The first academic yearbooks date back to the 17th century, when they were used to note student records and achievements. Now, school yearbooks are filled with pictures, quotes and student highlights from throughout the school year.

Diondria Pilger is the editor-in-chief for the 2025-2026 Westwood High School yearbook. A senior, she has dedicated most of her high school years to the yearbook team, starting with the digital publications class freshman year and following with the yearbook in her junior and senior years. Pilger began doing yearbook in junior high school, following in her grandfather’s and mother’s footsteps. 

“My grandpa, he was a photographer, and he did lots of photography, and then my mom got into it, and she was in yearbook during her high school years,” said Pilger.

Being the editor-in-chief comes with several responsibilities. “We’re basically in charge of the whole class, and I made sure people were getting enough pictures to fill their pages [in the yearbook]. I would also go to different events like theater and choir, basically everything,” said Pilger. Once the school year starts, the yearbook team is already kicking things off with assigning jobs and going out and taking pictures. Pilger often reminded students throughout the year, “When we are out taking photos, we are not just representing the yearbook but also representing the school.”

Pilger struggled with balancing her studies with the yearbook program but was surprised by how fast she was able to cope with it. 

“Having to balance my personal life, school life and doing the yearbook is super hard, but you [just have to make] sure you are taking care of yourself and you’re not letting all the stress get to you, because at the end of the day, we’re all human,” said Pilger.

With her grandfather being one of her biggest inspirations, she always remembers him as she walks in her path. “Having the thought of grandpa being maybe there by my side while I’m taking these photos, or [imagining] how impressed he would be, definitely encouraged me a lot,” said Pilger.

Pilger will graduate from Westwood in May and plans to study early childhood education at East Valley Institute of Technology. She also plans to attend college for early childhood education. 

“I think want to do more journalism and continue that, and photography for sure, maybe as a side gig when I’m a teacher in the future. Who knows, I might start working for O’odham Action News,” said Pilger. 

Pilger has high hopes for the Westwood underclassmen and looks forward to what they will accomplish in the upcoming school years. To order a Westwood High School yearbook, visit the Westwood bookstore or order it online at https://westwood.mpsaz.org/page/yearbook/.