The Pearl Post was announced as finalists for three awards at the 66th Annual Los Angeles Press Club SoCal Journalism Awards. Online Editor-in-Chief Rikka Dimalanta and Print Editor-in-Chief Alan Ruiz are thrilled to be attending for the second time this year.

“I was so eager to hear the announcement about us getting nominated,” Dimalanta said. “I knew that we did get nominated but I also didn’t want to believe it at first, so I was just anticipated and excited.”

The L.A. Press Club Awards spotlight excellent journalistic work by professional and student journalists in the Southern California region. The winners will be announced at a gala on June 23 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown L.A. The three nominations for The Pearl Post include Best High School Newspaper for the April 2023 magazine, Best High School News Website and Best News Writing: Campus Issues for the article “Six water fountains shut off due to high lead levels,” written by Ruiz and former Print Editor-in-Chief Delilah Brumer.

“I was very excited because it was something that we have consistently been in the running for,” Ruiz said. “I am very proud of the whole staff because this is a staff award. We couldn’t have accomplished it without the writers, the editors and everyone who contributed, as well as our adviser Ms. Chavira. So it’s a combined feeling of pride of what we put together, pride in our staff and also a validation for the work that we have done.”

Ruiz and Dimalanta have been working alongside each other on staff for the past three years. After putting in hours of work and dedication, it has not only helped them reach their goals but also form a stronger bond with each other and the staff. With this being their senior year, being able to go to the L.A. Press Club Awards for a second time gives them an opportunity to relive their time together on The Pearl Post after graduation. 

“I’m just looking forward to experiencing that again with Alan, who is one of the closest people I know right now in high school,” Dimalanta said. “It’ll be a last send-off before college and that’ll be one of the last times I see him until who knows when.”