June 16 – 18, 2026 Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park

Cost

Registration: $375 per person, student or adviser.
Includes workshop registration, materials, all special events and all food.

Hotel: $400 per room. (maximum 4 students per room). Includes two nights. Additional nights are $200.

Payment must be received before June 1 otherwise additional charges will apply. This is because we have to guarantee our number of rooms with the hotel by June 1.

Hotel: Advisers: $200 per room for two nights (we will pair you with another adviser) which includes two nights lodging. Or, for single occupancy: $400 for two nights’ lodging.

Click here to register

Guest Speaker – Michelle Valenzuela

Michelle Valenzuela has spent her career helping advisers and students bring their school stories to life. She grew up in rural Texas, where she discovered a love for journalism as a yearbook editor. That spark carried her to Sam Houston State University, where she majored in Journalism and Marketing and worked on the Houstonian news staff before diving straight into education as a publications adviser at Kingwood High School.

For 18 years, Michelle served in Humble ISD – helping to produce books that highlighted the voices of her students. Having lived the late nights, deadlines, and coffee-fueled creativity of yearbook life, she understands how important it is for advisers to have support, encouragement, and someone who genuinely “gets it.”

As a mentor, Michelle offers expertise, practical guidance, and training at workshops throughout the year. She values the relationships that make a program thrive – students, faculty, administrators, and the surrounding community—and believes those connections are ultimately what make a yearbook meaningful and successful.

Cover Artists

Appointments will be made during registration with the cover artist. Time is limited to 45 minutes per school; please have your idea and concepts ready prior to your appointment time. A rough sketch is fine, or a rough printout of what you are considering is helpful. The more you can show the artist about your cover concept, the better.

Schedule

Tuesday, June 16

Registration 8:30 10 a.m. – St. Petersburg Hilton Carillon Park

Seminar begins promptly at 10:15 a.m. You won’t want to miss the fun opening session video!

10:15 – 10:45 – Opening Session – Dress up theme is school spirit. Prizes will be awarded to one staff each day for their participation spirit day. If you’ve never heard of the Golden Yearbook, you will.

11 – Noon – meet with Focus Groups. This is the category you have registered your students under, depending on skill level. Focus groups are: Leadership/Section Editors, New Staffers, Photographers, New Advisers, Experienced Advisers.

Noon – 12:45 p.m. – Lunch

1-2 p.m. General Session

2 p.m. – Group Photo

2:15 p.m. Cookie Break!

2:30 – 4 p.m. Group Work Session 1 – Meet in the St. Petersburg Ballroom with your staff to begin work on project binder.

4 – 5:30 p.m. Hotel Check in (if you have not already done so)

5:45 – 6:45 p.m. Dinner

7 – 8 p.m. General Session

8:15 – 9:15 – The world-famous book grab. You have to experience it to believe it. Hundreds of books, all up for grabs for you and your staff to take home to add to your collection.

9:30 p.m. – Adviser Reception

11 p.m. – Curfew. Even Yerds have their limits!

Wednesday, June 17

6:30 – 8 a.m. – Breakfast

8:15 – 9:15 a.m. – General Session, Lori Oglesbee, Keynote Speaker

9:30 a.m. 10:15 a.m. – Breakout Session 1

10:30 – 11:15 a.m. – Breakout Session 2

11:30 – 12:30 – Adviser & Chaperone Lunch

11:30 – 12:30 – Student Lunch

12:45 -1:20 p.m. – General Session, Lori Oglesbee, Keynote Speaker

1:30 – 2:15 p.m. – Breakout Session 3

2:30 p.m. – Cookie Break!

2:45 – 5 p.m. Group Work Session 2 – Meet in St. Petersburg Ballroom with your staff to work to continue on project binder.

5 – 5:45 p.m. – Dinner on your own

6 – 6:30 p.m. – General Session, Lori Oglesbee, Keynote Speaker

6:30 – 8 p.m. – Final work session, projects due at 8 p.m. sharp, St. Petersburg Ballroom. Allow time for printing!   

8 – 10 p.m. – Super Scavenger Hunt! Pick up your list in the St. Petersburg Ballroom. Win great prizes!

Thursday, June 18

6:30 – 8 a.m. – Breakfast

8:45 – 9:15 a.m. – General Session (students only), Lori Oglesbee, Keynote Speaker

9:30 – 10:15 a.m. – Closing show and awards — Give a super cheer when you see your school or students!

Supply List for Students/School

• A copy of your 2025 yearbook
• Warm clothes — the hotel is notoriously cold!
• A credit card for incidentals
• Camera or phone with camera for scavenger hunt
• Theme ideas and cover concepts — the more visuals you have for the artist, the better
• The hotel is surrounded by several shops and stores, you might want to include some spending money for shopping.
• Art Supplies (Glue sticks, scissors, markers)
• Old magazines
• Laptop computers (and although we provide printers, they do get backed up, so you might consider bringing a printer for last-minute items)
• Comfortable shoes and clothes for hanging out with your staff and spreading out on the floor to see your friends in a whole new light 🙂
• Bookbag
• Snacks for late night work sessions