Penn yearbook has national accolades

When it comes to its student yearbook, Penn has a hidden treasure in the award-winning Poor Richard's Record.

Although it may sometimes gain little recognition from the student body, the annual publication has been piling up the awards in recent years. The 1999 and 2000 yearbooks received awards from the Printing Industries of America.

And in 2001, the yearbook staff worked their magic once more. The 2001 Record recently received the Gallery Award from Davor Photography, an award that recognizes outstanding layout, photography and design.

"There are some really beautiful pictures of Penn," said College senior Gemma Giantomasi, who is co-editor-in-chief of the 2002 edition. "It's not the same old boring pictures."

Though the Record is often recognized by national organizations, the yearbook staff feels that their product is not recognized nearly enough on campus.

"The book is mostly purchased by seniors, but we're working to increase our visibility to other students on campus," Engineering senior and co-editor-in-chief David Kagan said.

Kagan said he believes the Record boasts many qualities that set it apart from the yearbooks of other universities.

"The yearbook is very unique," he said. "There are a ton of things that we do that a lot of yearbooks don't do."

"Our yearbook is more modern than other yearbooks," Giantomasi added. "It's not classic. It's more artistic."

Within its unique layout and extraordinary length -- 500 pages -- the Record covers all aspects of life at Penn, including performing arts, Greek life and graduation. In addition, a new academic life section will be included in this year's edition.

"It really is a kaleidoscope of Penn life," Kagan said.

The Record is put together each year by a staff of undergraduates, many of whom were heavily involved in the production of their high school yearbooks. All potential staff members must first fill out an application, and new members are chosen based on creativity and other key factors.

"To be a nationally recognized book takes a lot of talent," Kagan said.

There may be plenty of talent on staff, but there remains little visibility.

"I wish that it was more visible throughout the campus, that there was an easier way that people could understand the value of what it is," Kagan said.

In response to the problem of limited visibility, the Record staff has planned a massive marketing campaign in preparation for the 2002 yearbook's fall release. The campaign will not only target seniors, but members of every class, as well.

According to Kagan, the key is to make past yearbooks available to students who have not yet seen them.

"The way to increase visibility is [to] actually [show people] the book," Kagan said. "Once people see it, their whole perception changes."

In order to accomplish this task, yearbook staff members are planning to station themselves in Houston Hall, the bookstore and other highly trafficked locations on campus beginning in the spring.

The yearbook staff is also working on collaborating with the student housing department in order to start programs which will allow them to enter college houses to promote this year's Record.

But there's more to the marketing campaign.

"We're sending more mailings home to parents," Giantomasi said. "We'll be out during alumni week and senior week. We had a banner on Locust Walk."

After the marketing campaign has concluded, all that is left for the staff is selling the actual copies.

"It's an investment and it's worthwhile," Kagan said.

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