editor. The book’s section editors include Clubs and Organizations Editor Taryn Bailey, a junior mass communications and speech communication double major from Kyle, Texas; Sports Editor Ian Craft, a senior mass communications major from Celina, Texas; Academics Editor Robin Kelley, a sophomore elementary education major from Glenwood, Ark.; Student Life Editor Abbey Little, a mass communications major from Hot Springs, Ark.; Sports Editor Zach Parker, a 2016 mass communications graduate; and Community Editor Blaine Surber, a 2016 mass communications graduate.

Other staff members included Caitlyn Barker, a 2016 mass communications graduate; Kelsey Bond, a 2016 mass communications graduate; Sarah Hays, a senior mass communications major from Van Buren, Ark.; Erin Jackson, a senior mass communications major from Roland, Ark.; Laken Livingston, a 2016 mass communications graduate; Haley Martin, a 2016 mass communications graduate; and Jacob Sorrow, a 2016 mass communications graduate.

The 2015-2016 Ouachitonian marks the 107^th edition of the yearbook. The Jostens Look Book has featured the Ouachitonian several times in the past. This year, along with being featured in the 2017 Look Book, the 2015-2016 Ouachitonian has received an All-American Award from Associated Collegiate Press, a Gold-Medalist critique from Columbia Scholastic Press Association and Yearbook of the Year along with 31 other awards from the Arkansas College Media Association.

Jostens is a professional partner in the academic achievement channel, providing products, programs and services for schools, colleges and universities. Founded in 1897 and based in Minneapolis, Minn., Jostens is a subsidiary of Newell Brands.

For more information, contact Dr. Deborah Root at [email protected] or (870) 245-5510.