 Photos by E. Noelle Merrihew
"Bobby Hawthorne gave us great advice on how to develop our interviews into deeper and more personal stories. Having him come to campus and share with us stories he's written over the years gave me new ideas and new perspectives to try and use with our copy of the yearbook," said Shyanne Lee, Editor-in-Chief of the PVHS Triton.
"Bobby Hawthorne helped us take our journalistic knowledge to the next level. It also felt fresh and exciting to share the learning experience with our friends from Peninsula," said Vincent Todosiev, section editor for the PVHS Triton.
"Having the opportunity to show our work to someone with as much experience as Bobby will definitely serve as an advantage for future yearbook stories. The feedback he gave us improved our stories, as well as our abilities as journalists," said Ben Richland, photography/section editor for the PVHS Triton.
The MPR was filled with over 300 students and teachers from both schools on the hill. Following the three-hour seminar, Hawthorne spent more time with the Triton staff reviewing copy from their current feature articles and providing new angles to student reporting. Supplemental information is available on his website: https://radicalwrite.com/
Ms. Susan Pavelka, PVHS Triton yearbook and Trade Winds literary magazine adviser, was happy to be able to offer this type of school-to-career opportunity to both of our high schools. "Both Palos Verdes High School and Peninsula High School have dedicated journalism programs. It is a benefit and a privilege to bring experts onto the campus to inspire our young writers," said Pavelka.
Jovana Lara at PVHS for Reporting Seminar on October 29th
 On Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 1 p.m., Jovana Lara, currently a general assignment reporter and the weekend evening anchor for ABC7 Eyewitness News as well as the co-host of the half-hour show, Vista L.A. will be visiting the campus of Palos Verdes High School for a seminar in reporting. During her visit, she will address students from both Palos Verdes High School and Peninsula High School in a question and answer forum on the topic of "Following a Story" and "The Best Techniques for Capturing a Quality Interview." Student groups attending from PVHS will include the Triton yearbook staff, The Point staff, Open Orchard podcast staff, and Live from 205. "My plan is to explain how we interview on the job, which skills are important, and then really just open it up to questions. I find this format to be most helpful to students; it is more interesting to them when I allow them to ask questions" said Lara. Ms. Susan Pavelka, Triton yearbook adviser, met Jovana Lara through volunteer work on the Alumni Board of Directors for Loyola Marymount University. "Jovana is so personable. I am excited that she is making the time to come out to speak to both high schools about effective interviewing and writing. As we move toward a curriculum which embraces school-to-career opportunities, experiences like this one will help our young photojournalists gain insight into the industry."
 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST AWARD FOR TRITON YEARBOOK
On September 12, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) contacted Ms. Susan Pavelka, PVHS Triton Yearbook Adviser, to award the 2013 PVHS Triton Yearbook the status of Gold Medalist. This year marks the first year the Triton staff has submitted the yearbook for review by this association which is owned by Columbia University and operated as a program affiliated with its Graduate School of Journalism. "Even though we achieved a strong score as a Gold Medalist, there are areas for improvement. We will evaluate the feedback as we move into the 2014 publication. I am proud of this accomplishment because it is the result of several years of work from a dedicated staff of student photojournalists," said Pavelka. The PVHS Triton Yearbook scored
920 points out of a possible 1000 points this year. Gold Medalist status begins at 800 points. "This yearbook is a significant feat! It captures the spirit and character of PVHS through bright, action-oriented photos and meaningful, quote-driven reporting. It  definitely helps the reader to see past the sorts of labels or preconceptions that you suggest might be out there in your opening copy. The visual aspects of this book complement the theme extraordinarily and help to make the product memorable. Very informative book, with plenty of breadth and depth in coverage. Theme is clever and definitely lends itself to a highly visually appealing program of coverage. All verbal elements are clear and informative. Copy tells many interesting stories and is always full of descriptive student quotes. This book is beautiful! Layouts are well-structured, with dominant photos that pop, and a very effective use of levels of whitespace. Even though there is a lot of content on every page, it never feels "busy." The photography especially shines, as it needs to with a theme like "image(IS)." There are some areas where verbal can be tightened up, but the reporting remains thorough and inviting. Overall, congratulations on a job very well done!" said judges Mary Kay Downes and Kathleen Zwiebel, Columbia Scholastic Press Association.
Triton Yearbook Program Hosts Journalism Seminar
 On Monday, September 16, Bobby Hawthorne will be giving a seminar on high school journalism in the MPR from 8 AM-11 AM. The Palos Verdes High School Triton yearbook program is hosting this event along with Jostens Inc. The Triton staff will be joined by the staffs of Live from 205,The Point, and Open Orchard as well as students from some of the AP and Honors English classes. This workshop/seminar will also be shared with students and faculty from Peninsula High School's newspaper, video, and yearbook programs.
Ms. Susan Pavelka, Triton yearbook adviser, is excited to be able to offer this type of school-to-career opportunity to both of our high schools. "Both Palos Verdes High School and Peninsula High School have dedicated journalism programs. It is a benefit and a privilege to bring experts onto the campus to inspire our young writers" said Pavelka.
Two years ago in October, the PV Triton staff attended a seminar with Bobby Hawthorne at Dos Pueblos High School in Santa Barbara. "The Bobby Hawthorne seminar in Santa Barbara was critical to the improvement of my writing. I was really able to apply what he said. His advice steered my writing in the right direction" said Junior EIC Claudia Lambert. The success of the Triton publication is influenced by attendance and participation at national seminars and special workshops which feature leaders in the industry. "Bobby Hawthorne gave us a fresh perspective on writing. He not only told us how to write, but how to follow a story and how to tell it in the best way - through vivid, yet unbiased description. He was willing to speak to us afterward and to give us specific advice; our book has improved because of it" said Senior EIC Rose Hayden.
 BOBBY HAWTHORNE is a writer and a writing teacher. He is the former director of academics for the Texas University Interscholastic League [UIL] where he directed the nation's largest program for academic extracurricular activities. For 20 years, he directed the Interscholastic League Press Conference [ILPC], Texas' scholastic press association. Hawthorne has earned the JEA Carl Towley Award, CSPA Gold Key, NSPA Pioneer. Hawthorne is a popular speaker at high school journalism conferences throughout the county. He is the author of numerous books and manuals including Longhorn Football: An Illustrated History and The Radical Write.
Triton Alum Gives Back at Photo Workshop
 On Saturday, Sept. 7, PV Triton Yearbook photography staff met with PVHS and Cal Poly graduate, Kaori Funahashi for an all-day seminar on campus. Funahashi, a former EIC for the Triton, taught the basics of indoor and outdoor shooting along with basic editing technique in Adobe Photoshop. With a BFA in Art and Design with a concentration in photography, Funahashi used her expertise to improve the skills of the new generation of Triton photojournalists.
PVHS Triton Yearbook Staff Wins 1st Place
at National Conference for 5th Consecutive Year
On Wednesday, July 31, Palos Verdes High School receives 1st Place for Design in the Jostens National Yearbook Summer Camp. This award was our 5th consecutive win. Participants included: Noelle Merrihew, Shyanne Lee, Caroline Parks, Claudia Lambert, Chad Solomon, David McCann, Ben Richland, Vincent Todosiev, Julianna Farrow, Katie Percz, and Payton Ricci. This year Maria Farrow, Kathleen Parks, and Cindy Percz became new parent leads for the program while Kavita Lalchandani and Jane Bigglen have stayed on as consultants. The Triton staff was proud to be able to work with junior adviser and 2013 PVHS graduate, Aisha Joshi. Palos Verdes also took home the Grand Prize award which was a Nikon camera outfit for staff use. This camp win was the result of a few weeks of intensive layout and design workshops with adviser, Ms. Susan Pavelka. This year the staff was happy to work with Jostens Marketing Lead, Gary Lundgren from Minnesota and Loudon Valley High School's adviser and multiple Crown and Pacemaker award winner, Martha Akers from Virginia. In San Diego, the Triton team worked side-by-side to create award winning templates for the upcoming 2014 school year. The workshop sessions were led by JEA Advisor of the Year, Cindy Chambers Todd from Texas, and by Crown and Pacemaker award winning adviser, Brenda Field from Chicago. "It is such a pleasure to work with such a creative and dedicated group of students. PV really takes the business of yearbook to the next level" Brenda Field said.
Congratulations to the PVHS Triton Yearbook staff
On achieving All-American status from NSPA
On July 24, 2013, Ms. Susan Pavelka, PVHS Triton adviser of seven years, was notified by the National Scholastic Press Association that the Palos Verdes Triton Yearbook 2013 was given the national award and honor of All-American status. This recent award is the highest photojournalism award given by the NSPA.
"As a judge, it is rare to see a staff create an annual that receives multiple (4)
marks of distinction (coverage, design, writing/editing, and photography). I am
honored to have received the Triton's annual - it is a pleasure to read and critique
this yearbook. The editors, the writers, the designers (and the adviser) and even
the newest staff members have worked to show and tell the reader about an
incredible journey. From the very first image and in the first copy, there is
obvious pride in the yearbook production room, and it is carried through to
the final endsheet. What is most appealing is that each DPS (double-page spread)
visually belongs in this yearbook, yet it is diverse enough to stand alone plus
each is also compelling. It is evident that the Palos Verdes student body is
well-represented by the Triton staff," NSPA judge Angela Griffin-Brenton said.
The Palos Verdes High School Triton Yearbook staff received a score of 4,460 points
with four marks of distinction. An All-American Honor Rating is achieved with
3,700 or more points plus four or five marks of distinction. Congratulations to the
2012-2013 Triton staff on your achievement. This is the first time the PVHS Triton
has received an All-American Honor Rating.
PV Triton Achieves First Class Award
with three Marks of Distinction
 Monday, July 16, 2012
The Palos Verdes Triton has been recognized by the National Scholastic PressAssociation and the Associated Collegiate Press with a First Class Honor Rating and three Marks of Distinction in the areas of concept, design, and photography in the 2012 yearbook competition.
For the third year in a row, the Palos Verdes Triton yearbook has been awarded a First Class rating from NSPA/ACP, but the three Marks of Distinction in this year's 40th anniversary edition of the Triton are the publications highest accolades to date.
"The unique design makes the reader want to pick up the book and take a look inside. Staff has maintained a 'whole book look' with each section featuring a unique style and coverage. The staff has obviously been trained in the basics of good scholastic journalism and in preparing yearbooks. The overall photography throughout is excellent, and is the shining star of the book! The members of the staff are obviously enthusiastic about making the book special for your students. Solid coverage! Congratulations!," Judge M. Watters said.
Other accolades achieved by the Palos Verdes Triton yearbook have included the ASPA First Place with Special Merit in 2011, the NSPA First Class Rating in 2010 and 2011, the Press International Association Benny Award 2008 and 2009, and a number of awards from Jostens YearTech Online competitions.
Congratulations to the Palos Verdes Triton Yearbook 2012
Jostens' Look Book Spread Gallery Winner 2013
Track and Field and Calendar Spreads
Congratulations to the PVHS Triton and Palos Verdes High School:
PIA Benny Awards—Certificate of Merit—2008, 2009
NSPA—1st place award recipient—2010, 2011, 2012
ASPA —1st place award recipient—2010, 2011
YearTech Online Grand Prize Award— 2010
YearTech Online First Place Award—2010
YearTech Online Individual Awards—2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
First Place Design University of San Diego National Conference—2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
American Scholastic Press Association - Outstanding Theme Anniversary Yearbook
American Scholastic Press Association - First Place with Special Merit 2011, 2012
National Scholastic Press Association - First Place with Three Marks of Distinction 2012
National Scholastic Press Association All-American Award 2013
Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist 2013
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