Host an Award Night: Why Every Yearbook Staff Deserves a Year-End Awards Night
- Christy Horton
- Sep 14, 2025
- 2 min read
Yearbook is more than just deadlines and spreads—it’s a year-long labor of love. After countless hours of planning, writing, photographing, and designing, your staff deserves a celebration that honors both their hard work and the memories they’ve helped capture. That’s why hosting a Year-End Awards Night has become one of my favorite traditions.
Make It Fun (and Delicious)
We go all out for this event. Every year, I cater gourmet popcorn from a local shop—yes, all 100 flavors! The variety alone sets the mood for celebration. While we snack, we play games like “Tag the Student” or “Who Said the Quote?” These lighthearted activities not only bring laughter but also help us reflect on all the inside jokes and moments that shaped our staff’s journey.
Celebrate Individual Talents
One of the most meaningful parts of the evening is presenting awards. I buy plaques from our local trophy shop—under $10 each—and spend time crafting both fun and serious categories. Past examples include:
Creative & Fun Awards: Caption Captain, Ms. Congeniality or Most Rizz
Formal & Skill-Based Awards: Spread of the Year (by section or the entire book), Best Photography, MVP (someone who was the most helpful and valuable to team), Rookie of the Year (first year staff all-star), Top Contributor, Best Feature, Adviser Award (most help and service)
Every student also receives a participation plaque that reads: “In Recognition of Yearbook Excellence and Completion of the (Year) Yearbook.” Returning staffers get veteran plaques instead, noting their years of service, which makes their ongoing commitment feel special. (Three years of service gets them the 11 x 17 G.O.A.T. Award plaque)
Honor Seniors with Themed Gifts
For seniors, I tie their gifts into our yearbook theme. For example, when our theme was Gold Standard, seniors received gold-themed items:
Gold cardholders for their dorm room
A gold necklace stamped with the high school’s coordinates
Gold eye patches for late-night study sessions
And of course—some real gold (in the form of gift cards)
It’s a small but powerful way to send them off with memories tied to their yearbook experience.
Adapt When Needed
Even during difficult years, like 2020 when our book wasn’t finished by awards night, the event still thrived. We invited parents, printed spreads, and turned the evening into an editing party. Parents and staff flipped through the pages, helping us polish while sharing laughter and stories. It proved that the night isn’t just about recognition—it’s about community.
Why It Matters
Hosting a Year-End Awards Night shows your staff that their work is valued, their talents are noticed, and their contributions matter. It builds a sense of tradition, pride, and closure for the year. Most importantly, it reminds students that yearbook isn’t just a project—it’s a legacy to cherish.
Go the Extra Mile
Recruit at the same time! Create a promo video of the night's fun to encourage students to join! They see the students being praised and celebrated and they will want to get in on that attention too! Here is our memory video for our Instagram page.
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