Seniors create yearbook for elementary school students

FLORENCE — Meghan Miranda and Kristen Taylor Pipkin, seniors at West Florence High School, ended their high school career on a high note by using their knowledge of creating a yearbook to produce one for Savannah Grove Elementary School students.

Sara Harding, the school’s yearbook teacher, said the students produced the full-color yearbook, without her assistance, because Savannah Grove didn’t have the resources to do so on its own.

West Florence High’s yearbook staff of 11 students was able to raise enough money through yearbook ads and sales to cover the production of the yearbook.

After purchasing new equipment needed for the yearbook class, Miranda and Pipkin said a significant amount of money was left over for a service project. The two were editors of the school’s yearbook staff.

Miranda said they told Harding about the idea for a service project, and Harding began searching for a school.

“We told Ms. Harding we thought it would be neat to tie it in with yearbook and do a yearbook for another school that’s less fortunate,” Miranda said.

It had been several years since Savannah Grove had produced a yearbook. For nine weeks, both Miranda and Pipkin worked at school and at home to produce it.

“It was kind of hard because we’re so used to our complex program and designing our own pages,” Pipkin said. “And this was so simple that it was hard. It really didn’t take as much time as we thought it would.”

Both students said they had to learn a new system from what the high school class uses, which included Adobe Pagemaker and Photoshop. The students used photographs that faculty and staff members at Savannah Grove had taken throughout the year.

Savannah Grove sold as many books as it could. But after seeing that all students couldn’t purchase the book, both Miranda and Pipkin decided to surprise the school by donating yearbooks to students who couldn’t afford to purchase one on their own.

“It’s nice to know that they really enjoyed the yearbook as much as we do,” Pipkin said. “Anything you do makes a difference. Some people wouldn’t think that a yearbook could make that big of a difference.

“This is in our way (of doing) something great,” she said.

Savannah Grove principal Chandar Anderson said he was overwhelmed by the students’ interest in producing the yearbook.

“I told those girls they’re on their way to being strong leaders in this community,” Anderson said. “They’re starting early. Those type of service programs make our community a better place.

“Those kids’ eyes lit up when they saw those yearbooks,” he said. “It was a great experience for the kids. I’m very proud of these two girls.”

Miranda and Pipkin said they hoped they started a tradition for future yearbook staff members.

Miranda will attend Wake Forest University in the fall, and major in either business or psychology. She is a member of several school groups and teaches at the School of Dance Arts. She also performs with the S.C. Dance Theatre.

Miranda has received several awards, including being named a Palmetto Fellow, and received the Spanish Award from West Florence High. She is the daughter of Bert and Anne Marie Miranda.

Pipkin will attend the University of South Carolina’s Honors College and is undecided about her major. She participated in several clubs and plays the piano for her church, Central United Methodist.

Pipkin also works at Porter’s Gift Shop.

Pipkin has received several awards, including an Alumni Scholarship from USC, and was named a Palmetto Fellow. She is her high school’s valedictorian this year and the daughter of Randall and Mona Pipkin.