Students showcased

The Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) recognized the Photojournalism—Yearbook class at Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School with the national Silver Crown Award for its 2025 yearbook. 

The publication, “Shark Tales,” received the honor for its ninth volume, titled “Almost There, But Not Quite to the Nines,” according to Colgan High School English teacher Rachelle Jones Smith. 

“The Crown Awards are the highest recognition given by the CSPA to a student print or digital medium for overall excellence,” the organization states, noting that publications are judged head‑to‑head on design, photography, concept, coverage and writing. 

To students in the class, the award recognizes the many months they spent refining their yearbook. “Winning the Silver Crown Award helped validate all the work we put into the yearbook by showing us that our hard work didn’t go unnoticed,” said Kai’a Jones, a junior at Colgan and an editor of the yearbook. 

Jones said she joined the photojournalism class because of her passion for photography and storytelling. “I love to take photos and to capture the day‑to‑day life of people like myself,” she said, adding that yearbook work has helped her develop leadership, problem‑solving skills and attention to detail while meeting strict deadlines. 

“For me, it’s less about the award, more about the product,” said Breeze Lawless, a senior at Colgan and editor in chief of the yearbook. “It is nice though to know that people who have hundreds of impressive yearbooks pass before them thought ours stood out.” 

The yearbook is produced by a diverse group of students who collaboratively choose the theme, cover concept, and visual style, Smith said. Photojournalism students are responsible for the yearbook photography, writing, and layout, ensuring each spread includes captions, quotes, and articles. 

Smith noted that one of the hallmarks of their yearbook is that it purposefully seeks to include all the school’s population in some way. “We made a conscious decision each year to make sure we feature more of the students within our nearly 3000-student population,” Smith said. 

Smith echoed Jones’ sentiments regarding the impact of the national recognition for the students she calls, “yearbookies,” stating, “Winning awards is validation for thousands of hours put into a book that so many see,” while also noting that, “Documenting a year in school—the celebrations and the days in-between them—is important. Yearbookies are important.”