A fresh new voice!

Andrew Bartolotta (right) of Southaven and Renate Ferreira (center) of Oxford, journalism instructor and coordinator for student publications, present the first copy of the 2010 Rocketeer to Northwest Mississippi Community College President, Dr. Gary Lee Spears (left). (photo by Brittany Greer)

Northwest Yearbook Claims First in State

By Brittany Greer

For The Observer

August 13, 2010

Northwest Mississippi Community College’s yearbook, the 2010 Rocketeer, claimed first place in the Mississippi Community/Junior College Press Association (MC/JCPA) competition for the third year in a row, according to Renate Ferreira, lead yearbook adviser and journalism instructor.

“Redefined” was the theme for the 224-page, four-color book, edited by freshman graphic design major Andrew Bartolotta of Southaven. The book received 980 points out of a possible 1100 possible points.

“The Rocketeer was a strongly executed book that completely enveloped its theme of

‘Redefined.’ By using classic elements and a clean, continuous design it was the clear showpiece and winner of the competition.

“This is a book that can sit on a coffee table and survive the test of time. The Rocketeer staff should be very proud of their work and deserve the fruits of their labor,” competition judge Ashley Dees said in her comments.

It has become a tradition for Northwest yearbooks to place in state competition. Over the past years, the publication has claimed first-place awards in 2009, 2008, 2005, 2003, 2000, 1998 and 1997. The book was printed by Taylor Publishing Company in Dallas, Texas.

“Winning this award for the third consecutive year is a real feather in our caps. I am so pleased that this award recognized our students' hard work and made the many hours spent creating this book all worth it.

Editor Andrew Bartolotta emerged as a great designer with new and exciting ideas. This is my fourth year as advisor and I never cease to be amazed by our students' creativity and dedication,” said Ferreira.

Students at Northwest who work on the publication are enrolled in one of four sections of College Publications, which is a one-hour lab class for yearbook or newspaper production. The work takes place in the Ann Y. Whitten Student Media Center in Yalobusha Hall on the Senatobia campus, which is equipped with Macintosh computers.

“The Rocketeer keeps getting better year after year. The students and staff at Northwest should be so proud to have this beautifully-designed, high-quality publication that documents for posterity the people, campus life and special events that occurred throughout the year,” said Julie Bauer, assistant director of communications and student publications adviser.

The Mississippi Press Association Education Foundation has awarded the Journalism Department grants for the past few years, providing newspaper and yearbook staffs with iMac computers, a digital Rebel camera and video equipment to record news clips for the Ranger Rocket on-line edition. The department was awarded $1,400 by the Foundation this year for a new iMac computer and tri-pod.

Students work under the leadership of an editor and receive guidance from advisers including Ferreira, Bauer and communications assistant Brittany Greer.

Former public relations director Nancy Patterson and former assistant for sports

information Brett Brown also assisted in advising the 2010 Rocketeer staff.

For more information on the Northwest journalism program or college publications,

contact Ferreira at (662) 562-3275 or by e-mail at rferreira@northwestms.edu.