Leadership programs honored with Civic Learning Award

This past week, Peninsula was honored with the prestigious 2016 California Civic Learning Award.
Presented to the Teen Court, Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) and Leadership programs, the
Civic Learning Award is bestowed to a school which exceeds the six proven practices in civic education.
These practices are provided by sources including the American Bar Association Division for Public Education, the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools and the National Conference on Citizenship.

“Peninsula has amazing opportunities that we’re so lucky to be a part of,” said junior and Capitol Convoy
representative Emily Schluper. “The energy and the ambition are so vibrant. Students are welcomed to find ways to branch out and find new activities and new leadership opportunities.”

On behalf of the Chief Justice of California, Tani Cantil-Sakauye, California’s Division Five
Presiding Justice Paul Turner presented a plaque commemorating the award. Also speaking at the
ceremony were Judge Steven Van Sicklen, Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD)
Superintendent Don Austin, senior and Mock Trial member Rebecca Jeon and senior Michael McFarland.

“This school has over 700 students involved in leadership activities, and that’s totally unique – it’s
another opportunity for students to learn to do things bigger than themselves,” Austin said. “The
work we’re doing here is powerful. This award gave us an opportunity to come together and celebrate
it. But I think with or without the award, it’s the right work.”

Students involved in the five strands of Pen’s leadership department, Associated Student Body
(ASB), Link Crew, Peer Leaders Uniting Students (PLUS), Service Learning Leadership (SLL) and
Principal’s Advisory Council (PAC), along with those involved in Capitol Convoy and Teen Court, presented their programs to notable attendees from Southern California.

“A good leadership program reaches out to all different walks of life,” said senior and PLUS member
Abagaaz Sherfa. “We don’t want a sole program that focuses on a single group of people or it’s not going to really affect much. I think with all the options, we do a good job with that at Pen.”