The Palladium, TROY’s yearbook, recently placed in a national yearbook competition for the 2015-2016 publication.

The College Media Association’s Pinnacle Awards are open for college publications whose advisers are members of the College Media Association.

The Palladium brought home an honorable mention for Best Yearbook Division Page/Spread.

According to Steve Stewart, adviser for the Palladium, this is the first year the yearbook staff has submitted work for a competition since he became the adviser.

“We expect to continue entering the contest,” Stewart said. “It provides some standards to go by, to put yourself up against; it makes the environment competitive; and it provides recognition if you do something good.”

Stewart said the staff gains more than only recognition for the award.

“It shows that we are nationally competitive and that we are following the practices and principles that are standard among college yearbooks,” Stewart said. “It encourages the Palladium staff to high standards.”

Davis Gamble, the 2015-2016 Palladium editor-in-chief, said he and Candice Butts, the 2015-2016 design editor and 2016-2017 Palladium editor-in-chief, designed the page divider that placed in the competition.

“I did the photography and the design, and Candice came up with the concept,” Gamble said. “I was so, so, so proud when I found out that we had placed.

“It’s not easy to win an award in yearbook, especially at a national level. It is definitely something to be proud of.”

Gamble said his time at the Palladium prepared him for his career following graduation. He was hired to Waldsworth Yearbooks after graduating and said he has had the opportunity to work with middle and high school students through his job.

“I get to teach them quality journalism practices,” Gamble said. “It is experience that steps outside of just yearbook. It’s not just photography and AP style—it’s social media, public relations and so many other things.”