For Irish, creating lifelong memories also builds dreams of creative careers

Grace Turner | Special to The Michigan Catholic

PONTIAC — The yearbook team at Notre Dame Preparatory High School and Marist Academy is looking to create an award-winning product for the fourth year in a row.

Led by yearbook advisor Kyle Lilek, the class of 25 to 30 students compiles the school’s memories while meeting criteria set forth by Jostens, the yearbook’s publishing company.

The first requirement is that the book include as much of the school community as possible. The class tries to get more than 70 percent of the students and staff members in the yearbook at least three times. Each person is tagged in photos on the computer program so Lilek can create the index.

The second criterion is that as many students get a yearbook as possible. The price of a yearbook is rolled into the tuition cost, and few students opt out each year.

The final requirement is that the yearbook’s content is turned in on time. Lilek sets deadlines for his students that are well before the company’s and has no problem turning in the final product on time.

For the past three years, check, check and check.

“I’m obsessive when it comes to being organized,” Lilek said.

The students who participate in the class get more than just an award, though. They get on-field and backstage photography access to Notre Dame’s sporting events and performances, and, of course, bragging rights.

The students also retain control of much of the yearbook’s content.

“If they want to make a joke, they absolutely can,” Lilek said. “It amuses us more.”



This control doesn’t come without a great deal of trust from Lilek, who supervises the class under the mantra, “No shenanigans,” according to editors. Generally, he selects two editors from the junior class, who move up to become the senior editors the next year. In addition to these four, there are three section editors.

“I need to have 100 percent faith in both my editors and section editors,” he said. He added that the students he chooses tend to be chatty and comfortable talking with their peers.

On the first day of school, students choose a theme for the yearbook. This year’s theme is outer space, and the book is decorated with colorful, retro pictures of spaceships and planets. Most students take the class for a semester, but editors and some other students stay for the whole year.

All of the students are assigned pages and trained to build page templates using an online program called Jostens Yearbook Avenue. They also write content and take photos, and editors alter and finalize the pages as needed. All of the work is done on the students’ tablets, and the school supplied Lilek with cameras to loan out.

Madison McClune, a senior who has been an editor for three years, says the most challenging part of putting the yearbook together is developing the theme and staying consistent. However, the class is a break for her.

“The laid-back environment is great, especially after a really tough day,” she said. McClure also likes that she gets to help compile a history of the school.



Easy-going doesn’t mean uninspiring. The class has helped some students shape future plans.

“I realized that I like applying creativity to what I do,” said Jacob Mancinotti, a senior and second-year editor. “I need a job that I can put a little of myself into.”

Annagrace Agro, a junior and first-year editor, always liked to draw and paint. Yearbook introduced her to photography, and she now has her own camera.

First-year editors learn about the program with the rest of the new students in the class, said Alicia Ringwood, a junior and first-year editor. However, they also shadow more experienced editors to become experts and improve their people skills so they can tactfully give constructive criticism.

While Ringwood and Agro wait to hold their first yearbook baby, the veteran editors described seeing the print version of the students’ collective efforts.

“It’s such a proud moment,” McClune said.