After months of hard work the Class of 2018 Yearbook, The Log, is being printed. At the same time, before the new book is even printed, the cycle is starting up again; next year’s editors are currently being selected.

The Yearbook exists to capture the theme of the school year and to recognize the individuality of the senior class.  This year’s theme was Words of the Wildcats, a writing and speech-focused book.

Katherine Garrity oversees the Log staff, and is tasked with hiring the editors. Her responsibilities also include editing, design, and advising the yearbook staff, among countless other tasks. She meets with editors weekly.

“For editors, we’re looking for students who are willing to help with specific spread designs and content within the book,” said Garrity. “Typically these are students who have design or photo journalism interest and skills and are willing to help when needed throughout the process.”

“The Editor-In-Chief is a major leadership role, and one that requires a lot of dedication and time,” she added. “It is a creative position, but also a managerial and organizational one.  Editors-In-Chief should be very organized, driven, team-oriented and motivated to tell the story of their senior year.”

This year there were three Editors-in-Chief.  Though the production of the book includes technical skill and creative design it is not a prerequisite that Editors-in-Chief have been previously involved with the Yearbook. [Editor’s note: The author of this article was one of three Editors-in-Chief of the 2017-2018 yearbook.]

“We start the process with an email to all returning students to gauge interest,” Garrity said. “I then line up interview times to talk with anyone interested in being an editor or Editor in Chief.   The next step is for the candidates and I to look at their potential academic plans for next year and seeing how this role will fit.  We definitely ask advisors for their input.”

Catherine King, a junior, is interested in potentially being an Editor-in-Chief next year. She sees the possibility of leaving a lasting impression, in print, on the school she’s been at since seventh grade.

“I would be able to make one last mark on my experience here at Williston before I move on to the next part of my life, and being able to create the yearbook in my senior year and being able to capture what Williston means to my fellow classmates and I would be such an amazing opportunity to have.”

Her goal as an editor would be “to be able to represent the Class of 2019 as best as I can and make a yearbook that bests captures our time at Williston and the impact it has in our lives”.

Senior Emma Lehrer found the experience of being an Editor-in-Chief to be challenging but rewarding, and encourages students to become involved with this project.

“The amount of work that we had to put in was a lot, and it was pretty difficult to find time to meet the deadlines (or to work double time when we missed one). It was especially difficult over breaks, which is when a lot of the yearbook work needed to be done” she said.

“I really enjoyed seeing the book being built, and the sense of accomplishment that came along with being a part of the process” she added.

New editors will be announced in the upcoming weeks.  This year’s book will be released to students at Willy Gras, on May 23.