Yearbook Trips
The yearbook staff attends a national convention each year. This is usually the NSPA fall convention, which varies in location. Students must maintain at least a B in yearbook and maintain at least 100 incentive points per semester in order to be eligible to attend national conventions. Students who attend are expected to participate in a contest or Quiz Bowl. Seniors must participate in the critique. Convention attendance is generally not for first-year members of the staff. Exceptions for first-year members may be made if the convention is in driving distance or if there is trip opening due to a student dropping out of a trip, but this is rare. Students do fundraising and get a percentage of ad sales in order to defray the cost of trips. See below for information about past trips.
Future Trips
Philadelphia - November 7-10, 2024
Nashville - November 13-16, 2025
Orlando - November 19-22
November 2023 - Boston
Junior Gracie Stoller and sophomore Cami McAlexander traveled to the 2023 NSPA Fall Convention in November. They participated in a preconvention design workshop on Thursday and the National Scholastic Media Contests critique on Friday. In addition to the convention, we did a Fenway Park tour, went to the top of Boston View, visited Harvard University, and did a walking ghost tour of historic sites in Boston with fellow Ohio journalism students from RB Hayes High School.
The 2022-2023 yearbook also won sixth place in Best of Show.
November 2022 - St. Louis
Seniors Brooke Hounshell and Aeriel Snyder and sophomore Gracie Stoller traveled to the 2022 NSPA Fall Convention in November. They participated in a preconvention photography workshop on Thursday and the National Scholastic Media Contests critique on Friday. They also attended sessions and participated in a yearbook critique on Friday and Saturday. In addition to the convention, the group saw a performance of "Frozen" and visited the St. Louis Arch, St. Louis Zoo, Forest Park, and The City Museum.
Brooke Hounshell earned an Excellent for Feature Photography and Aeriel Snyder earned an Honorable Mention for Sports Feature Photography in the National Scholastic Media Contests. The 2021-2022 yearbook also won ninth place in Best of Show.
November 2021 - Philadelphia
After a travel hiatus due to COVID cancellations, seniors Kate Farr and Emma Shuherk and junior Brooke Hounshell attended a NSPA workshop in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In addition to the convention, the group visited the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The also saw a performance of "Hamilton" and did a historic walking ghost tour.
At the workshop, Kate Farr won an award from the presenters for Design in a Day and the 2020-2021 book was recognized as eighth place in Best of Show.
November 2019 - Washington DC
In November 2019, sophomore Kate Farr and juniors Morgan Boesch, Siera Octavanio, and Gage Partin, traveled to Washington DC for the JEA/NSPA convention. Before the convention, the group visited the White House, national monuments, Supreme Court, Library of Congress, and the Newseum where they met Mary Beth Tinker from the 1969 Tinker v. Des Moines case that established that students have First Amendment rights. During the convention, the staff members attended sessions on writing, photography, design, leadership, and student First Amendment rights. The staff also participated in a critique of the yearbook. On their last night in DC, the students watched a production of "A Christmas Carol" at Ford's Theatre.
November 2018 - Chicago
In November 2018, five yearbook students and one broadcasting student traveled to Chicago for the JEA/NSPA convention. Students attended sessions during the day and participated in a staff critique of the yearbook as well as individual contest critiques. Maddie Boesch and Chloe Saul both received Honorable Mentions in photography. The students also visited Willis Tower and Millenium Park and attended the Broadway musical Hamilton.
March 2018 - New York City
In March 2018, five yearbook students and one broadcasting student traveled to New York City to attend the Columbia Scholastic Press Association spring convention. The students attended sessions and participated in a critique. Students visited Top of the Rock, Central Park, Chelsea Market, NBC Studios, and the 9/11 Museum. They also attended a Broadway production of Aladdin.
November 2016 - Indianapolis
In November 2016, the yearbook staff along with members of the broadcasting staff traveled to the JEA/NSPA convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. Students attended sessions at the convention, participated in a critique, and spent time in downtown Indianapolis.
March 2016 - New York City
Four members of the 2015-2016 yearbook staff traveled to the Columbia Scholastic Press Association convention in New York City in March 2016. Annie Miesle, Brittany Smith, Mikayla Boesch, and Becca Johanns attended.
During the 3 day convention, the students attended sessions related to design, photography, writing, and leadership. The students participated in a critique with Mary Kay Downes, who is an award-winning journalism teacher. She advised the staff on some improvements they could make. The staff also learned about what it will take to enter the 2015-2016 yearbook into national competitions.
Sightseeing locations included the Top of the Rock, NBC Studio Tour, a Broadway production of Wicked, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, the 9/11 Museum and Memorial, and a boat ride to see the Statue of Liberty.