As the deadlines quickly approach, the yearbook staff responsible for designing the The Shield is cramming to achieve consistency throughout the book before the next due date. The yearbook style mixture of writing and art allows co-editor Jason Herron, ’09, to combine skills in order to create a unique project.

Herron has cultivated a passion for yearbook since the beginning of his freshman year. He is currently in the process of editing the pages and trying to complete them by the next deadline.

?For the past three years, I have been in charge of making the pages for the yearbook,? Herron said. ?This is the first year that I have been able to edit other students’ work. Being the editor comes with a lot more responsibility because most of it depends on me and Molly [Griffin, ’09] to get it done.?

Herron attends the yearbook class once a day but says he feels there is too much work to complete in one class period.

?Usually before deadlines I have to stay in during lunch in order to finish,? Herron said.

First-year yearbook advisor, Brianne Raymer, also has adjusted her work schedule for her yearbook class and often is at school until after 3 p.m., working overtime advising students. She is currently majoring in art with an English minor.

Griffin works with Herron as the other editor. Like Herron, she edits and proofs every page in the book, helping make corrections and improvements when necessary.

“This year has been the busiest year for me in yearbook by far,” Griffin said. “It can be stressful at times, but it is something I love and enjoy doing, so it is definitely worth it. The yearbook is something everyone looks forward to seeing, so it’s important to me that it turns out great, and I love the sense of accomplishment when it is all over.”

This year the yearbook staff decided on a theme titled, ?For Everything There is a Season.?

?We chose this theme as a staff because first of all, it references a Bible passage (Ecclesiastes 3), identifying us as a Christian school,” Raymer said. “Secondly, our job is to sum up 2008-2009, culturally, politically and for our school. We feel that this year has been one of drastic change, with new administration for our school, a world-wide economic crisis and a new president of our nation.”

Raymer appreciates Herron’s dedication in yearbook class, she said. She considers teaching him this year a positive experience.

“I am thankful to have Jason as one of the 2008-2009 editors because of his natural knack for writing and his careful attention to detail,” Raymer said. “I can always count on Jason to quickly write copy and captions when we are in a pinch.”

Herron?s passion for working with computers resulted in him creating a Wikipedia page for the school, which he accomplished in his spare time.

?It was really fun to make,? Herron said. ?I have been working on it for the past few weeks. It?s a good way to help out the school and it made Mr. [Greg] Stobbe [journalism adviser] very happy!?

Next year Herron will be attending Fresno Pacific University to major in business administration.

?After college I want to do something computer-related, but I?m not exactly sure where I want to work,” Herron said.

Though Herron may not have a definite post-college plan, Raymer believes he will find success in whichever field he pursues, she said.

“No matter what the task, I know that I can always count on him to do a thorough job,” Raymer said. “Jason and Molly have proved to be a great team, balancing each other out with their different personalities, talents and interests.”

For more information on the yearbook, visit Gigi Thao’s Nov. 17 article, Yearbook captures campus changes.