The centennial edition of The Howler has won two national awards of distinction -- the Silver Medalist award of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association's college yearbook critique and a first class with one mark of distinction award by the Associated Collegiate Press.

According to senior Alan English, editor of The Howler, "This is the first time The Howler has ever won these awards. Winning these distinctions really sets the precedent for next year's book. There are a lot of expectations upon our yearbook nationally."

Each year colleges and universities submit student publications, including student newspapers and yearbooks, to the Columbia Scholastic Press Association for written evaluations of the volume published the previous academic year.

Yearbooks are submitted according to a classification determined by the type of book and college, and each book is then awarded one of three distinctions -- Gold, Silver, or Bronze Medalist -- based upon the numerical score received. Scoring for the Associated Collegiate Press yearbook critique is based upon five areas of review -- concept, coverage, writing and editing, layout and design and photography.

The Howler received the second-highest ranking just below the top 'All-American' ranking and a mark of distinction for the yearbook's cover.

After technology upgrades and a newly remodeled office at the beginning of the Fall 2002 semester, The Howler's staff of over 40 students has experienced numerous adjustments.

According to English, the many changes occurring internally within The Howler caused the staff to adopt the theme "Question Everything" for the theme of the 2002-2003 yearbook.

The yearbook will feature an investigative reporting section and an off-campus nightlife section, amongst other changes in the book's content.

English said he has high expectations for the upcoming yearbook as a book distinct from this year's centennial volume.

"The design of next year's book is totally different. For one, it's in full color and printed on a better-quality paper. We're also using a completely digital printing process, which means that the quality of the book will be a lot better than last year's book É We're also using a more modern, magazine-based layout style," English said.

In addition to the changes in the yearbook's style and content, the manner in which the yearbooks will be delivered is also changing.

When students move into new residence halls for the fall 2003 semester, the new yearbooks will be delivered upon check-in with students' room keys.

"We're trying to build a reputation for Wake Forest as a yearbook school. It's really a good recruiting technique for the university. We want to market Wake Forest as a good yearbook school, and so we really strive to have a quality book," English said.