By: Tate Wehrle (11)

The yearbook program has recently benefited from a grant provided by the Helias Catholic Foundation, helping improve both the quality of the yearbook and the experience for student photographers.

The Helias Catholic Foundation offers grants of up to $2,000 to teachers who apply every other year. Under the direction of yearbook advisor Mrs. Welch, the class has been fortunate enough to receive this grant twice, allowing the program to grow and expand.

When Mrs. Welch took over the program, there was only one camera available for student use. 

Welch explained, “One major goal was to shift the yearbook toward being fully student-produced, rather than relying heavily on parent-submitted or professional photos.”  

With the first grant, the class purchased a sports lens, allowing students to capture high-quality photos from long distances, especially at athletic events. This year, the second grant funded one wide-angle lens and one new camera body, giving students the ability to take more dynamic photos and capture larger scenes.

Because of this equipment, students are now able to photograph a wide variety of school activities, including sporting events, the spring musical, and band concerts. Yearbook students are also required to complete photography hours outside of class, which many have come to enjoy as one of their favorite parts of the course.

Iris Lu (11), one of the student photographers, has already seen the impact of the new equipment. 

“I really like the wide-angle lens because it lets you capture more in the photo,” Lu said. “It makes it more fun and easier since you’re not just taking close-up shots—you can include everything around the person, and it still keeps them centered.” 

She also noted that the lens helped her take unique shots, like photos from underneath the basketball hoop.

The impact of the grant has been significant. The yearbook has shifted from being made up mostly of parent and professional photos to featuring primarily student-taken images. 

“This change has not only improved the overall quality of the book, but also allowed for better representation of the entire student body,” Mrs. Welch said. 

By capturing more events and activities, the yearbook staff is able to include a wider range of students—from athletes and performers to those involved in campus ministry and other activities—making the yearbook a more complete reflection of the school community.