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Unlimited custom pages contest
To mark Treering's 15th birthday, we are thrilled to announce a special promotion that offers 15 lucky individuals the chance to win unlimited* custom yearbook pages!
Promotion period
The promotion will run from January 8-31, 2024. To be eligible, participants must purchase their yearbook before January 31, 2024. Winners will be announced via Instagram by February 7, 2024.
Official participation rules and steps to enter
- You must be at least 18 and a parent, teacher, or student who has purchased your 2023-2024 Treering school yearbook by January 31, 2024.
- To participate, follow @Treeringcorp on Instagram.
- Comment on our Instagram post with an idea on how you will fill unlimited custom pages in your Treering yearbook.
- For a bonus entry: Post a memory on your page with the hashtag #treeringturns15pages. Make sure this post is shared publicly so we can see it.
- Submissions are due by 8 PM PT on January 31, 2024.
Fifteen winners will be notified via direct message on Instagram. Custom pages will max out at 150 pages.
A post shared by Treering (@treeringcorp)
FAQs
What are custom pages?
Parents use custom pages to highlight what's important to their family: vacations, traditions, student art, and milestones. Each Treering yearbook comes with two free for families to customize.
How will I know if I won?
Treering’s social team will tag 15 winners on Treering’s Instagram page. We’ll also contact each winner by DM.
How do I get my prize?
Fifteen winners will receive a coupon code to cover the amount of up to 150 custom pages in their 2023-2024 yearbook.
I don’t have social media, can I still enter the contest?
This particular contest is for social posts only. We will have another contest in the Spring that does not require an account!
Do I have to purchase a yearbook to enter?
In order to participate in this contest you must purchase a yearbook with Treering (winners receive free custom pages that will go into your book).
Ownership
By tagging #treeringturns15pages, you have verified the approval of others pictured, and you approve Treering to use your name, caption, and school name for any marketing purposes, including but not limited to showcasing on www.treering.com, sharing on social media, and sharing with media.
Thanks for celebrating with us! If you have any questions, contact us at marketing@treering.com.
Prize Details: Unlimited Custom Pages
Fifteen winners will be randomly selected, each receiving the incredible prize of unlimited custom yearbook pages*. This means they can create a truly unique and personalized yearbook experience for their student.
Please note, not all schools utilize the Treering Custom Page feature. Your school must have Custom Pages enabled to participate.
*Unlimited custom pages caps out at 150.
As we continue to celebrate Treering’s 15th birthday, join the party by following Treering's social channels and subscribing to the blog for more giveaways.
Social media contest: will yearbook for coffee
We're spreading some coffee cheer with a chance to win one of three "caffeine breaks" from Starbucks on Facebook and Instagram (a total of six). This giveaway is not affiliated with Meta and is limited to US followers.
Official participation rules and steps to enter
- You must be at least 18 years old to participate.
- To participate, like the Treering giveaway posts on Facebook and Instagram and comment "coffee" between December 18-22. Incomplete entries will not be accepted.
Winner selection
Three winners from each platform (Facebook and Instagram) will be chosen randomly from Dec 18-22. No purchase necessary.
FAQs
How will l know if I won?
Winners will be tagged on our Facebook and Instagram pages. We’ll also contact each winner by DM.
How do I get my prize?
Winners will receive a gift card via email.
I don’t have social media, can I still enter the contest?
No, sorry.
Ownership
By entering, you approve Treering to use your name and/or school name for any marketing purposes, including but not limited to showcasing on www.treering.com, sharing on social media, and sharing with media.
If you have any questions, contact the social team at marketing@treering.com.
As we look forward to Treering’s 15th birthday, join the party and follow Treering's social channels for more giveaways.
New enhancements to our yearbook builder
Editor requests are at the top of Treering’s to-do list, from introducing a yearbook donation option to click-and-go Heritage Covers. Last year’s Glow Up kicked off this design enhancement. Bottom line: your story evolves, so why shouldn’t your yearbook software?
Two Words: Grouping and Locking
Yearbook editors requested these design tools because they facilitate editing ease, consistency in design, and layer management.
Grouping Feature
By grouping related elements on your spread, it’s easier to edit or modify them collectively. This helps when working on modules or spreads with numerous design elements or layers. A click simplifies the design process and enhances overall efficiency.
Lock Feature
Locking page elements prevents unnecessary edits, especially when working with layers. This feature locks and unlocks theme art, photographs, and text boxes.
When collaborating with others on yearbook design, these features are valuable because they help maintain consistency while giving you increased control over the editing process.
More Space to Create
The most noticeable change is in the yearbook builder: new menus “provide more horizontal space” (that’s user interface speak for Chromebook-friendly).
This includes:
- Moving the navigation and most common editing tools to the top toolbars
- Using the left panel for less-used design features (think glow and drop-shadows)
- Introducing “fit to screen” as a zoom option
- Placing the page switcher, help buttons, notes, and editors in the bottom toolbar
And unless you change the settings, the page builder automatically adjusts so your canvas is always visible.
“How Do I Get Rid of the Red Lines?”
Use the new page warning tray to manage duplicate images, low-resolution images, margin warnings, and spelling errors. If it's irrelevant ("Why, yes, I do want that bleed"), hit ignore and move on.
Your Account
The dashboard continues to be your control center: edit deadlines, cover finishes, and page count with a click. Two updates give you more power.
Dashboard
Your Editor Checklist is now a Quick Links bar: stay on track and get help ITM by watching videos or using our editor guides. Yearbook pro? Minimize the list and get to work.
Switching Between Roles
The top navigation bar also gives parents who double as editors a centralized access point for all their school associations.
- Profile switcher allows an easy switch between editor and parent account
- School switcher helps editors move between multiple campuses or organizations
New Look, Same Treering
By changing out our green, your book will dominate the look of the new interface. This school-first design reminds us that Treering is in the memory-making business because of you.
Happy yearbooking!
Double your donations 2023
In honor of the season of giving, Treering will match up to five yearbook donations per school account. From Tuesday, November 28 through Sunday, December 31, one community book donation equals one Treering book donation. Editors can reassign these books to teachers, promoting students, the principal, or students in need.
How the donation match works
- Enable the Book Donation option on the dashboard
- Let your campus community know 'tis the season to share the (yearbook) love
- Re-assign the yearbooks so recipients can customize or order non-custom books to hand out
This promotion ends at 11:59 pm PST on December 31, 2023. Matched yearbooks will automatically be added to your account by January 30, 2024.
The fine print
- Promotion ends at 11:59 pm PST on December 31, 2023.
- Matched yearbooks will automatically be added to your account by January 30, 2024.
- Donations may not be combined with any other promotions.
- Donated yearbooks cannot exist on ship-to-home, invoiced, or PO orders. Credit card or PayPal orders only.
- Ordering donation books will not be available for After Deadline Orders.
Thanks on a platter giveaway rules
Official participation rules and steps to enter
- You must be a current yearbook editor (23-24 school year) at a Treering school to participate.
- To participate, fill out the submission form and include an image/screenshot of your favorite 23-24 yearbook (the current school year) memory so far. Be sure to include your school name and address (city and state only are fine). Incomplete entries will not be accepted.
- Submissions are due by Wednesday, November 15th, 2023 by 8 PM PT.
One winner will be announced at 11 AM PT on Thursday, November 16th, 11 AM PT on Friday, November 18th, and 11 AM PT on Monday, November 20th on the Treering Facebook page. Each of the three winners will be chosen at random.
Prizes
The three winners will receive a gift card to Honey Baked Ham for the amount of $200.
Ownership
By submitting your photo/image, you have verified the approval of others pictured, and you approve Treering to use your name and school name for any marketing purposes, including but not limited to showcasing on www.treering.com, sharing on social media, and sharing with media.
Thanks for being you. If you have any questions, contact us at marketing@treering.com.
10 reasons we're excited about TRL
Recreating the wheel is exhausting. Having Treering Live (TRL) experts provide all their tips and tricks saves time and energy and brings the fun back to yearbooking. (Yes, yearbook is a verb.) Treering tailored TRL for yearbook volunteers, educators, and aficionados of all levels, offering 18 sessions so you can engage with various aspects of the creative process. In anticipation, we compiled our top reasons TRL is the yearbook event of the season.
1. Leave with a road map
Figuring out how to get started when you're new to the school yearbook is daunting, especially when the person who used to do it is no longer at the school. Learn how to start and finish your yearbook.
Recommended sessions: I’m the Yearbook Coordinator… Now What? and Teaching Yearbook
2. Live event
Real-time sessions mean your questions get asked and answered promptly. Between the live Q&A during each session and the chat throughout, there are plenty of opportunities for shared learning.
Recommended sessions: Ask Us Anything with Treering’s Co-Founder Brady McCue and Keep, Change, Stop
3. Connecting with other advisers
Because two—or four hundred—heads are better than one, working together turns terrifying yearbook mountains into easy-to-approach small hills. TRL is not just about knowledge acquisition; it's about building connections within the yearbook community during National School Yearbook Week. You'll collaborate with fellow yearbook enthusiasts, sharing your triumphs, learning from your challenges, and forging bonds beyond these three days online.
Recommended sessions: Fundraising and Crowdsourcing and Social Media for Yearbook
4. Making a plan
From a ladder and coverage calendar to the next marketing campaign, you’re leaving TRL with concrete steps to make the best yearbook yet.
Recommended sessions: Getting Organized and Creating a Marketing Plan
5. Design inspiration
Yearbook Hero Lauren Casteen introduced us to mild, medium, and spicy design. Wherever you fall on this scale, you will gain an understanding of layout, typography, and color and how to go to the next level. You’ll also be able to help your yearbook team produce robust designs. Because, seriously, no one should yearbook alone.
Recommended sessions: Design 101 and Design 201
6. Three days of training
Joining TRL for one or all 18 sessions is a testament to your passion for preserving the memories and historical record of the school year, one page at a time.
7. cash
Kind of. Because we love a theme, there will be some sort of game in many sessions. Prizes include pizza parties, art supplies, and gift cards for coffee or Amazon.
8. 6+ hours of PD
Treering loves teachers. You’ll see learning outcomes in the session descriptions, and some of us, unabashedly, speak in teacher-ese. We know the importance of pro-grow opportunities. We know how annoying it is when someone reads their slides.
9. The Treering difference
Many schools consider changing their yearbook program and need to see Treering’s software firsthand. Busy schedules make it difficult, so we have four opportunities to dive in.
Recommended session: Live Demo
10. The journey isn’t over
In keeping with our game theme, your next winning move can take the form of weekly posts on the blog, monthly webinars, and 24/7 support with the Help Center. These myriad options allow flexibility in scheduling and enable you to revisit content or learn something new at your own pace.
Share your top moments during TRL: 23 by tagging us on social using @treering (Facebook and X) or @treeringcorp (Instagram and TikTok) using #trl23.
TRL 2023: start here
It's time to roll the dice and level up your yearbook game with three days of Yearbookopoly! This National School Yearbook Week, attend all three days of our flagship training event, or pick sessions matching your gaming style.
Tuesday, October 3 - speed round
A few sessions to start you off strong. A practice session, if you will!
October 3, 2023 - Meet Sandy Hook Promise
Meet Treering's philanthropic partner, Sandy Hook Promise, and hear about this free program that builds empathy and social awareness across all grade levels.
1:00 PM PT
October 3, 2023 - Fundraising with Yearbooks
If you’re checking things out to take one thing (e.g. wrapping paper sales) off your list so you can raise money doing what you already do, this session is for you. And if you are looking for a yearbook fundraiser to afford your book, this is also the session for you.
1:30 PM PT
October 3, 2023 - Live Demo
Experience how easy it is to create, market, and sell a yearbook using Treering's all-inclusive software. This session is designed for advisers looking to learn more about Treering Yearbooks.
2:15 PM PT
Wednesday, October 4 - yearbook player’s manual
We’ve scheduled concurrent sessions of back-to-back training to answer all your burning yearbook questions.
October 4, 2023 - Pass Go!
Kick off the day, see a few sneak peeks, and win prizes.
1:00 PM PT
October 4, 2023 - I’m the Yearbook Coordinator, Now What?
Volunteer or volunTOLD? However you ended up as the Yearbook Coordinator, you'll leave with solid strategies to help you start and finish your yearbook.
1:30 PM PT
October 4, 2023 - Teaching Yearbook
In your teacher prep program, did you ever take a course on how to teach yearbook? No? We got you. In this session, we'll go over a checklist of people and things you'll need to know as an adviser, then talk about how to build your team, set goals, teach first skills, and set up your calendar for the year.
1:30 PM PT
October 4, 2023 - Design 101
We like to tell people using Treering is as easy as click, drag, drop, and done. Follow along as we go from theme selection to final product.
2:15 PM PT
October 4, 2023 - Design 201
Want to take a more creative direction for your yearbook? Maybe you’re thinking of submitting your book to a contest and need more student-driven design. Whichever your motivation, we’ll show you tips to simplify creating layouts from scratch using Treering’s software, including the alignment and grid tools.
2:15 PM PT
October 4, 2023 - Live Demo
Experience how easy it is to create, market, and sell a yearbook using Treering's all-inclusive software.
2:15 PM PT
October 4, 2023 - CAT Genius Hour
Need a quick Treering account checkup? Did you just see something you want to review? Join your Community Advocate Team for some 1:1 support. Please note: Live agents are first-come, first-served. Treering support is also available at help.treering.com
2:15 PM PT
October 4, 2023 - Getting Organized
Structure is the name of the game and with a few practical tools, you can win this one.
3:00 PM PT
October 4, 2023 - Crowdsourcing and Social Media for Yearbook
Adding social media to your yearbook marketing strategy can only help increase the visibility of your staff and your product. It can also help the stories and photographs in your yearbook be more representative of your student body. You’ll create a plan to use both Treering’s crowdsourcing options and your existing social channels to make your (yearbook) life easier.
3:00 PM PT
October 4, 2023 - Ask Us Anything
Join Treering co-founder Brady McCue for a candid conversation as he answers your questions live.
3:45 PM PT
October 4, 2023 - Creating a Marketing Plan
It may seem backward to start marketing a book that hasn’t been finished yet, and we believe this is the best time to create a plan and put it into action. Learn tips to market your program (hello, new recruits) as well as sell more yearbooks. For those who learn by doing, we'll have some work time to create and share.
4:30 PM PT
October 4, 2023 - Live Demo
Experience how easy it is to create, market, and sell a yearbook using Treering's all-inclusive software.
4:30 PM PT
October 4, 2023 - Design 101
We like to tell people using Treering is as easy as click, drag, drop, and done. Follow along as we go from theme selection to final product.
5:15 PM PT
October 4, 2023 - Design 201
Want to take a more creative direction for your yearbook? Maybe you’re thinking of submitting your book to a contest and need more student-driven design. Whichever your motivation, we’ll show you tips to simplify creating layouts from scratch using Treering’s software, including the alignment and grid tools.
5:15 PM PT
Thursday, October 5 - cards against editorial sanity
Meet some of the legends in the yearbook game. Our Treering Yearbook Heroes will spill their secrets and tackle your questions.
October 5, 2023 - Live Demo
Experience how easy it is to create, market, and sell a yearbook using Treering's all-inclusive software.
2:15 PM PT
October 5, 2023 - Keep, Change, Stop: A Conversation with Seasoned Advisers
Four yearbook advisers discuss getting out of yearbook debt, structuring class/club time, grading, real-world marketing tips, and answer your questions live.
3:00 PM PT
Register now for TRL 23. Cost to join? Free! Prizes? Of course!
Disclaimer: Attendees may experience an uncontrollable urge to shout "Checkmate!" during sessions.
TRL 23 FAQs
How much does it cost to register?
Treering Live is a free training event.
I'm not a Treering customer, may I attend?
Yes, please attend. Treering loves to share.
How do I get on Zoom Events?
For best results:
- Use the link provided here to register for TRL 23
- Use Chrome for the best results
- Make sure your Zoon desktop or mobile app is updated to the latest version
- Look for emails from Treering with your event details and links to get to the event portal
What do I need to prepare for TRL 23?
Make sure you have the latest version of Zoom, so you don’t miss out! If you are having tech trouble with Zoom, be sure to visit our day-of TRL Support.
Some sessions, such as Teaching Yearbook and Creating a Yearbook Marketing Plan, have work time. To maximize your takeaway, please have your school calendar on hand.
If you’re old school, have paper and a pen to take notes. New school, live post on X, formerly known as Twitter, or Facebook and hashtag #trl2023, #BiteSizedPD, #treering
Will TRL be recorded?
We will record and share all group TRL sessions on the blog. Those who attend the live demos will receive a recording of their session.
Are TRL sessions captioned?
YES! In the toolbar at the bottom of your Zoom screen, click the Show Captions icon.
To enable it for every TRL session, click your profile picture then click Settings.
1. Click the Accessibility tab.
2. Under Closed Captioning, click the checkbox to enable Always Show Captions.
This is my first year leading the yearbook. What should I do?
Welcome! We recommend beginning with either
Is this only for first-year advisers?
Returning advisers have curated sessions on social media, marketing, and advanced design.
Can my yearbook students attend?
Student privacy is always our utmost concern. Yearbook classes are welcome to attend together; the adviser must be present to model responsible online engagement.
What is CAT Genius Hour?
The Genius Hour is a drop-in 1:1 session designed to help acclimate first-year advisers/editors to their Treering account. Bring your Treering questions.
Can I get professional development credit?
For our teacher friends who need to apply for professional development or are looking for a yearbook PLC, TRL attendees with gain fundamental knowledge and skills related to yearbook creation, marketing, volunteer management, and effective engagement with students and parents, preparing them to support the yearbook team and contribute positively to the school's yearbook project. (You can quote us on it!)
Upon request, we will offer a TRL 23 certificate of completion for three or more sessions of attendance for attendees.
New for 2023: yearbook theme inspo
From the Treering Design Studio comes the 2024 theme collection, guided by visual arts and technology trends. These ten theme packages infuse contemporary and stylish aesthetics through cover and layout designs, accompanying graphics, and color palettes. Use the inspo below to guide your yearbook’s visual theme elements, ensuring your school's legacy is etched with your unique touch.
Trends from DIY culture
At its core, the DIY ethos empowers individuals to believe they have the skills and resources to tell their stories. Treering’s software is the tool by which creators do just this. Unleash your artistic potential by engaging with these four looks.
Maximalist yearbook theme
Inspired by handicrafts, Treering’s Maximalist theme package features collage-style artwork with layers of color. It aligns with the DIY ethos and the desire to create and distribute art and ideas outside mainstream channels. In a world inundated with perfect pixels, a book that captures the spirit of handmade craftsmanship stands out.
It’s a little punk rock, a little pop art, and wholly versatile.
Tropical Chronicles
In the graphic design world, we’ve seen risograph art trend since its inception in 1960. Riso printers in Japan created their signature layered look, and its association with ‘zine culture, independent publishing, and grassroots creative efforts contributes to its continued popularity.
The riso aesthetic is distinct from other printing methods, and its retro and handmade feel can attract yearbook teams seeking something visually interesting and non-traditional.
Yearbook theme inspo from the masters: tied together
Continuous line art is another classic look. Picasso did it. So did Matisse.
Because the line is unbroken, there is a sense of flow and movement with this look. This dynamic quality can draw the viewer's eye along the line, creating an engaging visual experience throughout your yearbook. Its hand-drawn quality is organic: the intentional variations in each line give a sense of immediacy and authenticity–two things you want when telling the story of the year.
Continuous line art often highlights the essential features of an item, creating a focus on its defining elements. Using the included graphic elements–or even creating and uploading your own–define touchpoints throughout your yearbook. Lunchtime, Read Across America, and the 100th day of school each have distinct canvases.
Crafted
During the 2023 Editor’s Choice Design Contest, many submissions included a form of digital collage, adding depth to the stories and images across the spreads. Graphics such as hand-torn papers and transparent tapes adorn these modular layouts so you can pack pages with seasonal or quarterly content.
Crafting a digital book that looks handmade invites your school community into a world where thoughtfully placed captions and photographs tell your unique story. This intentional design choice ignites curiosity and captivates the senses. The scrapbook-like textures, imperfect lines, and off-the-grid layouts carry the essence of an artist's hands at work.
Yearbook theme inspo from tech-inspired design
Using tech-inspired elements in your yearbook theme can evoke a sense of nostalgia and celebrate progress. When you get design inspiration from social media, streaming services, or interfaces, your yearbook theme provides a physical, tactile experience that contrasts with the intangible nature of technology. (We won’t judge if you use that nugget in your theme pitch.)
In an instant
Let’s face it, advisers, younger audiences who are deeply connected to technology may find these designs relatable. And when used with crowdsourcing efforts and a social media plan, they’re compiled in a relevant and memorable way. The familiarity of this double-tap-worthy yearbook theme is part of its appeal.
The included layouts are highly visual: photos, photos, and more photos with plenty of room for captions and the occasional hashtag. We're just going to leave this here.
Y2K yearbook theme
Aesthetic blends that evoke both the past and the future remain popular. This theme package of vintage-inspired typography and futuristic elements creates nostalgia. The Y2K aesthetic draws inspiration from the anticipation of entering a new century. Seriously, who else was waiting for a flying car?
Y2K-inspired design commonly uses pixelated graphics as a nod to the digital origins of the era. And while your photography and body copy remain the focus of each spread, digital distortions, mosaic-like patterns, and geometric shapes create visually intricate sidebars and callouts.
As a yearbook theme, Y2K is both a playful and visually stimulating style that captures the anticipation, optimism, and technological innovation of the turn of the millennium.
How to use a Treering theme in your yearbook
In the Treering app, go to styles from the page designer. You can select any of the 300+ themes from the menu. (Here's a secret an insider tip: even if you choose a Treering theme, you still have access to all the layouts, art, fonts, and color palettes in the catalog.)
Wherever you get your yearbook theme inspo, the finished product should reflect your school right now. Together, color, typography, and your theme story can evoke a profound emotional connection that resonates with authenticity for years to come. So, you do you.
Winners of the 2023 custom pages contest
As a new tradition initiated in the 2021-2022 school year, Treering's custom pages contest gave parents an opportunity to share the designs they create for their children's yearbooks. After narrowing nearly 500 submissions down to just 10, we took the vote to Treering's official Facebook and Instagram pages. The finalists earned thumbs up and hearts, respectively, while providing custom page ideas and inspiration to other parents. All ten finalists earned $50 from Amazon. The grand prize winner earned an additional $500 Amazon gift card.
On behalf of the judges and marketing department, we are thankful for each submission.
Grand prize winner: Lisa Ward from Keene, TX
It all began when her children asked for their extended family, who live across the US, to be in their yearbook. "We had a lot of fun reaching out to family to put together these pages," Ward said. "From California to North Carolina, Michigan to Texas, we like the reminder that family is forever!"
Why we loved it
The core value of Treering's custom pages is for each family to make their child's book their own. Ward did that by involving her family. The coordination itself is award-worthy, not to mention the clever use of objects to center their "family forever" message with a heart.
Second place winner: Mary Frazee from Galt, CA
Frazee created a "Road Map" for her daughter's sixth-grade yearbook. "The pages feature all the fun things she learned and enjoyed along the way," she said. "I wanted to capture how much she has grown, and feature her first day of school photos for each year."
Why we loved it
This is how you culminate an elementary school journey! The path from first through sixth grade showed all of Hailey's trips, achievements, and activities, as well as her teachers' names (the teachers on the judging panel felt seen). Using flowers to denote growth along the way, Frazee's design gives us a glimmer of the support and love in her home.
Third place winner: Sokunthea Mau from San Jose, CA
Mau wrote this to accompany her submission:
The media portrays high school as the peak of an American teenager's life. Can you blame them? The extravagant dresses at prom, the freedom teenagers have, the cap toss at graduation… As I went into my junior year of high school, I walked in with the mindset of every other try-hard Bay Area student: don’t mess it up. Junior year is coveted as being the most stressful time for a high schooler, due to the weight college admission officers put on this year. I overloaded myself with extracurriculars and difficult classes disregarding if I could manage everything all at once; in turn, my mental health plummeted and I faced burnout numerous times.
In spite of my struggles, I found myself crawling back to my comfort movies. The iconic opening scene in the Lizzie Mcguire Movie as she dances in her room replays in my head. What was it in these movies that made high school so appealing? The memories.
As I made this spread, I tried to envision myself as a stereotypical teenager gluing cutouts of my best friends on my page and listening to radio pop songs. I wanted to show what I wanted to reflect on when I remind myself of junior year, not the tests I failed or the classes I cried about, but the memories that kept me going. Like every movie coming to its resolution, my junior year has begun to tie up its loose ends, preparing for the credits and the uplifting background music.
Why we loved it
As if Mau's verbal story wasn't enough, the application of her strategy won us. (Full disclosure: many of the judges lived through the days when you physically cut out and glued photos for yearbook pages.) Using her custom pages as a catalyst to bring joy back into her junior year, she also brought that positivity into ours.
"I love the many layers this spread has to offer," one judge said, "The texture of the fabric across the page adds even more depth into the junior year through the eyes of Mau. These little touches, I think, round this spread out and complete it."
Within her two pages, she told her story her way.
Meredith Lanning from Katy, TX
Lanning used her son Zach's pages to add additional band coverage to his yearbook "from marching season, competition show, dances, and best of all the Spring trip to Hawaii," she said. (This is just one of the eight she created.)
Why we loved it
Lanning's behind-the-scenes look at her son's marching band shows the camaraderie and effort that goes into producing halftime shows. She anchored the spread with a large photo (we have a thing for variety) and repeated the white border to bring order. While the headline says, "One more time," we know they will relive these moments for years to come.
Finalist: Adriana Moya from Rahway, NJ
Nostalgia is always an emotion inducer. Moya set out to create a comprehensive look at her daughter's years from pre-K through 6th grade. "She has tried so many things that I wanted to remind her that she could choose any career that she wants," she said.
Why we loved it
First of all, kudos to Ms. Moya for keeping the frame year after year. "That in itself is worthy of an award," one judge said. "I love the timeline," said another. The parents on the panel enjoyed seeing Alexandra grow, and the designers called out the consistent use of the caption block. It's clean and emotive.
Finalist: Jenny Errante from Phoenix, AZ
Errantes two daughters perform in their home state and beyond. She created a set of custom pages for each to call out their unique talents (for the sake of the contest, we chose older sister Evie's). "Both the colors and smokey overlay are representative of a stage atmosphere with a spotlight," Errante said.
Why we loved it
From color grading on the main image and the shaded Evie across the photo to the action shots within the gilded frames, this made our designers giddy with detail. "I love the background," one judge said. Each image supported the "spotlight" concept and Errante's daughter's love for the arts. (We're thinking creativity runs in the family.)
Finalist: Brooke Turner from Justin, Texas
Because her daughter loves bright colors, Turner created this kindergarten highlight spread with that in mind.
Why we loved it
One of our judges said, "It's a kindergarten girl's dream." Turner's use of color and modification of Treering's About Me templates demonstrate an understanding of design theory. She kept to a softer palette and used the watercolor texture from a variety of Treering's themes to create this spread.
Finalist: Elyce Shorb from San Diego, CA
As a long-time Treering parent (these are her seventh set of custom pages), Shorb said custom pages "help my daughters share with their peers many activities and events that may otherwise have gone unnoticed." She uses them to highlight the twins' "personal highlights that showcase their extracurricular activities each year that include birthday celebrations, sports, Halloween costumes, field trips, school dances, and even family vacations."
Why we loved them
Initially, we did a double take. Of all the parents who submitted multiple spreads, we decided to place both in the finals because Shorb honored her twin daughters with their individual interests and achievements using the same layout. And when we took a second look, we noticed the minor changes in the graphics: orange vs. pink heart, green vs. blue text overlay, etc.
"These two spreads remind me of what a girl at their age might have hanging up on their bedroom wall, photos of memories pinned up with pushpins or taped around the outer edge of a mirror," a judge said. "It brought a little nostalgia to my mind."
Finalist: Bhavika Lodhia from Aliso Viejo, CA
"We wanted to express his creativity, show off his dancing, acting, and athletic skills, and display his kindness and love towards families, friends and animals," said Lodhia.
Why we loved it
Using a combination of Treering memories and photos, Lodhia captured a moment in time by giving her son literal snapshots into his personal history and interests. We're hoping Lodhia re-creates the dog pic for comparison in a few years.
Finalist: Ashley Diamond from Moses Lake, WA
First grade was a pivotal year for Ollie. Diamond said, "He broke out of his shell and made some wonderful friends and even joined a few sports teams."
Why we loved it
As you saw from our design contest, scrapbook-style design is trending. We love the frames, and while the rainbow ombre could get out of hand, Diamond balanced it with the film strip and solid color frames. This is truly a collection of highlights in Ollie's year.
Winners of the 2023 editor's choice design contest
For three years now, the Treering Design Contest is a spring tradition: advisers and student editors across the US and Canada enter their favorite spreads of the year. This time, we took the vote to the people: after selecting ten finalists from over 300 entries, the world shared the love and likes via the official Treering Facebook and Instagram pages. All ten finalists earned three free yearbooks and $50 from Amazon. The grand prize winner earned 10 free yearbooks and a $500 Amazon gift card.
"It is amazing to see the passion our editors have and inspiring to know we provide a platform for them to capture and share their memories."
Bobby Hernandez, Treering Head of Growth
On behalf of the judges—a team of editors, publishing professionals, graphic designers, and moms—who appreciate every person who submitted their stories and spreads, thank you for providing inspiration.
Grand prize winner: PACHEK, Hopkinsville, KY
Celebrating the 30th anniversary of their western Kentucky homeschool support group's formation, PACHEK used "photos from previous years related to [each section], along with a paragraph with a little bit of group history," parent and yearbook volunteer Lora Farrell said.
Why it's a winner
Using Treering's "Groovy" theme, PACHEK captured the past and present. There is an obvious hierarchy with the headlines and graphics. We loved that every photo includes an identifying caption. One judge said, "This spread shows how easy it is to use Treering graphics and layouts. You can still edit them to make them personable to your audience."
2nd place winner: Harlingen High School, Harlingen, TX
Because songs are a tool and reflect moments in time, the team at Harlingen High School used song titles to shape and guide headlines and subheadlines. "They want the students to flip through the yearbook and be able to read but at the same time experience songs that will remind them of the good moments today which become the memories of our past that we will share in the future," adviser Zeila Rodriguez said.
Why it's a winner
Beyond the music (see what we did there?), visually this spread oozes memories. It is laid out much like someone would save clipping and highlights on a corkboard. "[The hierarchy] draws the reader in," a judge said, "There is the main photo and you are able to easily follow the flow of the spread." Every photo tells a story and has an expanded caption to teach us what we didn't see. Another judge said, "You can almost feel the music as you read through the stories on this spread."
Third place winner: Jackson Tong, Evergreen Valley High School, San Jose, CA
When you hear all that Evergreen Valley High School does for its fall homecoming jamboree, it could be overwhelming. "During this season, student leaders create and host a large night rally show with numerous club and class performances, spirit days, dances, and athletic activities," student editor Jackon Tong said. They use multiple spreads to cover the week inspired by classic board games.
Why it's a winner
Tong said, "Many students from all social backgrounds come together to celebrate our school spirit," and we loved that this spread highlights the diverse activities and groups involved with homecoming. The 24 photos are organized and we applaud the use of color to group elements visually. One of the judges said, "They did a fantastic job representing the lower classman at their school."
Finalist: River City Believers Academy, Selma, TX
Authenticity is the goal of the team at River City Believers Academy. Throughout the book, they wanted to showcase how they "do 'real life'" on campus and off. As a K-12 private, church school, they actively seek new enrollments and use the yearbook to help. "When people stop by the office they always like to look through our books, as they are a great indicator of the culture, love, and commitment we have for our school," adviser Carmen Garcia said.
Why it's a winner
This is a well-executed idea to cover four more students in the book. We loved the combination of user-submitted snapshots up top with professional portraits. It shows how everyone has a story to tell. This spread could be replicated as a module on a portrait page or expanded to be a theme covering athletes, artists, administration, and academics.
Finalist: East Stroudsburg High School North, Dingmans Ferry, PA
Despite being what adviser Keisha Agard-Thomassine calls a "quirky bunch of souls who meet atop one of the beautiful Pocono Mountains in northeast Pennsylvania," the Timberwolf spirit is evident across each spread in the East Stroudsburg High School North yearbook. "We are brimming with talent and pride and our Carolina blue flickers through our halls, walls, sneakers, and Crocs," Agard-Thomassine said.
Why it's a winner
From the color grading of the photos to the field hockey stick and ball frames in which the collages sit, this is exquisite. The judges also called out the lowered visibility of the background image as a tool to make the photos pop. The photos demonstrate intensity and action and the large cut-out looks to the right-facing page, directing the eye flow.
Finalist: Stuart Country Day School, Princeton, NJ
"Shoes tell a story," student editor Lucy Simon said. She and her co-editor have attended K-12 Stuart Country Day School for most of their lives. "A person's shoes are a unique expression of their journey and personality." The shoe motif and vibrant colors express the energy and excitement of the journey.
Why it's a winner
When this spread came up in judging it was a hold-your-breath moment. The general intake of air preceded an enthusiastic discussion of the balance of the design and boldness of color. "I love the shoe graphic added on this page," said one judge after reading their story.
Finalist: Argo Community High School, Summit, IL
The sub-headline says, "Making it Memorable" and the team at Argo did just that. Traditionally, they've used a school color palette. "While we do have elements of the traditional maroon, we choose a wider palette to make this year different," adviser Lisa Garrett said. This diversion further strengthens their 2022-2023 yearbook theme, "Make Your Moment." Garrett said, "When you chose to collaborate, excel, succeed, and participate you are making memorable moments."
Why it's a winner
Homecoming is one of those events that is larger than life on a high school campus. This spread captured what a treat it was for their school to have a week where their spirit went beyond the school walls (and pages). "This spread encompasses the meaning of school spirit and having community support," a judge said. Another said, she "loved use of the gumball machine."
Finalist: Wayne High School, Huber Heights, OH
At the end of their junior year, Wayne students select two of their own to be community ambassadors for the school. Using a movie theme for the school's 75th anniversary of yearbook creation, each spread has cinematic flair. "One of our editors created this spread, and we love the little touches like the red [ampersand] throughout," adviser Beth Stacy said. "His inspiration was the movie 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith.'"
Why it's a winner
We agree with Stacy: the pop of color is a small detail with a large impact on the design. This spread has balance in terms of copy, photos, and graphic elements. "The story behind this spread is fantastic. They did a great job using Treering's design features to tell the story with these photos," the judges said.
Finalist: Solvang School, Solvang, CA
Because the yearbook team used Treering's "Watching" theme, they "created a red carpet-style spread for our 8th-grade superlatives," adviser Alyssa Spanier said.
Why it's a winner
The designers on the judging panel deemed the maximalism of this spread to be a show-stopper. It captured both the school spirit with the tiled mascot as well as the theme. What an energetic send-off for these students to high school.
"You have to enjoy the school spirit shown here," one judge said.
Finalist: Classical Conversations - South Bend Campus, South Bend, IN
"This design was inspired by one of my favorite design styles: Mid-Century Modern/Bauhaus," parent editor Carolyn Baltazar said. "I love how impactful and bold it is while still remaining very true to its extremely simple elements."
Why it's a winner
Since over 1200 Classical Conversations communities publish yearbooks with Treering annually, this is one spread that can easily be replicated in each book.
Runners up
If the top 10 weren't enough yearbook inspiration, check out this gallery of runners-up from Academy of Innovation, Central Middle School, Northern High School, Northampton High School, McKinley Steam Academy, Rawlins High School, and Wheeler Elementary School.
Honorable mentions
Actis Jr. High
Baumholder Middle High School
Berean Academy
Cal Aero Elementary Yearbook
Camp Wekeela
Changemaker High School
Chapel Hill Christian Academy
Classical Conversations - Central Lakeland, FL
Classical Conversations - Dallas, TX
Classical Conversations - Greensboro, NC
Community Baptist Christian School
Council Jr./Sr. High School
Creative Learning Christian School
Dalhart High School
Deep Waters Academy
Doherty Memorial High School
Dumas High School
Eagle Ridge School District #36
Early College Academy High School
Founders Classical Academy of Flower Mound
Fox Meadow
Franklin Elementary
Freedom High School
Fulton Science Academy
George F. Baker High School
Glennallen High School
Grandview Hills Elementary
Haines Borough School District
Harrison Lane Elementary
Henderson International School
Hermosa Middle School
Hazel Point Intermediate
Heron Heights Elementary School
Lakeside Christian School
Landmarkhs.org
The Learning Connection Co-op
Lennox Middle School
Lois Lenski Elementary
Magnolia Science Academy Santa Ana
Mark Twain Elementary School
Mary Blount Elementary
MaST II Community Charter (Tacony Campus)
Mt. Eden High School
North Elementary School
Niles McKinley High School
Oakville MS/HS
Ocean Shore School
Orangeburg Christian Academy
Pelham High School
Phoebe School of Presidency
Piper School
Prairie Lea School
Queen's Grant High School
Radcliff Elementary
La Reina High School
Rita Ledesma Elementary School
Roaring Brook School
Sacred Heart Catholic School
Seabrook Elementary School
SEED School of Miami
Springton Manor Elementary School
Sycamore Creek Elementary
Tech High School
West Valley High School
WR Odell Elementary
People's choice custom pages design contest official rules
Official participation rules and steps to enter:
- You must be at least 18 years old and a parent, faculty/staff member, or student at a Treering school to participate.
- To participate, fill out the submission form and include a screenshot of your child’s 22-23 yearbook custom pages and also a short paragraph (250 words max) about your design. Double-check everything for accuracy, especially your email and phone number (this is how winners will be notified and prizes will be distributed) and your school name and address (city and state only are acceptable). Incomplete entries will not be accepted.
- Share your spread on social media via: Facebook and/or Instagram (post on both, and get an automatic extra vote!)
- Submit the post using your personal Facebook/Instagram account or your school’s Facebook/Instagram account.
- Include the screenshot of our personal pages in your post.
- Tag @treering (Facebook) or @treeringcorp (Instagram) in your post.
- Use the hashtag #treeringmemorymaker in your post.
- Ensure your post is shared publicly so we can see it and include your submission.
- Submissions are due by Tuesday, April 4th, 2023 by 8 PM PT.
Judging and finalist selection
Ten finalists will be posted on our Facebook and Instagram pages by 12pm ET on Thursday, April 6th. Finalists will be chosen based on the entered custom page design and storytelling ability. A panel of Treering yearbook professionals, graphic designers, parents, and journalism educators will select the finalists. Each finalist’s work will be posted on our Facebook and Instagram pages and the submission with the most combined Likes/Hearts will win the grand prize.
After voting, the winner will be notified via email and phone on Monday, April 10th. The Amazon gift cards will be sent electronically to the email provided in the form. There will be ten finalists and one grand prize winner.
Editors’ choice awards prizes
The 10 finalists will each receive one $50 Amazon gift card. The Grand Prize Winner will receive one $500 Amazon gift card and a future profile on our Treering blog. The gift cards will be sent electronically to the email provided in the form.
Ownership
By submitting your custom pages, you have verified the approval of others pictured, and you approve Treering to use your name, write-up, and school name for any marketing purposes, including but not limited to showcasing on www.treering.com, sharing on social media, and sharing with media.
Enjoy yourself! We can’t wait to see your stories. If you have any questions, contact us at marketing@treering.com.
Editors' choice design contest official rules
Update 3/30: Vote for your favorite finalist on the official Treering Facebook and Instagram pages.
Official participation rules and steps to enter:
- You must be at least 18 years old and a parent, faculty/staff member, or student at a Treering school to participate.
- To participate, fill out the submission form and include a screenshot of your favorite 22-23 yearbook spread and also a short paragraph (250 words max) about your school’s story. Double-check everything for accuracy, especially your email and phone number (this is how winners will be notified and prizes will be distributed) and your school name and address (city and state only are fine). Incomplete entries will not be accepted.
- Share your spread on social media via: Facebook and/or Instagram (post on both, and get an automatic extra vote!)
- Submit the post using your personal Facebook/Instagram account or your school’s Facebook/Instagram account.
- Include the screenshot of your yearbook spread in your post.
- Tag @Treering (Facebook) or @treeringcorp (Instagram) in your post.
- Use the hashtag #treeringwin in your post.
- Make sure this post is shared publicly so we can see it and include your submission.
- Submissions are due by Tuesday, March 28th, 2023 by 8 PM PT
Judging and finalist selection
Ten finalists will be posted on both our Facebook and Instagram pages by 12pm ET on Thursday, March 30th. Finalists will be chosen based on the entered yearbook layout design (5 image maximum) and storytelling ability.
A panel of Treering yearbook professionals, graphic designers, parents, and journalism educators will select the 10 finalists. The finalists’ work will be posted on our Facebook and Instagram pages and the submission with the most Likes/Hearts on each page combined will win the grand prize.
After social media voting, the Editor's Choice Grand Prize Winner will be posted on our social channels and notified via email and phone on Monday, April 3.
Editors' choice awards prizes
The 10 finalists will each receive one $50 Amazon gift card and three free yearbooks. The Grand Prize Winner will receive one $500 Amazon gift card, 10 free yearbooks, and a future profile on our Treering blog. The gift cards will be sent electronically to the email provided in the form. Free book coupons will be loaded into the school's Treering Yearbook account and may be used in the 2022-2023 or 2023-2024 school year.
Ownership
By submitting your yearbook spread, you have verified the approval of others pictured, and you approve Treering to use your name, write-up, and school name for any marketing purposes, including but not limited to showcasing on www.treering.com, sharing on social media, and sharing with media. Enjoy yourself! We love this journey for you. If you have any questions, contact us at marketing@treering.com.