Thousand Oaks High School 2006 yearbook serves as a textbook example of excellence
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

Although the current staff has just begun generating ideas for next year's yearbook, Thousand Oaks High School's 2006 book is still making the rounds. Publishing representatives from around the country are using the TOHS yearbook as an example of excellence, and other schools are keeping a copy for ideas.

The Lancer Legend was inducted into the Walsworth Publishing Co.'s Gallery of Excellence, an honor bestowed upon books that stand out among the company's many projects.

"The company owners review the books and determine which they find are the best that the company is publishing," said Robert Haar, yearbook adviser.

"They look at design, copywriting and other things and select them to be in the 'Gallery of Excellence.' They are taken around by sales reps throughout country to be used as samples to look at for design excellence."

Elizabeth Braden, Walsworth's communication editor, emphasized the significance of the honor.

"Books included in the Gallery of Excellence represent a small percentage of all yearbooks published by Walsworth," Braden said.

"The 2006 Lancer Legend was selected as an outstanding example of excellence compared with yearbooks nationwide."

Braden said books are being used as quality examples and copies are serving as "idea generators" at schools all over the nation. The Lancer Legend will also be displayed at regional, state and national conventions and workshops.

Haar said the book's staff was an older group, mostly seniors, who had both dedication and flair.

"We had a staff of about 28," he said. "They were a group that was very conscientious and hard-working, but one that certainly liked to have fun, and that showed in the book.

"It was a much different book than we've had in the past," he added. "They took some design risk but maintained the quality we've been known for."

The stories were unique in that they were written in a sort of stream-of-consciousness

style. But the biggest risks were based on design, one example being a copper wire running throughout the pages, meant to symbolize brain thoughts.

"That was the most difficult thing to pull off," Haar said. "Some people enjoyed it, some found it to be distracting. It was a big design risk, and I think the company recognized that."

With the accolades for last year's staff still pouring in, the current yearbook editors have a lot to live up to.

"We have a really good, really young staff," Haar said. "But there's a big learning curve to get it to where they want to be very successful at it."

Walsworth's Gallery of Excellence Award is based on comprehensive coverage, innovative design and superior copy and photography.

Braden said Walsworth chooses to honor these yearbooks annually to recognize the challenging task of producing a quality publication in a very short period of time.