Smoky Hill’s Yearbook is a NSPA Pacemaker finalist this week.

The Pacemaker Award is a national journalism award, in which yearbooks across the country are judged by a panel of professionals. All 50 states are eligible, including international yearbooks ranging from middle school through college. 

The 2014 yearbook was Pacemaker Award winner. This year marks the fourth year in a row that Smoky Hill has been on the CSPA Crown and Pacemaker finalist lists. 

Maddi Gault is a senior member of the yearbook class, and has been involved since her freshman year. As an experienced yearbooker, she is now a group leader.

“[The 2015] yearbook was something new for us. We had really good photographers that year, and a great editor, “Gault said.

The yerds received the news that their 2015 yearbook is a finalist, Wednesday during their weekly work night. Winners will be announced during the JEA/NSPA Convention, held in Los Angeles, CA, in March.

“This yearbook was so different. No one believed in it – and it was so risky – but everyone loved it, and then all of a sudden, everyone wanted to see Smoky Hill’s yearbook,” Gault said.

The entire yearbook staff is hoping to repeat a win for both awards. While the current staff will be honored, the Class of 2015 will also take recognition as they were in charge of the 2015 yearbook.