Entourage Yearbooks announced its fifth annual National Yearbook Competition awards, recognizing Carbon Career & Technical Institute from Jim Thorpe with the distinctive first place overall award in the high school division. The nationally sponsored contest judged school yearbooks in many facets including creativity, originality and journalistic relevance. Over 800 schools entered from all 50 states at the elementary, middle school and high school level.

"I'd like to offer my sincere congratulations to all of the schools that completed yearbooks and submitted entries into the yearbook contest this year," said Entourage President Elias Jo.This achievement recognized CCTI for putting together a notable yearbook at the high school level. Their entry was submitted at the end of June 2014 and was officially awarded on Oct. 1. The CCTI yearbook was selected from hundreds of schools that submitted entries.CCTI also received awards in other categories, including: first place in page design, high school division, and high school photography honorable mention.CCTI yearbook adviser Michele Klock said, "I am so proud of the students' hard work, dedication and imagination in creating the 2014 book. Each year we strive to improve and build on our previous editions. This year the committee extended editorial coverage of schoolwide events, added academic coverage, and increased student involvement through opinion polls and feature stories that highlight the unique nature of our school."Being recognized for these efforts on a national level is an honor. Thank you to Entourage Yearbooks and the competition judges for recognizing the students' efforts."Judging of the contest entries was based on a balanced rating across the dimensions of creativity, originality and journalistic relevance. Schools were judged at separate levels: elementary, middle school and high school.First- through third-place winners in each category receive various prizes such as cameras, yearbook cover upgrades and Columbia Scholastic Press Association membership.See the winning yearbook entries at

http://www.entourageyearbooks.com/YearbookContest.asp.