MEET THE TEAM
Carrie Faust
Keynote // Master Class
Carrie Faust, MJE, advises Summit yearbook, NEXT magazine and SmokyNow.com at Smoky Hill HS in Aurora, CO. Summit staffs have won more than 20 Crowns and Pacemakers. Faust has been awarded JEA’s Medal of Merit, NSPA’s Pioneer, CSPA’s Gold Key and has been recognized as CHSPA Teacher of the Year and Distinguished Adviser in the H.L. Hall National Yearbook Adviser of the Year awards program. She teachers workshops around the country each summer and loves working with schools to make their yearbooks amazing.
Darien Buford
Varsity Creative Artist
Darien graduated from the University of Iowa with a bachelor's in fine art, with an emphasis in graphic design. From there he's had the opportunity to pursue both realms on a professional level. Which has been a dream of his since grade school. When he is not challenging himself with a new medium; he can be found enjoying a good concert with his partner or going on a run with his labradoodle BiBi.
Morgan Miltner
Yearbookpalooza Director // Varsity Yearbook Rep
Jose Otero
Varsity Yearbook Rep
Teenie reddick
Varsity Yearbook Rep
ashley cuervo
Varsity Yearbook Rep
Matt Johnson
Keynote // Photo Track
Matt Johnson discovered his love for photography at 14 when he found an old Canon camera in his garage. While other kids focused on sports and school, he spent his free time in the high school darkroom, developing black-and-white photos. His passion led him to Brooks Institute of Photography, where he graduated at the top of his class in 2003.
Afterward, he moved to Boise, ID, and opened a photography studio, capturing families, weddings, and high school seniors. Over time, he realized he loved working with seniors the most. In 2009, he jumped at the chance to teach high school photography, moving his family to Pasco, WA. He spent 13 years teaching photography and yearbook before transitioning to a role with Varsity Yearbook.
Though his career has evolved, Matt’s love for photography hasn’t changed—he still creates photography content for Varsity and shares his knowledge on YouTube.
MICHAEL BRUNDIS
Varsity Creative Artist
Michael Brundis earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Art from Kansas State University. He has been designing covers with Varsity Yearbook since 2018. He specializes in bold graphics, vector art, and clean typography but enjoys exploring a wide range of styles. Outside of Varsity Yearbook, he can often be found on a disc golf course, playing fetch with his dog, Cooper, or working on the latest home improvement project.
Michelle Frakes
Varsity Yearbook Rep
JEan Henry
Varsity Yearbook Rep
maddie kirkland
Varsity Yearbook Rep
Katy Hoffstater
MC // Varsity Yearbook Rep
Katy Hoffstatter, CJE, has spent the past 12 years with Varsity Yearbooks, helping North Florida schools create publications that balance storytelling and stunning design.
A former high school editor turned marketing and graphic design major, Katy’s career in yearbooks fuels her passion for fonts, love of white space, and an occasional overindulgence in layout tweaks. Whether teaching at workshops or speaking at conventions across the country, Katy thrives on inspiring student journalists to turn chaos into creativity and blank pages into masterpieces.
HALEY HACKER
Varsity Creative Artist
Haley has been a Creative Artist for Varsity Yearbooks for 10 years. Yearbook has been in her life since high school as a yearbook staffer and editor - so she jumped at the chance to be involved in it again after college! She is a proud Kansas State alum with a BFA in Graphic Design. Her husband and her are avid travelers, having explored Europe extensively over the past couple of years, taking in incredible sights and savoring amazing food. On weekends, you’ll often find them cheering on our favorite Kansas City sports teams or going to concerts. At home, their beloved dog, Patty (yes, named after Patrick Mahomes), reigns supreme.
vicky aguirre
Varsity Yearbook Rep
jen ortman
Varsity Yearbook Rep
michael pate
Varsity Yearbook Rep
Cam fulks
Varsity Yearbook Rep