EWING – Villa Victoria Academy’s 2013 yearbook program has been named a 2013 Jostens National Yearbook Program of Excellence, which recognizes entire yearbook programs and staffs for excelling in the creation and distribution of dynamic and engaging yearbooks.

Jostens, a leading producer of yearbooks and student-created content, announced in August that Villa Victoria Academy’s yearbook program was being recognized along with a few hundred other schools around the country ‒ and only two others in New Jersey, Biotechnology High School in Freehold and Community High School, Teaneck.

The Villa Victoria Academy award winning yearbook program was led by Victoria Woolfolk of the Class of 2013, and under the direction of Jennifer Jacoppo, the school’s yearbook adviser and librarian in the Upper School. Woolfolk is now pursuing studies in business administration with a concentration in international business in Fairleigh Dickinson University, Hackensack.

Other members of the editorial team include  senior Kathryn Hager, senior Alyssa Zagoreos and junior Victoria Green.

Jostens’ National Yearbook Program of Excellence Awards are presented twice a year – in May for yearbooks delivered in the spring and in September for yearbooks delivered in the fall. The award was presented to the Villa Victoria Academy yearbook program for achieving the defined criteria in each of three following categories: creating an inclusive yearbook, generating school engagement and successfully managing the yearbook creation process. 

“The most outstanding part of this past year’s book is the coverage of our students,” Jacoppo said. “Last year was my first year as adviser and we weren’t aware of Josten’s program; we just had an editor and staff that was dedicated to making sure all our students in grades seven to 12 were well represented throughout the book.  Hundreds of candid pictures of our entire student body were taken and that made it easy to make sure everyone was covered, above and beyond the company’s criteria.”

The Villa Victoria Academy yearbook program will receive a plaque to display in the yearbook area and a banner to display in the school, so the entire school community will be aware of the achievement.

Woolfolk said her goal was simple, to create “a book of fun memories for all the girls at Villa.”

“I know how much work she put into making sure every student was well represented in our yearbook,” Jacoppo added.

Jostens emphasized the importance of a class having a good yearbook.

“Jostens believes passionately in the importance of the yearbook tradition connecting every student to the school story and the school year and we are honored to recognize these yearbook programs,” said Mike Wolf, director, Yearbook Marketing, Jostens. “We understand that a great yearbook program does not just happen, and we are dedicated to helping schools strengthen their programs by providing the tools and personal guidance for success.”