2023 YEC is open for entries!
Enter now, pay later if you choose; 33 categories and two classes based on enrollment
The 2023 Yearbook Excellence Contest is open for entries. The cost for each entry is $7. Schools will be divided by size — Class A for 1,000 or more students in grades 9-12, and Class B for 999 or fewer students in grades 9-12.
For the sixth consecutive year, this is an all-digital contest. Entries (PDFs of pages and/or JPGs of photos) will be stored online, and you will share the URLs of those spreads, images or folders containing multiple files on the entry form.
Below is a complete list of the categories for the 2023 Contest. Entry deadline is Oct. 2, and here is a link to complete descriptions of those categories, and instructions for what to enter.
How to Enter
- Download this view-only Google spreadsheet. Make a copy of it that you may edit.
- Rename it “School_YEC2023.” For example, Shawnee Mission North may call it “SMN_YEC2023,” while Richland will simply call it “Richland_YEC2023.”
- Replace the text “School Name,” “Adviser Name,” “School Address” and “Adviser Email” with the appropriate information. No entry is complete without all four pieces of information.
- Use the dropdown menu in cell B6 to choose your class, based on grades 9-12 enrollment.
- Use the dropdown menu in cell F6 to choose your payment method. The cells in column E will calculate the total. If you intend to pay with a credit card please use this form. If you would like to use a purchase order or check, please use this form. (If this is the only reason you are using the online form, there’s no need to pay for shipping.) You will receive an invoice when you place the order.
- Starting with Line 8, in Column A, type in the student or students’ name(s) for the entry.
- In Column B, use the dropdown menu to choose the category for each entry.
- In Column C, paste in the URL of the file or folder of the entry. Each entry requires its own URL. DO NOT SUBMIT a single URL with all of your school’s entries in a single folder
- In Column D, only if necessary, you may include a note for judges to consider when reviewing your entry.
- When you have entered all of the entries for your school, please share your entry sheet with [email protected]. The final deadline is Monday, Oct. 2, 2023.
- If you need to edit the sheet after your initial share, please let [email protected] know of any alterations or additions you’ve made on the sheet. However, the final deadline does not change.
- You may also call Quill and Scroll at (612) 200-9295 for help.
- Schools may pay for contest entries using either our online credit card payment option or check or purchase order payment.
Judging
Judges will award first, second and third places in each category for each class, and they’ll award honorable mentions so that between 10 and 15 percent of all entries are recognized in every category. All students named as award recipients will be eligible to apply for Quill and Scroll student scholarships in May of their senior year.
Quill and Scroll administrators will then tally points (5 for first place, 4 for second, 3 for third and 1 for HM) to determine a Blue and Gold Award winner for each class, as well as three places in each of the subheadings — Design, Writing and Photo. Last year’s overall winners were Wando High School in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina (Class A) and Christ Presbyterian Academy of Nashville, Tennessee (Class B). Quill and Scroll hopes to announce winners by Dec. 1, 2023.
Here’s a complete list of last year’s winners.
2023 Yearbook Excellence Contest Categories
DESIGN CATEGORIES
Note: This is a digital contest. Each entry must have its own unique URL that links to a file or a folder containing only that entry. DO NOT submit a link that has a folder for all of your school’s entries. Make sure your files and folders can be viewed by anyone who has the link, specifically Quill and Scroll staff and contest judges.
Category 1 – Theme Development ($7/entry)
Category 2 – Cover Design ($7/entry)
Category 3 – Student Life Spread ($7/entry)
Category 4 – Academics Spread ($7/entry)
Category 5 – Clubs or Organizations Spread ($7/entry)
Category 6 – Sports Spread ($7/entry)
Category 7 – Performing Arts Spread ($7/entry)
Category 8 – People (panel) Spread ($7/entry)
Category 9 – Profile Spread ($7/entry)
Category 10 – Graphic Design Spread ($7/entry)
Category 11 – News/Current Events Spread ($7/entry)
WRITING CATEGORIES
Category 12 – Headline Writing and Design ($7/entry)
Category 13 – Caption Writing ($7/entry)
Category 14 – Personality Profiles ($7/entry)
Category 15 – Sports Feature Writing ($7/entry)
Category 16 – Academics Writing ($7/entry)
Category 17 – Clubs or Organizations Writing ($7/entry)
Category 18 – Performing Arts Writing ($7/entry)
Category 19 – Student Life Writing ($7/entry)
Category 20 – Alternative Story Form ($7/entry)
Category 21 – News/Current Events Writing ($7/entry)
Category 22 – Theme Copy ($7/entry)
PHOTO CATEGORIES
Category 23 – Sports Action Photo ($7/entry)
Category 24 – Sports Feature Photo ($7/entry)
Category 25 – Feature/Student Life Photo ($7/entry)
Category 26 – Academic Photo ($7/entry)
Category 27 – Clubs or Organizations Photo ($7/entry)
Category 28 – Performing Arts Photo ($7/entry)
Category 29 – Theme Photo ($7/entry)
Category 30 – News/Current Events Photo ($7/entry)
Category 31 – Portrait Photography ($7/entry)
Category 32 – Photo Illustration ($7/entry)
Category 33 – Photo Essay ($7/entry)
A special “Thank You” to our sponsors!
