Over the weekend of April 24-27, students from all over the country gathered in Seattle for the biannual WJEA conference. For three years now, Olivia Manegold, Eleanor Schindele, Lilah George, and Audrey Miller have been in yearbook, attending these conferences around the country. Going forward, these are the only students who will have taken yearbook for four years in a row from the 2026 graduating class. They got to go to classes, talk to journalism colleges, go to dinner, and see some graduated students now teaching their classes. “The college tables here were pretty compelling, and I will be honest, it’s pretty good swag,” George said.
George decided that the first day of the conference was her favorite. Everyone got to tour the tables with the colleges and yearbook booths. As well as getting tips and tricks, participants got the opportunity to talk to the representatives of journalist programs at various colleges. “I really loved the college tables because I learned so much about the University of Iowa. It seems kinda perfect because it’s strong in all its programs, especially journalism, but it helps get my attention because it’s a wrestling college,” George said.
Having the conference in their hometown this fall, students volunteered to help the convention center with set-up and some merchandise sales. On day one, Manegold and other Washington press students helped stuff bags for advisers and booth salespeople. “I’ve had a ton of fun so far. It was cool to do some volunteer work and meet some people from some local schools who also have good journalism programs. I’m excited to see Justin and Trevor do their classes,” Manegold said.
On the van back on the last day of the conference, students discussed with their adviser, Annie Stone, what their favorite part of the trip was. “I’d have to say the classes and getting to see Trevor again, and hanging out with him. It was a lot of fun,” Schindele said.
Butler was the previous sports editor of All The Edge, he graduated in 2024 after being in publications for four years. Throughout his years in high school, he visited multiple WJEA conferences, like this past one, and learned many things that he brought into college. “I mean one of the things I talked about during my session was networking, and I think going to [WJEA conferences], I got to meet a lot of cool people,” Butler said, “The last one I went to was in Kansas City, I actually met two people that go to KU and they’ve become really good friends with me.”
With so many opportunities throughout high school and going above and beyond in college, Butler is in line to accept the sports editor position at KU Publications. Because of his experience, his university invited him to speak at this conference even though many speakers were older or more experienced. The turnout was just as good as other classes, the mediators had to kick out students because the class was too full. Not only that, but he is set to graduate a year and a half earlier than other students because of all his college-in-the-high-school credits. “In my class I talked about my transition to college and gave people some keys, you know, how to be successful, how to make that jump from high school to college, what to expect, how to find success and put yourself in a good spot, I think it went really well, you know, it seemed that people really received it and enjoyed it,” Butler said.