Carlmont, Menlo-Atherton High School publications receive 2025 Pacemaker Awards

“I believe a healthy dose of skepticism is very important,” Raisner, English department chair and media advisor, said. “The successful journalism programs, I believe, do make sure to instill a foundation of what ethics means, of what questions to ask.” 

While Raisner advises the media class, the website, Scot Scoop, is run entirely by students who are interested in making the publication as successful as it can be. The online publication delivers real-time reporting primarily on news stories, while the program’s Highlander newsmagazine publishes less frequently and features longer feature stories.

Carlmont’s journalism program has consistently won national awards, including the Pacemaker Award from the National Scholastic Press Association, the top national high school journalism honor, in 2014, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2023, 2024 and, most recently, 2025. But this year, they are not the only program in the area recognized for its outstanding work. 

Also in the Sequoia Union High School District, Menlo-Atherton’s online publication, the M-A Chronicle, received the Pacemaker Award this year. It previously won in 2016 and 2021.

The outlet’s success and recognition this year is in large part due to the investment students have not only in quality reporting, but also a care for how the information is presented, advisor John McBlair said. At Menlo-Atherton, three journalism classes all work collaboratively on the online outlet and print magazine The Mark, developing skills in magazine design as well as reporting. 

“I think that is the secret ingredient to hold themselves to a higher standard in their visual presentation as well,” McBlair said. “The writing quality and the research quality has been there for years, but what put it over the line this year was the presentation.” 

Both advisors spoke to their student’s desires to be the best they can be, whether it’s through the paper or their other academics. 

“There’s a competitive nature that a lot of students have here,” Raisner said. “I get to channel that into something that has some important skills like journalism and teach them early on about the mission of journalism.” 

While both schools have become known for their successful journalism programs, many students who participate will not go into the professional field, Raisner has had to admit to himself. Still, he believes students earn important skills that are transferable to other jobs. 

“The skills of critical thinking, of looking at the world with a healthy dose of skepticism, of not necessarily believing something just because you saw it on the internet,” Raisner said. “And to unpack the gray. Sometimes the good guys aren’t always 100% right, bad guys aren’t 100% wrong.” 

Intellectual curiosity and a desire to understand others will carry students far, Raisner said. In an area where science, technology, engineering and mathematics are promoted as strong career avenues, Raisner values teaching students about finding success and purpose through writing, research and effective arguments. 

Raisner began as the advisor in 2010, and since, he has seen the world shift in how it views the media, and how students have felt called to action. 

“Around 2016, there was a huge uptick in enrollment and it was really student driven, they focused in on a purpose and a cause,” Raisner said “They felt that the importance of being a journalist of being able to tell stories was a critical thing that was missing. I think that has continued.” 

Part of Raisner’s work as an adviser is to make sure his students know what their rights are as journalists, even if they are only teenagers.

“As a teacher, it’s super cool that these kids realize that ‘Oh, the adults are not always being truthful with me, I need to fact check that,’” Raisner said.  

With top-notch programs in the district, journalism students in the Sequoia High School District are provided a level of respect by administrators, school board and staff, McBlair said. 

“They have these professional rights and with that comes professional responsibilities,” McBlair said. 

Even though Menlo-Atherton journalists have covered hard-hitting stories in recent years, including controversies that have made national news and resulted in multiple lawsuits, the district continues to respect the value of student journalists, McBlair said. Student also have developed a balanced desire of how to approach covering the school they attend, he said.

“While our editors have always appreciated good hard-hitting pieces, and critical editorials, and more breaking news of things that catch a lot of attention, they are also particularly passionate about celebrating aspects of our community,” McBlair said. 

The students at Menlo-Atherton are without a doubt proud of themselves, McBlair said, but students are mainly focused on continuing to tell stories that cover the wide array of students on campus. 

“There was an initial high and excitement, but quickly afterwards they were back to work because we have a printing deadline for the magazine soon,” McBlair said. 

Even though Carlmont’s publication has been on the Pacemaker list of awardees before, each time is a strong reflection of the hard work of students each year. With the annual turnover of editors, students and stories to cover, the recognition is never a guarantee, and students are constantly looking for ways they can improve their publication, Raisner said. 

“It’s the students who make it what it is,” Raisner said. “It doesn’t matter if Mr. Raisner cares about these things, it needs to be the students who make this an amazing program overall. It’s 100% the students.”