By Ryan Smith ’17

With a prestigious 86-year history, Chaminade prides itself on annually producing quality yearbooks to safeguard the memories of generations past. Since its inception in 1931, Crimson and Gold has tried to do just that. Through decades of monumental American history, including World War II, the space race, and fall of the U.S.S.R., Chaminade’s yearbooks have always chronicled the lives and times of its students through hardcover volumes of Crimson and Gold. However, as with any student-run organization, the students who produce the yearbook must adapt their product to modern times. Thus, the staff of Crimson and Gold has decided to dive into unknown waters and enter the realm of digital yearbooks in 2016.

Powered by Jostens Yearbook Avenue, Crimson and Gold will usher in a new era in the history of the yearbook. Beginning this year, all yearbooks will be primarily accessible via a link to Jostens.com.  Hard copies of the books will still be made available to all underclassmen for the cost of $55. The senior class, whose high school memories are stored in their yearbooks, remain the only division to receive the hardcover product free of charge, a recognition of their hard work over their four-year journey.  

“There has been less of an interest for a hard copy from the underclassmen,” said Mr. Graham Otton ’05, head moderator of Crimson and Gold. “With the introduction of the iPad program at Chaminade, we felt like this was the next logical step in the history of Crimson and Gold.”

As Mr. Otton explained, the evolution was not merely done for economic gain.  Rather, the declining desire among underclassmen for a heavy yearbook, as well as the beginning of the iPad era at Chaminade, made the transition both reasonable and logistically possible. The previous introduction of iPads and Apple TVs and the recent renovation of the Publications Center proved to be crucial precursors in taking this next leap forward.

It can really spread to our nationwide alumni community and keep them up to date with how the Marianist tradition is doing.

– Nicholas Bucaria ’17

2016 Co-Editor-in-Chief of Crimson and Gold Andrew Garcia ’16 agreed with Mr. Otton’s reasoning behind the switch to digital yearbooks.

“Chaminade has recently made a conscious effort to move into the 21st century.  The transition to digital yearbooks is a natural step in this process,” said Andrew.  

Although Chaminade has a number of longstanding and important traditions, an occasional “re-tweaking” of our methods serves to enhance students’ experiences at Chaminade and the lessons they learn along the way.

Positive feedback has already been given from Flyers not associated with Crimson and Gold.  Nicholas Bucaria ’17 offered a unique perspective on digital yearbooks: “It can really spread to our nationwide alumni community and keep them up to date with how the Marianist tradition is doing,” he said.  Nicholas additionally pointed out that while heavy books are cumbersome and not very portable, this digital publication grants instant access not only to students, but also to their families and alumni across the country.

Although the crisp pages of a hard yearbook can conjure up sentiments of years past, the age of digital yearbooks will attempt to connect old and new, namely the legendary history of Chaminade with the technology of newer generations.  At the end of the day, the experiences we share, the friends we make, and the memories we hold preserve the joys and challenges of Chaminade High School much more than any book, iPad, or other device could hope to do. What medium is used to capture these experiences of Chaminade students is relatively unimportant. Whether it is in the traditional in-print format or in the new digital additions, the Crimson and Gold will no doubt continue to expertly chronicle the experiences of Chaminade Flyers for years to come.