Great Bend High School instructor Andy Negaard and several of his students were recognized for outstanding achievement at Monday’s Great Bend USD 428 Board of Education meeting.
Negaard is the yearbook instructor and sponsors the school’s Future Business Leaders of America group.
The GBHS “Rhorea” yearbook and the 2015-2016 yearbook staff earned the 2016 Jostens National Yearbook Program of Excellence designation.
Recognition is given to schools that met or surpassed criteria such as creating an inclusive yearbook, generating school engagement and successfully managing the yearbook creation process.
Negaard said yearbook class teaches valuable skills. Working within a budget, students must produce and sell a product while hitting deadlines and meeting quality standards.
“No other class gives students real-world experience like yearbook does,” he said.
The staff, all taking yearbook for the first, included 64 percent of the student body in the book at least three times, increased yearbook sales at least 5 percent over the previous year and met all deadlines.
“We really did an amazing job with the book,” Negaard said, noting several of those students are involved in yearbook this year as well.

FBLA standout
GBHS student Allison Regehr was awarded an eighth place finish at this summer’s Future Business Leaders of America Conference in Atlanta, Ga. She competed in the Health Care Administration event. Ten finalists out of an estimated 250 students were called to the stage for awards in this category. Regehr received a trophy, and later received a letter from Gov. Sam Brownback, acknowledging her accomplishment.
Last year four GBHS students in FBLA made it to the finals at state.
“Nothing is more exciting than being in the finals at nationals,” Negaard said. He was there when Regehr was called on stage. “I can only liken myself to a proud parent.”
He noted that Regehr is now a senior at GBHS and is preparing a new project for FBLA.