Claes Nobel School of Distinction
To nominate your school for consideration, please email Dr. Susan Thurman with an explanation of why your school deserves this recognition. Be sure to include your name and contact information, the school's name and city, and a link to the school's website.
We are pleased to recognize Torrey Pines High School, San Diego, California, as this month’s Claes Nobel School of Distinction. Torrey Pines (TPHS) is located in the Carmel Valley neighborhood in San Diego, and the school is named after the rare Torrey Pine that grows in the area. The school was nominated by student Novaira Paul (Class of '07). TPHS is ranked in the top 100 public schools in the nation by “Newsweek,” is a three-time National Blue Ribbon School, and a three-time California Distinguished High School. Novaira recommended TPHS because of it strong all-around background, both academic and non-academic. Its Odyssey of the Mind team won 2nd place at the 2006 World Finals; its newspaper, the “Falconer,” has placed highly at national conventions; and the theatre department is also widely acknowledged. In the summer of 2006, the TP Players were given a chance to perform at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. A group of Torrey Pines film students also won two 1st place awards and one Audience Choice Award at the Best Fest America Student Film Festival in the summer of 2006. On the athletic plane, the school boasts strong football, baseball, tennis, golf lacrosse, cross country, and basketball teams. Torrey Pines presents its students with rigorous courses while providing them with numerous events related to their academics.
Some notable alumni of TPHS include Tony Hawk, pro skater (1986); Scot Polland, NBA Player (1993); John Allred, NFL Player for Chicago Bears (1993); Shaun White, pro snowboarder and gold-medalist in Winter Olympics (2004) and many more.
Congratulations to Torrey Pines High School, which will receive a $500.00 award from the NSHSS Foundation.