Another year, another yearbook coasting the horizon of Taylor University’s unique traditions. On Oct. 5 during chapel, The Ilium’s Editor-in-Chief Claire Yew presented Taylor’s 2025-26 yearbook to the student body.
Taylor’s yearbook, The Ilium, consistently produces every fall. In 1898, Taylor’s senior class began tracking campus traditions through a yearbook. Termed The Gem until 1962, the yearbook has been published annually since 1921, with the exception of 1943 and 1944, when it was published as The Gem-Echo, a combination of the yearbook and student newspaper. In 1963, The Ilium was born.
Chassity Neckers, The Ilium adviser and assistant professor of communication, said she looked at a yearbook from around 1907. She said it held some of the same traditions in the yearbook now.
“It’s interesting to see how vastly different the student bodies were, but how aligned they were in their traditions in those things we’ve carried on from year to year,” Neckers said.
Each year, The Ilium’s editor-in-chief prays over the summer, then chooses a word for the upcoming yearbook theme. At the beginning of the fall semester, they share their vision and the theme word is finalized, Neckers said.
Alumna Editor-in-Chief Alexa Twiggs chose the 2025-26 yearbook theme, “Horizon.” The 2026-27 yearbook theme will be “Pivot,” chosen by Yew.
The yearbook aims to create a cohesive story throughout the entire book from start to finish that encapsulates the theme, Neckers said.
Capturing photos that stand out to the eye for the yearbook consists of finding unique ways to highlight Taylor events, junior film and media major Tyler Verville, The Ilium’s 2026-27 head photographer, said.
“When it comes to capturing Taylor’s spirit through photography, I try to find creative ways to present certain events through lighting, composition, and color,” Verville said. “I also make sure to capture moments that represent Taylor well, whether that’s through smiling, laughing, or just showing the sense of community.”
The Ilium tries to capture a large, eye-catching photo in the spreads and represent the student body through a diversity of faces, and people so that everyone feels included, Neckers said.
The final editorial spreads and review proofs go off to a printer over the summer, Neckers said. Taylor receives the finalized yearbook on campus during September, and shortly after, the yearbooks are distributed.
“We always present it to President Lindsay first and then all the students pick it up,” Neckers said. “It’s a little bit of a sign of respect for him to see the history of the year.”
According to Tessa Radde, a junior human physiology and preventative medicine major, the yearbook felt like a collection of memories rather than just pictures, she said.
“I liked the way it included a mix of both candid pictures that showed the fun we had last year and posed pictures,” Radde said.
When Verville flipped through the 2025-26 edition, he was happy to see Taylor’s energy and personality represented well, he said.
Students from any major are welcome to join The Ilium’s team. Their goal is to create a staff that works together well and produces an excellent yearbook, not to recruit certain majors, Neckers said.
Though Necker advises The Illium, the yearbook ultimately belongs to the students, Necker said.
“You get to see a fresh perspective from their (student’s) eyes of how we’re capturing the student body in that season and in that moment in time,” Neckers said. “So, it’s really important to allow them to have ownership of that.”
