Catherine Jones, Lydia Cardenas, Riana Blinn, and Emily Firment toast with the mugs designed by Riana Blinn and Lydia Cardenas. (Photo by Rob Williams)

Last fall, Bromfield seniors Riana Blinn and Lydia Cardenas created an original painting of Old Bromfield for the 2007 yearbook, the Bromfield Beacon. Their vivid artwork immediately impressed the Beacon editors and advisors.

While they weren’t far enough into the production process to think beyond the painting’s use as cover art, the editors did talk about how nice it would be to have more people enjoy Blinn and Cardenas’s artwork. They also thought it might offer a novel way to support the 2007 yearbook.

To cover production costs, students sell copies of the Beacon until late January, when the order is placed. Ad sales provide the balance of the revenue. Editors Emily Firment and Catherine Jones and Business Manager Bryan Molinaro were enthusiastic about trying a new idea: organizing a separate Beacon fundraiser to raise seed money for next year.

Advisors Ellen Harasimowicz and Abby Hutchinson agreed that a fundraiser was a good idea. “We felt that Riana and Lydia’s artwork was so strong, we wanted to find a way to display the entire painting at once. The timing of Town Meeting gave us the best idea: printing the image on coffee mugs. What better place to have coffee in a beautiful mug than at an all-day meeting?” Hutchinson said.

After Beacon staff members looked into several options, a high-quality reproduction of the painting was sent to a custom printer, then imprinted on 288 coffee mugs. The mugs are now available for sale at $10 each, and they’re going fast, according to Firment. “We were so excited about this artwork,” she said, “And we wanted to extend support for the yearbook to the wider community.” Beacon editors also hope to have a display at the Harvard Schools Trust Gala after the performance March 24.

Proceeds from the mug will provide start-up funds for next year’s yearbook, according to Molinaro. New production equipment will be needed next year, he said, and having a start-up fund will help the 2008 team defray expenses incurred before any order money comes in.

In addition to having a new fundraiser this year, the yearbook staff has also adjusted to the novelty of working with parent advisors instead of teachers, due to the teachers’ work-to-rule action. Both Hutchinson and Harasimowicz stepped in to offer their expertise to the student yearbook staff. “We’ve enjoyed collaborating with the students in designing this yearbook,” Harasimowicz said. “As an added bonus, this has given us a chance to spend time at Bromfield before our youngest children graduate this year and head off to college.” Both Firment and Molinaro were grateful for all the help they received from the two women over the course of the year, they said. Firment credited Harasimowicz with a meticulous work ethic, and declared that this year’s yearbook would exceed all expectations. “It’s going to be the best one ever,” she said. Harasimowicz was equally complimentary of the editing team. “Emily and Catherine have done an outstanding job editing the yearbook this year,” she said. “It’s been a real pleasure working with all of the students on the 2007 Beacon staff.”

After acknowledging the effort of the student team, Molinaro said he was excited to see the project wrap up when the yearbook committee meets its final deadline next week. The involvement of Hutchinson and Harasimowicz was key, though, he said. “Thank you to Mrs. Hutchinson and Mrs. Harasimowicz: they helped us out a lot this year, and it’s important to recognize them.”

Note: Abby Hutchinson contributed to this article.