Yearbook students were recognized for their collective effort when it was recently announced that the 2013-14 Indian Call has been awarded All-Kansas from the Kansas Scholastic Press Association.

All-Kansas is the top state award presented to student yearbooks, newspapers and websites. Yearbook awards are typically announced late fall, while newspaper and website awards are announced in late spring. Hays High’s yearbook was named in the Class 5A division.

“All-Kansas is our ultimate goal for our publications, so it goes without saying that I’m extremely proud of the yearbook staff,” adviser Bill Gasper said. “The award is a result of many hours of hard work by the staff and a belief of what they are doing is very important. And, not only is their work important, they are also learning valuable future workplace skills such as effective communication, teamwork, problem solving and creative thinking.”

Yearbooks are judged in five areas – theme development, coverage, writing, design, and photography. In each area, yearbooks are awarded either an All-Kansas, an Award of Commendation, or an Award of Merit.

To earn the overall All-Kansas rating, a yearbook must have the top rating in at least three areas. The Indian Call earned the All-Kansas distinction in four: theme, coverage, writing, and design. Photography earned an Award of Commendation.

Editors of the book were Sana Cheema and Mackenzie Lewis. Other staff members were Jessie Carmichael, Jessica Stoecklein, Olivia Wiesner, Thea Ferland, Jasmine Lawson, Kylie Brown, Taylor DeBoer and Morgan Klaus.

Gasper said this is the second time in his 10-year tenure that the yearbook has won All-Kansas.

“While we have had some success with our newspaper, All-Kansas for yearbook has been more elusive,” Gasper said. “Needless to say I was very pleased with this early Christmas present. I have great kids who work hard and they certainly deserve this recognition.”