For Martha Akers, it appeared to be a routine faculty meeting on Monday, Nov. 28 at Loudoun Valley High School in Purcellville, VA. The meeting started with routine announcements and then principal Susan Ross moved on to the "business" at hand and introduced a guest speaker.
As H.L. Hall, guest presenter and Journalism Education Association [JEA] past president, entered the auditorium, Akers knew instantly this wasn't a routine faculty meeting. Hall traveled to the school to name Akers the 2005 National Yearbook Adviser of the Year, and the news was met with a standing ovation from the faculty.
A reception followed the meeting where Akers' current yearbook editors as well as several editors from previous years, were on hand to congratulate their adviser and friend.
"I have always been proud of my students and their understanding of the change yearbooks need to experience if they are going to continue to appeal to the ever-changing student population" Akers said.
For 27 years, Akers has served as adviser to the award-winning Saga yearbook. During this time, her students have set several yearbook trends and have earned every top scholastic journalism honor including CSPA Gold and Silver Crowns, NSPA Pacemakers and VHSL Trophy and Savedge Awards.
The Saga changed the look of high school yearbooks in 1999 when Akers' editors included more than 4,100 photos in the publication, helping set the trend of including more student photos on yearbook spreads.
During Akers' tenure as adviser, the Loudoun Valley yearbook program has also grown from an extra-curricular activity to five class sections of photojournalism with 127 students enrolled.
Akers, a Jostens customer, shares her enthusiasm and expertise with students and teachers teaching dozens of yearbook workshops across the country each year. She served as an editor of CSPA
Scholastic Yearbook Fundamentals and has earned the CSPA Gold Key, NSPA Pioneer and has been inducted into the National Scholastic Journalism Hall of Fame.
In addition to Akers, three outstanding advisers were also recognized:
Distinguished Adviser:
Linda Ballew, Great Falls High School, Montana
Special Recognition Advisers:
Ruby Dyer, Wayne High School, West Virginia
Aaron Manfull, Francis Howell North High School, Missouri
Previous National Yearbook Adviser of the Year winners:
- Casey Nichols, California
- Kathy Craghead, Missouri
- Judi Coolidge, Ohio
- Lynn Strause, Michigan
- Crystal Kazmierski, California
- Susan Massy, Kansas
- Kathy Daly, Colorado
- Paul Ender, California
- Nancy Hastings, Indiana
- Jim Jordan, California
- H.L. Hall, Missouri
The nation's yearbook companies including Jostens sponsor the adviser of the year competition. To nominate yourself or your adviser, visit the JEA website: www.jea.org.
