2026 Yearbook Excellence Contest (YEC)

Grades

High school grades 9-12 and middle school students

Age

No specific age requirements stated; determined by school enrollment

Citizenship

No citizenship restrictions mentioned; appears open to all U.S. schools

Prerequisites

Must be published work in yearbook or school publication (Google Docs not accepted); work must be in final published form (PDFs or JPGs); students may participate as individuals or as part of school teams

Steps

1. Access the view-only Google spreadsheet template provided by Quill and Scroll
2. Make an editable copy and rename it 'School_YEC2026' format (e.g., 'SMN_YEC2026')
3. Input school information: school name, adviser name, address, and adviser email
4. Select school class using dropdown (Class A, Class B, or Middle School)
5. Choose payment method via dropdown (credit card, purchase order, or check)
6. Enter student name(s) for each entry starting at line 8
7. Select category for each entry using dropdown menu
8. Paste individual URL for each entry (each entry must have its own unique link)
9. Optionally add judge notes in column D if clarification needed
10. Share completed spreadsheet with contest@quillandscroll.org
11. Submit payment via selected method (credit card form or PO/check form)
12. Contact organizers if edits needed after initial submission

Materials Needed

• Published yearbook spreads (PDFs or JPGs, not Google Docs)
• URLs to Google Drive folders or shared links (must be view-only accessible to anyone with link)
• Individual URLs for EACH entry (cannot submit one folder with all entries)
• School information (name, address, adviser name and email)
• Payment information (credit card, check, or purchase order)
• Entry materials must already be published in yearbook or school publication

Timeline

Submissions due October 1, 2026. Winners expected to be announced by December 1, 2026. Award recipients eligible to apply for Quill and Scroll scholarships in May of senior year.

Cost

$8 per entry (each category submission costs $8; schools can enter multiple entries across different categories)

What Judges Look For

• Quality of photography (composition, focus, lighting, subject matter appropriateness to category)
• Design excellence (layout, typography, visual hierarchy, theme integration, use of white space)
• Writing quality (clarity, accuracy, engaging narrative, appropriate tone for category, headline impact)
• Originality and creativity within category guidelines
• Technical proficiency and polish
• Appropriate categorization of submission
• Adherence to journalistic standards (for writing and social media categories)
• Integration of content with overall yearbook theme (where applicable)
• Social media platform best practices and engagement quality (for social media journalist category)
• Proper documentation and caption/headline quality

Scoring

Judges award first (5 points), second (4 points), and third place (3 points) in each category for each class, plus honorable mentions (1 point). Points are tallied to determine Blue and Gold Award winners for each class. Additional point tallies determine overall winners in Design, Writing, and Photo subcategories. Honorable mentions comprise 10-15% of all entries in every category.

Common Mistakes

• Submitting unpublished work or work only in Google Docs (must be final published form)
• Sharing multiple entries in one folder instead of creating individual URLs for each entry
• Including all school entries in single shared folder link
• Incomplete school information in submission spreadsheet (missing adviser email or school address)
• Misspelled information in registration
• Submitting work that doesn't fit the category description
• Poor image resolution or pixelated photos when uploaded
• Missing or weak captions and headlines
• Design spreads with overcrowded layouts or unclear visual hierarchy
• Social media entries that don't demonstrate journalism principles
• Beginning category entries from experienced staff members (these are meant for newcomers)
• Late submissions (no exceptions; deadline is firm)

Acceptance Rate

10-15% of entries receive recognition (first, second, third place, or honorable mention in each category)

Applicants

Specific number unknown; organizers process submissions from multiple states with hundreds of schools

Winners / Selected

Multiple winners per category per class (1st, 2nd, 3rd place); plus 10-15% honorable mentions across all entries. Last year's overall class winners: Wando High School (Mount Pleasant, SC) - Class A; Christ Presbyterian Academy (Nashville, TN) - Class B

• Submit in the appropriate category—don't force work into wrong categories; judges notice mismatches
• For design: Focus on clean layouts with strong visual hierarchy. White space is your friend. Ensure theme integration is clear. Use high-quality photos and consistent typography.
• For photography: Make sure images are sharp, well-composed, and appropriate to category. Sports action needs motion and energy. Portraits need good lighting and connection with subject. Avoid cluttered backgrounds.
• For writing: Headlines should be active, engaging, and specific. Captions should tell a story beyond the obvious. Feature writing should have a clear narrative arc and human interest.
• For social media: Show you understand platform-specific best practices (hashtag use, posting times, engagement, visual formatting for Instagram vs. TikTok). Demonstrate journalism principles even in social context.
• Ensure all submissions are final published work—judges want to see how work functions in the actual yearbook context, not raw or draft content
• Double-check URL accessibility before submitting; test links to ensure judges can view them
• Include helpful context in judge notes if work has unique constraints or story (e.g., 'Photo taken during emergency evacuation drill')
• Leverage the 'Beginning' categories if your staff has new members—these are less competitive and provide low-stakes experience
• Submit a diverse range of entries across categories to increase chances of winning something; don't put all effort into one category
• Start preparation early in the school year; yearbook is created throughout the year, so good work can be identified well before October deadline
• Have advisers review entries for quality before submission; seek external feedback if possible
• Follow submission guidelines exactly; technical errors can disqualify entries
• Consider entering both individual and staff entries where applicable for broader recognition
• For Class B schools: You have less direct competition since Class A schools are separated; maximize this advantage with high-quality submissions
• Track award recipients' names carefully for scholarship eligibility tracking (May senior year)

How to Prepare

• Involve yearbook adviser early in planning which pieces to submit (September planning meeting)
• Throughout the year, identify standout spreads, photos, and writing pieces as they're created
• Request students maintain high quality standards knowing competition is ahead
• In August/September, review all yearbook work and categorize potential entries
• Have staff select their best 3-5 pieces per category to submit
• Ensure all work is technically polished (proper resolution, color correction, spell-check)
• Create organized folder structure in Google Drive with clear, accessible URLs
• Test all URLs to verify they work before deadline
• Have adviser review submission list for completeness and accuracy
• Set internal deadline 1-2 weeks before October 1 to allow buffer time
• Prepare payment method in advance (set up credit card form or obtain PO/check)
• Document which students contributed to which entries for scholarship eligibility tracking
• Consider requesting past year's winning entries from Quill and Scroll for inspiration

Resources

• Official Quill and Scroll website: quillandscroll.org (full contest guidelines, past winners list, category descriptions)
• Contact: (612) 200-9295 or contest@quillandscroll.org for questions
• View-only Google Spreadsheet template (provided by Q&S for entries)
• Official payment forms (credit card, PO/check) on quillandscroll.org
• Jostens Yearbook resources for design and layout best practices
• Treering yearbook platform guides on design and photography
• NSPA (National Scholastic Press Association) journalism standards and awards for writing/photography tips
• Professional photography/design resources (Adobe Creative Suite tutorials, photography composition guides)
• Yearbook adviser professional networks and workshops
• Social Media Examiner resources for social media journalism best practices
• Past winners' entries (available on quillandscroll.org) for study and inspiration

Time Needed

Preparation: 4-6 weeks in late summer (August-early September) to identify and organize entries. However, quality work is being created throughout the school year, so ongoing attention to excellence during yearbook production (September-April) is essential. Actual submission process: 2-3 hours to complete the Google spreadsheet and verify URLs.

Last year's major winners (2025 YEC): Wando High School (Mount Pleasant, South Carolina) - Class A overall; Christ Presbyterian Academy (Nashville, Tennessee) - Class B overall. These schools likely have: established, well-resourced yearbook programs; experienced advisers; access to quality photography and design tools; strong school support for journalism; multi-year tradition of excellence; diverse submission portfolio across categories; students with prior journalism experience or strong artistic talent; attention to professional standards in layout and writing; willingness to innovate (especially in social media category). Winners typically submit 10-30+ entries across multiple categories rather than just 1-2 entries.

Quill and Scroll is a well-respected national journalism honor society founded in 1921. YEC awards carry meaningful weight in college admissions, particularly for communications, journalism, media, and arts-focused programs. Recognition demonstrates: technical expertise in photography/design/writing, journalism principles, national-level competitive achievement, and commitment to quality publication work. Award recipients gain additional credibility through scholarship eligibility, which colleges view favorably. The Blue and Gold Award is particularly impressive—it shows overall excellence across multiple categories. Colleges view this competition favorably because it's organized by an established organization with consistent judging standards. However, impact varies by school focus: stronger for communications/journalism programs at universities, moderate for general liberal arts colleges, and less critical for STEM-focused schools. Inclusion on resume/college apps, mention in personal essays about journalism passion, or listing on activities can strengthen applications to communications programs.

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