My high school yearbook adviser changed my life. Not only did she inspire me to study journalism in college, but I continued to work on the yearbook when I went to Syracuse University. When I called her nearing my college graduation, I kept telling her the most fun I ever had working was in yearbook class. She got in touch with Walsworth, the yearbook company she used, and they took a chance on me. I owe everything to my adviser and the wonderful people at Walsworth yearbooks.
Veronika with her daughter Anastasia
I met my husband at yearbook camp, would have never had my daughter if it wasn’t for Walsworth, and wouldn’t have this wonderful career if I hadn’t been exposed to a great journalism teacher. I’m now starting my 20th straight year with Walsworth and am one of their top 10 sales reps. I’m able to have a very fulfilling job that allows me great flexibility and time to spend with my daughter. When people say a teacher can change your life, they aren’t kidding. My yearbook adviser forever changed mine for the better.
My goal as your yearbook rep is to inspire you to greatness and share with you the power of a yearbook.
Patty Gomez, adviser of the Crestian yearbook at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, was one of eight advisers to be named a Rising Star award winner by the Journalism Education Association (JEA).
Patty took over a yearbook program at Pine Crest that operated as a club for 72 years and now works as a club-plus-class hybrid.
Patty told the JEA that witnessing the sense of pride and professionalism in her students is one of the things she enjoys most about advising.
Read more about the other JEA Rising Star winners by visiting the JEA website here. Congrats Patty!
I feel that Veronika enjoys her job and likes to be that connection between Walsworth and adviser. When working with Herff Jones, I did not really have a representative who created that connection. My representative was more focused on selling Herff to other schools, than maintaining a relationship with the schools he already had as customers. Veronika does not come across as a sales person, but as a representative who wants to foster a working relationship between her customers and Walsworth.
Veronika actually spent hours with me and my students explaining how and why layouts were constructed. I cannot explain how much I learned from her in those few months. Within the next few years, with Veronika, I feel comfortable and capable as an adviser. She has helped and (did/will) train future editors and motivate them with ideas, concepts, and themes.