PC students honored for yearbook work

By Staff
Melissa Cason
PHIL CAMPBELL – For the second consecutive year, the Phil Campbell High School yearbook staff has been recognized by Taylor Publishing for outstanding work on their 2009 yearbook.
Sponsor Karen Gilbert said the staff was notified last month that their "Life is a Highway" yearbook again received honorable mention.
"We are very excited to have our work recognized," Gilbert said. "We worked very hard on the book and we were very pleased with the final product."
Gilbert said it's good to receive positive feedback on their book, but the staff is very busy constructing the 2010 yearbook.
"We got off to a slow start this year," Gilbert said. "We changed programs, and it took us some time to learn the new program. But, now it's going well."
Gilbert said the theme to this year's book, like every year before, is top secret.
"We don't tell anyone the theme until the book is delivered in August," Gilbert said. "We work on the book through graduation. We usually complete the book a few weeks after school is dismissed for summer vacation."
Gilbert said her staff is working to sharpen their skills to make the best possible book for the school.
"We attended the Alabama Scholastic Press Association's conference last month in Tuscaloosa," Gilbert said. "The workshops were wonderful."
Gilbert said the students returned to school with different ideas from the meeting.
Staff member A. J. Barnes said learned about better writing for the yearbook, and different angles for pictures.
"You really wouldn't think about getting a picture from a unique angle but it really makes a difference," Barnes said.
Gilbert said she hopes the recognition for the staff is something they can continue by putting out an excellent book for their school each year.