This year, the Elizabethtown College yearbook, The Conestogan, is allowing students to submit their own photos online. Pictures were traditionally generated from the staff and various events on campus rather than from student submission.

The change is a result of multiple factors. The staff of The Conestogan is predominantly first-years and non-returners, and there was no existing system for receiving photos.  Staff members brainstormed ways to retrieve photos and agreed upon the public upload system.

Another reason for the change was timing. The process of working on The Conestogan became delayed by several months. Normally, the process of creating the yearbook begins in September. This year, however, collaborations did not begin until early February. The public upload system was considered to be a responsive way in order to gather the necessary data, seeing as most students take their photos electronically.

Lastly, and the predominant reason for the change, was the tone The Conestogan wanted to portray.  The staff members agreed that they want the yearbook to be an accurate reflection of the school and how the student body interacts with it, rather than a reflection of the yearbook staff members.

The ease of being able to quickly download pictures is convenient to students.  Ideally, students will take advantage of the fact that downloading pictures will take mere minutes and appreciate the opportunity of having their memories in the yearbook. Additionally, students will be able to commemorate their experiences as opposed to seeing others’.  “Hopefully, because of the public upload, students will be able to look back at the book in the years to come and remember their own experiences rather than those of people they don’t know. It will personalize the book for those who hope to participate,” staff member Masha Tomkus said.

The Conestogan has been published since 1951. The High Library provides digitized versions of the yearbook from 1951 to 2010.  Prior to publication of The Conestogan, the college yearbook was known as the Etonian, and was published from 1922 to 1950.  There are several elements to The Conestogan including sports, student life, clubs and academics.  It is produced annually, and the staff members have an office in the Baugher Student Center on the second floor.

The Conestogan staff members are also excited to incorporate social media means to both connect with the students and better the yearbook.