The largest team in school history is applying lessons learned at a recent yearbook workshop to the milestone 75th anniversary-themed edition of the “Deacon.”

On a recent day in Becker Library during National Yearbook Week, more than 20 members of the yearbook staff were pouring over hundreds of digital photographs, designing page layouts and collaborating over the vision for the “Deacon” cover. The creativity was flowing thanks to a recent intensive Josten’s workshop that enlightened their minds to new possibilities. They had the opportunity to learn from publishing experts, trade ideas and participate in brainstorming sessions with yearbook students from a variety of other high schools in the area.

“We learned about tag lines and how to make sure whatever you're writing reads a certain way — you need clear writing,” said Hi Leigh Gatlin-McDavid ’27. “We also talked about the cover and how to make sure you have an engaging cover.”

Returning Lead Editor Gatlin-McDavid, who has one “Deacon” under her belt, is determined to make this year’s edition better than the last.

Editor Manny Lopez ’28, who never thought graphic design was his gift, walked into the workshop nervous and expecting a competitive atmosphere. Instead, the interactions and brainstorming sessions with publishing experts and yearbook students from other schools unleashed a passion inside of him that he didn’t know he had.

“I felt like it opened new ideas and I could see design turning into a future job,” said Lopez.

With a new found confidence, Lopez says he feels “invested” in making this year’s “Deacon” the best volume yet. Photographer Jerin Jeong ’27 has been capturing fine arts and athletic competitions on campus since last school year, and says she enjoyed learning about design, layout and how to capture more compelling photos in the field that will elicit an emotional connection with the audience.

“It was a good affirmation of what I learned from Mr. Caselli — I learned a bunch of ways to adjust exposure and get different types of shots, and make sure your photos tell a story,” said Jeong.

These talented students are part of a 23-member team, the largest team in school history, working to ensure volume 76 of the “Deacon” is a true reflection of the experiences and memories Spartans are making on The Hill.

The Deacon’s 2025-26 theme is the school’s 75th anniversary, and thanks to tips from the workshop, the yearbook team is trying to strike a balance between honoring the past with touches of vintage while also keeping the 300-plus book modern.

Gatlin-McDavid says having a larger team also means the workload is more evenly distributed — from gathering content to designing pages. 

“It can be overwhelming,” said Gatlin-McDavid. “It’s definitely easier when you have more people because you can divvy up things, and each person can have something to do.”

The staff pieces the yearbook together using a collaborative online cloud-based platform, allowing designers to access the specific pages they are working on, and keep tabs on how the other pages are coming along. Students’ names are included on each page they design and complete — letting the reader know who did it, and giving them credit for their work, which Zepeda says allows the students to take ownership.

Visual Arts and Yearbook Design Instructor Elizabeth Zepeda spearheads the annual process, while encouraging strong collaboration and giving students full control over the end result. 

“We have such a wide range of day and residential students and I think it gives everybody an opportunity to be a leader within their own pages,” says Zepeda. “This is student work — this is student-centered, student-created and student-generated, and we are always looking to improve every year.”

The talented team is made up of a variety of students taking two different sections: Yearbook Design and Yearbook Photography. Both sections combine forces and meet together in the Becker Library conference room. Photography Instructor Chris Caselli ’82 guides the photographers, and Operations Assistant Elliot Pena ’11 manages tasks and deadlines, while also coordinating the picture day process and senior ad pages.

Once the design and layout are complete, the group will move into the proofing and review phase. Final files are sent to the publisher in March, the week before Spring Break.

The staff is looking forward to the day current students will open it for the first time and flip through the pages, searching for themselves and their friends, and hopefully recognizing that touch of Spartan pride, spirit and excellence.

“I want people to look back at their yearbook and see how much they’ve grown,” said Lopez. “And also think: ‘My experience was beautiful, just like this book.’”