John Brown University’s student yearbook, the Nesher, starts the year with its theme, “Renewal,” adapting to changes such as a new publisher, a new look and apps that allow students to upload user-generated pictures and see 3-D videos.
This year, the Nesher is working with a new publisher. Walsworth Publishing Company has enhanced the overall experience of the Nesher’s staff, expressed Maria Arguello, yearbook design editor.
The publishing company is way more approachable and allows for more personal relations.
“We have a one-on-one interaction,” said Arguello.
In addition to enhancing collective work, the publishing company has brought technological interaction.
It has made the app “Yearbook Snap” available for free for students with smartphones.
The app allows them to upload any picture they would like to see in the yearbook, explained Arguello.
“Community upload” is another way of sharing pictures for the yearbook. The website allows its users to upload pictures from their computers or any other medium. People can also pre-order yearbooks through it, added Arguello.
In the 2014-15 edition of the yearbook, students will be able to watch a 3-D video thanks to a technology known as “augmented reality,” which is a computer-generated image shown through the screen, said Nesher editor Kacie Galloway.
Using the free app called “Aurasma,” students just need to scan over a picture and video would appear instantly, added Galloway.
“I’m really excited about the 3-D. I think it’ll be a lot more engaging with the people,” she said.
Arguello said that they all want people to get excited about being part of the yearbook.
Her desire is to create a sense of awareness and interest from students and alumni.
“We want the yearbook to be a little bit more approachable. We want people to know it exists and what it means,” said Arguello.
Galloway expressed her concern about raising awareness regarding the Nesher.
She hopes that the advancements will get people interested in knowing about it.
Galloway said that there is a team working hard to create a good product, and people should recognize it.
“People should at least know that Nesher means ‘eagle’ in Hebrew,” she added.
Members of the staff have already expressed their feelings regarding the renewal of the yearbook.
Junior student Jesús Bonilla said that this year, the Nesher feels, “more like a person, not a book.”
As JBU student and staffer, Jesús expressed that the yearbook has made him feel part of it in contrast to previous years’ experiences.
Both editors, Galloway and Arguello, agreed that this year’s theme fits perfectly with all the new features the yearbook has acquired.
Arguello defined renewal as, “not to be re-born but to re-invent oneself.”
Galloway also expressed her thoughts on the renovation. She described it as “getting a major facelift.”
She said that JBU itself is a place of renewal. “Having those stories [of renewal] in the yearbook is going to bring it all together.”
The editor also expressed that everything the yearbook will capture will enclose the essence of the school.
“This year we want to enjoy the community and not to be a behind-the-scenes organization. We want everybody to be engaged in the yearbook,” Galloway said.