Excalibur History

Since Evangel began, it has had a yearbook over-flowing with reliable information about the school. Many of the successful yearbook editors over the years still have ties to the school. They include Shirley Shedd, the Archivist at Evangel, Nancy Pace-Miller, a professor in the Communications Department, and Ed Quigley, the husband of Mrs. Quigley who teaches in the Humanities Department.
The yearbook began production in the 1955-56 school year. It was produced in a small, high school

Evangels first Yearbook

sized format by students. It was called “The Echo”. The second year of production, the name was changed to “The Lancer” after the school newspaper the previous year (1955-56). The yearbook kept “The Lancer” name until the 1970’s when it was changed to “Excalibur”. It has maintained that name ever since. The yearbook changed from the small format to the college-sized book that it is now during the 1960-61 school year. The yearbook has always been financed by student activity fees and through advertisements placed in the book. 
Even though Evangel is a small school, when it comes to the yearbook, “we are highly respected across the collegiate media world, both Christian and secular, as a model of excellent and responsible journalism” (Shirley Shedd, personal communication, March 24, 2008). Excalibur has been competitive with other leading collegiate yearbooks in design and format over the years. The yearbook has won numerous awards since it began production, including those from Associated Collegiate Press, Missouri College Media Association, and Association for Christian College Media.
While many schools across the country have begun to abandon yearbooks, Evangel and it’s administration continues to support it and recognize “Excalibur” as an important source of historical record for the school.

By Krista Marshall