Parker Landrum
Parker’s yearbook journey began in middle school, where she spent two years honing her skills before continuing through her final two years of high school. As a junior, she focused on the student life section, dedicating countless hours to designing templates and graphics for photographers. Her talents extended far beyond photography, she developed a broad range of skills including graphic design, advertising, nonfiction writing, reporting, and leadership. Now serving as an editor, Parker has taken on major responsibilities involving decision-making, compromise, and team coordination. Despite the demands of leadership, she still made time to contribute creatively, crafting all the section dividers and collaborating closely with co-editors and other staff. She’s incredibly proud of this year’s team and the perseverance and problem-solving they’ve demonstrated. The yearbook’s release is especially exciting, featuring a fresh interface, unique themes, and playful graphics, elements Parker is eager to see come to life. Managing four AP classes alongside her yearbook role was challenging, but she credits Ms. Gillis and her fellow leaders for helping lighten the load. Parker hopes future staff members recognize both the commitment and the incredible opportunities that come with being part of the yearbook team. Her favorite week was homecoming, when every section had something exciting to cover and the school spirit was at its peak. Looking ahead, Parker plans to study creative writing in college and is enthusiastic about exploring creative writing and other career paths, confident that her yearbook experience has laid a strong foundation.
Haylee Purrington
Haylee’s dedication to the yearbook extended far beyond the pages, as the primary social media manager for two years, she harnessed graphic design and nonfiction writing to engage students with interactive content, scheduling and curating posts. Over that time she sharpened her photography eye and storytelling skills, and this year, stepping into an editor role, she met challenges with hard work and celebrated successes, demonstrating leadership, strategic planning, and determination that will serve her well in whatever she is pursuing in college. Covering events from candid photos to student interviews and action shots, not only boosted her confidence and social skills but also infused school events with extra energy, with everyone hoping to get their picture taken. Her final homecoming game was a standout highlight, where her extensive coverage earned her major credit for capturing the spirit of the day. Balancing academics with yearbook commitments often required long hours of editing in her free time, but her passion kept her motivated to contribute to nearly every section of the book and to mentor younger staff. In her role as editor, she oversaw the content calendar, coordinated with the yearbook advisor, and ensured seamless collaboration among co‑editors, cultivating an environment where peers felt supported and inspired. Haylee adores yearbook and encourages newcomers to join for the friendships, unique experiences, and creative outlet it provides. Her multifaceted contributions, spanning from photography, social‑media, design, and editorial oversight, reveal her impact on the yearbook team and reflect the invaluable skills and sense of community she’ll carry with her into her future.
Ollie Stepp
Ollie’s yearbook journey began in her junior year, when she first immersed herself in the student life and portrait sections. Now, as a senior editor, she looks back with pride on how far she and her team have come. Although she plans to study biology in college, a field quite different from journalism, she attributes significant growth in her leadership, writing, and collaboration skills to her yearbook experience. Discovering a passion for photography, Ollie designed countless templates, curated layouts, and captured images that helped shape what she believes is the best yearbook Herron has ever produced. Stepping into the editor role tested her ability to balance demanding responsibilities with academics and personal life, but seeing the polished final product made every late night worthwhile. Working closely with peers across all sections, she contributed to story planning, photo shoots, graphic elements, and page designs, ensuring a cohesive vision from concept to print. Her favorite page was the coverage of the Battle of the Bands, a lively competition showcasing student led bands, because it not only produced dynamic photos and compelling stories but also highlighted the dramatic improvement in the team’s journalism skills compared to last year. Looking ahead, Ollie is excited to see how future Herron yearbook staffs will build on this year’s innovations and urges incoming creative minds never to hesitate in asking for help, reminding them that the strongest publications grow from collaboration, curiosity, and a willingness to learn.
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