🎓 Class of 2024 Graduation Layout 

📍The Project

This layout celebrated the graduating Class of 2024 from all three local high schools. It ran as a front page + double truck spread in the Fauquier Times and remains one of the most meaningful pieces I’ve ever designed.

🧠 The Concept

As the first class to graduate post-COVID, these students had been through a lot. I wanted the design to reflect not just their resilience, but their individuality — and to tell a broader story that went beyond valedictorians and top athletes. This was about capturing a generation shaped by challenge, growth, and grit.

👩‍👧 The Personal Connection

 My daughter was among the graduates that year, which gave this project a personal weight I’d never felt before. Designing a layout that included her and her friends — while staying true to editorial standards — pushed me to approach the piece not just as a designer, but as a parent and community member.

🎨 The Design Challenge

The biggest challenge was organizing a large volume of student photos and stories in a way that felt clear, balanced, and visually engaging. I made sure each school had equal visibility, and focused on curating a diverse mix of students to reflect the true makeup of the class. It was less about hierarchy — and more about heart.

🏆 The Outcome

 The layout ran as a full front page with a double truck inside spread and was recognized with a Virginia Press Association award for its design and storytelling. It celebrated student achievement with warmth and style — and struck an emotional chord with both readers and staff. This was more than just a graduation feature. It was a love letter to a class that had been through so much and still showed up smiling.