Port Allegany High School Named Jostens 2020 National Yearbook Program of Excellence

Port Allegany High School program recognized for dynamic and engaging yearbook. (Port Allegany) 

– (May/2020) – Jostens, the leading producer of yearbooks and student-created content, today announced that Port Allegany’s yearbook program has been named a Jostens 2020 National Yearbook Program of Excellence for the ninth consecutive year. The National Yearbook Program of Excellence recognizes engaging yearbooks that reflect a broad representation of the student body while helping students develop 21st century skills such as communication, collaboration, and information and communication technologies (ICT) literacy. 

The Port Allegany award winning yearbook program is led by Co-Editors-in-Chiefs Ariana Barnard and Sierra Wiley, Editors Kayla Baxter, Alliyah Penick, Mattison Maben, Bryn Easton, Kevin Hurd, River Stuckey, Staff Members Allie Ahearn, Carmen Ahearn, Willow Babcock, Thomas Beeson, Devan Carpenter, Blaze Maben, Mattison Maben, Kobie Slaugenhaupt, Collin Stuckey, River Stuckey under the direction of Mrs. Kimberly Bowser, Port Allegany High School’s yearbook adviser. Mrs. Bowser commented, “This was a great group of kids to work with and it started out as a typical year but it ended as nothing typical. 

The Covid-19 Pandemic was quite a challenge and brought a new approach to yearbooking.” Jostens’ National Yearbook Program of Excellence Awards are presented twice a year, in spring and in fall based on the yearbook’s arrival date at the school. The award was presented to the Port Allegany 

Tiger Lily yearbook program for achieving the defined criteria in each of three following categories: creating an inclusive yearbook, generating school engagement, and successfully managing the yearbook creation process. “Especially this spring, Jostens is proud to recognize those individuals who have acted as wonderful stewards by creating an exceptional yearbook for their school and community,” said Tammy Whitaker, Jostens VP and COO Yearbook Division. “These schools did an exceptional job on multiple levels, despite the challenges presented by Spring 2020. Yearbooks are a critical part of capturing and telling a school’s story, and Jostens is dedicated to supporting yearbook staff members as they do their important work.”