One hundred years ago, the inaugural edition of Hillife, the Chapel Hill High School yearbook, was published. Since then, the yearbook has evolved significantly. This year, the Hillife staff is commemorating a century of Tiger student life with a special retrospective they are calling a “lookback.”
To honor this milestone, the yearbook team has been curating photographs from past editions to include throughout the yearbook, especially in the sports section. These archival images provide a visual journey through the decades, highlighting traditions and milestones at Chapel Hill High School.
“I scan images from old yearbooks and incorporate them into the pages of the new yearbook,” explained junior Scarlett Gilner, a member of the yearbook staff. The process ensures the legacy of past generations is preserved for today’s students.
According to Tom Stanfa, who has taught the yearbook class for 23 years, the focus of Hillife has shifted over time. “The yearbook has become more picture-heavy, as opposed to the writing-centric editions of the past,” Stanfa noted.
Despite the emphasis on photography, the yearbook still includes articles about trends and events that shape each school year. Every edition serves as a time capsule, capturing the essence of student life and providing future graduates with a tangible keepsake.
“People don’t keep or remember the assignments they complete or the tests they take,” junior co-editor Katie Stanoff said. “However, most people hold onto their yearbooks as one of the few physical memories of high school.”
PHOTO CREDIT: CATHERINE GRAVATT
Stanoff and fellow junior co-editor Sienna Smith have been collaborating on the centennial edition, carefully balancing the incorporation of historical content with modern design elements.
One of the primary goals of this year’s Hillife is to highlight the continuation of traditions. “We hope to use these ‘lookbacks’ to showcase how school traditions have endured over the years,” Smith explained. Each retrospective section pairs historical images with current photographs, illustrating the consistency of activities such as sports and clubs.
In addition to the “lookbacks,” this year’s yearbook will feature images of all past Hillife covers, honoring the artistry and evolution of the publication.
“The yearbook cover is one of the most recognizable elements of each edition,” Smith said. “Remembering past designs is key to preserving our school’s history.”
Last year, Kaitlin Mueller (now graduated) and senior Adam Gad, students in Kevin Schoden’s graphics class, participated in a competition to design the logo for the 100th anniversary. The winning design impressed the yearbook staff so much that it became the basis for this year’s cover.
“The logo was so good we actually turned it into the whole cover,” Stanfa remarked.
