Langley: read EDDA, it’s ranked 10th in the nation

It’s impossible to understate the importance of having a tangible record of history.

Accounting for a person’s life is difficult enough, but have you ever considered trying to create an accurate depiction of an entire student body?

This is the responsibility that falls on Augustana’s yearbook committee, the EDDA, year after year.

Last month, the EDDA staff attended the National College Media Convention in Louisville, Kentucky where its yearbook was selected as the 10th place finalist in the Yearbook (1-299 pages) Best of Show category.

Coming off of last year’s eighth place finish in the same category, this marks three years running in which EDDA has been a successful contender on the national level.

To gauge how EDDA was feeling about its ranking, I reached out to last year’s editor-in-chief, Taylor Olson, for her reaction.

Olson’s response wasn’t the response one would expect. Instead of the standard expressions of pride and vague admiration, Olson said she was “a little disappointed” to hear that the EDDA had finished in 10th place.

Taylor was disappointed not in her team, nor in the finished product—she was disappointed that they hadn’t won.

Like any competitor, it’s hard to hear that the dedication and passion your team poured into designing a yearbook ultimately didn’t cut first place.

Taylor went on to say, however, that “looking through the book again made me realize that it doesn’t really matter where we placed because the final product is something we’re all really proud of.”

Each and every individual involved with the making and production of the yearbook should be proud of their work and their ranking. And moreso, they should be acknowledged for their efforts by the student body.

With the final due date at the end of the year, work tends to pile up as each day presents a new variety of challenges.

Sections are shuffled around, duties are delegated and swapped as the days get closer to the publishing date. Sometimes, Edda members may work on the yearbook long after the official due date, waiting on pictures, student names and more.

In our interview, Taylor stated that she worked well into June to finish the yearbook last year. However, Taylor also emphasized that the long hours are all worth it when she’s able to hold the final product in her hands.

Perhaps, Olivia Verdick, one of the Edda ’s current co-editors puts it best by saying, “the yearbook chronicles our community. [I hope the] student body continues to read the yearbook and sees the values of our institution reflected.”

The yearbook is a reflection of you, so if you’ve got a minute, check it out and give some props to the team that makes it possible.