Braeden Corliss

Senior quotes have been included in each yearbook at Mead High School every year until the 2023-2024 school year.

Starting the 2023-2024 school year, Mead High School’s Yearbook The Stampede will no longer include senior quotes. 

Some students have wondered why this decision was made.

Mrs. Jen Lammey, an art teacher and Yearbook adviser, said that there are several reasons senior quotes will no longer be used and that it was a mutual decision between her and administration. 

She explained that participation was low. “Less than half of seniors submitted a senior quote,” Lammey said. Many did not submit quotes even with extended deadlines. 

“With yearbook, there are deadlines. Pages get printed throughout the year and we cannot always extend [them]”. 

Quotes were also challenging to vet, according to Lammey. She often spent hours trying to “make sure things were appropriate”. 

“Sometimes kids can insert stuff that’s racist or sexist or maybe we have to worry about bullying,” she said.

There were also practical reasons for removing quotes. If someone does not submit a quote, the design can be off for the whole page which may result in a nonprofessional appearance.

There are still several alternatives for seniors this year.

“Now we’re going to call it ‘Senior Shout Out’ instead of senior quotes. This is so students will still have a chance to leave their mark on Mead when they leave.”

“Students will be able to  thank someone who helped them get through high school or share future plans after high school,” said Lammey.