NDB’s yearbook, The Torch has received a First Place award and Most Outstanding Use of Color Award in the American Scholastic Press Association’s annual yearbook competition for the 2019-2020 school year.

Along with placing in the ASPA yearbook competition, The Torch also fared well in the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, or CSPA, yearbook competition, being awarded a Gold Medal.

NDB Yearbook Advisor, Mrs. Peggy Brady, and her three senior editors, Carina Leveroni, Madison Macha, and Amanda Orchard directed thirteen students in putting together the award winning yearbook.

The American Scholastic Press Association, or ASPA, is renowned for being a tough competition, with many entries from schools across the country.

“Your yearbook shows excellence in the fields of writing, photography, and page design and contains elements/sections of a memorable yearbook that will be treasured for years to come,” wrote an ASPA judge about The Torch. “Your ability to keep your publication alive and printing during a pandemic is testament to your dedication and devotion to your publication, school, community, and to each other.”

The Torch has been awarded Gold Medalists for the past twelve years by the CSPA for the outstanding production of the NDB yearbook.

“When I first joined the yearbook staff my junior year, I wasn’t sure what to expect,” said Senior Editor-In-Chief, Faith Conry. “However, I soon began to love the process of creating page spreads, taking photos, writing captions, and working with my fellow classmates to create The Torch 2020. I was extremely proud of our 2020 yearbook. I returned to the yearbook staff my senior year as the Editor-In-Chief. This year, however, was challenging due to the lack of in-person activities from the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite this, I am once again extremely proud of the work that Mrs. Brady and my fellow editors and staff have put in to produce the 2021 yearbook.”

For the last eight years, NDB Yearbook Advisor, Mrs. Peggy Brady, has been on the CSPA Board of Judges and for the last five years, has been invited to speak at the annual conference in New York City.

Congratulations to all members of The Torch publication staff for their success in putting together “Right Here, Right Now” as an award winning yearbook.