What is the Cheesy Photo contest? This contest started in 2005 by history teacher Tom Fox has become a tradition. Only seniors are able to participate in this contest.

Where this idea originated

Fox was originally from Cleveland, Ohio, and he had heard about the senior photo obsession in central Pa.

“When I learned more about it, I was amazed at what effort the seniors put in their senior photos. When I got my senior photo back in 1995, I just sat and smiled and that was all my senior photo was. Also, I had thought that this contest would be fun, and I believe that if you can laugh at yourself then that’s a healthy thing. The purpose of this competition is to have fun and enjoy the process of the photos,” Fox said.

According to astronomy teacher James Krug, he started working alongside Fox for seven years.

“Being friends with Mr. Fox he knew I had a flair for writing and my humor. He had asked me that year to write a humorous commentary for each picture as I was like an art critic and to try to put the emotion of the picture into words,” astronomy teacher James Krug said.

Choosing your outfit

Krug visualizes what his outfit would’ve looked like if he had a senior cheesy photo to submit.

“I graduated in the late 90s and looking in some of my own yearbook pictures today I would go for a natural picture, in mind I would have a white long sleeve shirt with a button down vest where the back is black silk and the front would have brown stripes across from it with my hair parted in the middle,” Krug said.

Summary of top three winners go in yearbook

They will vote and announce winners in the yearbook.

“We will begin voting for the photos that get submitted with a panel of teachers. There will be about thirty different teachers voting. When we vote, we will announce the winners and have James Krug write a summary of the photos in a very entertaining fashion. When everything is decided the top three winners will be placed in the yearbook,” Fox said.

Krug’s write ups and summaries have been popular for many years and he has continued that tradition.

“For many years now Mr. Fox has asked me to do the actual write ups and they have become popular enough that they have their own category in the yearbook. I really enjoy writing the summaries, it comes at a time when we are really busy. A big challenge is sometimes you don’t get the best picture to write about, but sometimes we’ll agree that sometimes the pictures aren’t that good. Sure enough, in the next few days I will find ways to write about the picture. We always find a way to have better content than a year before,” Krug said.

Winners get a block of cheese

The top three winners will get their own block of cheese as an award for their Cheesy Photo contest submission.

“The most popular type of cheese that students have picked is the hot pepper cheese. As someone who has been 6’8 their entire life, you have to be able to laugh at yourself, and this contest is a way of teaching students to not take things so seriously all the time. It also brings so much joy to me that students smile in their photos and that is what’s important to me,” Fox said.

Krug explains what kind of cheese describes him and why he would choose it.

“If I were to win as a senior in high school I would like to get Lorraine cheese. It’s like a baby swiss with smaller holes and it’s smooth and mild from start to finish,” Krug said.

Final words from Fox and Krug

Fox hopes that this contest will continue long after he retires.

“Long after I retire, which won’t be until years later, I hope that this contest will continue. I hope to see a lot of the seniors participating in this contest this year and the following years after everyone. I hope you all have fun participating in this contest and to put your creativity in this, good luck,” Fox said.

“To the class of 2022 look forward to the senior cheesy photos and write ups in the yearbook. Mr. Fox and I will not let you down,” Krug said.

Submit your Cheesy Photos

According to Fox, he does not have any expectations for the photos that any of the seniors submit. To submit the photos email Fox at [email protected] or stop by his classroom in B313. All photo submissions are due by Feb. 11 of this year.