Students at Star Valley High School will soon get their hands on this year’s yearbook as the staff prepares for distribution on May 19 after months of planning, designing, and editing.

Behind the finished product is a dedicated team of students and advisers who have spent nearly a full year creating the book. Editors Italy Erickson and Riplee Viegel began work on the project last May by selecting this year’s theme, “Welcome to Fabulous SVHS,” inspired by the bright style of Las Vegas.

“The yearbook is a big project, but it’s also so fun to be a part of it,” Erickson said. “As editors, Riplee and I started working on the yearbook last May. We picked out the theme and how we wanted to incorporate it, which led to me getting the cover all designed.”

Once the theme was chosen, the class organized the book into multiple deadlines throughout the school year. According to Erickson, the staff completed five major deadlines, with each student responsible for different pages and sections.

“A lot of people play a part in making the yearbook what it is,” Erickson said. “It is a lot of work, but once the finished product comes, it’s the best to just sit and look through everything you’ve worked toward all year.”

Yearbook adviser Mr. Kelly Fullmer said the process requires months of preparation and teamwork behind the scenes.

“Our staff and editors worked really hard behind the scenes to get this year’s book ready,” Fullmer said. “I think the student body will enjoy the book.”

The book is published through Varsity Brands in Kansas City, and more than 700 copies were ordered this year. Fullmer explained that in order for students to receive the books before the school year ends, all pages must be submitted by mid-April. Because of that deadline, events that happen later in the spring are not included in the publication.

Fullmer has advised the yearbook for 24 years and said the annual publication continues to be an important tradition at SVHS. In addition to preserving school memories, the yearbook is also entered into a WHSAA-sponsored competition each year. Last year’s edition earned second place in Wyoming 4A competition.

Producing the yearbook is also a major financial commitment. Fullmer said the book costs approximately $24,000 to produce, with expenses covered through yearbook sales.

For Erickson, one of the highlights of the experience was helping create the overall vision for the book.

“I really enjoyed being able to choose the theme this year,” she said.

As the school year comes to a close, the yearbook staff hopes students will enjoy looking back on the memories captured in this year’s edition of the SVHS yearbook.