Drama galore, good lookin’ staff members, a newsroom with an ocean view-why The Channels hasn’t hit reality T.V. yet, I’ll never know.

And as editor in chief this past semester, I’ve had the best desk in the room to watch it all go down.

For our devoted readers every Wednesday morning, I wish you could’ve experienced what goes on behind the scenes.

Our students are far better people than they are journalists, and that’s saying something.

I consider myself blessed to have worked with them so closely this year.

And as much as I thought I knew many of them in the beginning, I learned even more just through the nature of the job.

When I first stepped up to the role as EIC, I wasn’t sure what kind of leader I wanted to be. Motherly? A dictator? A joke?

Early on, my staff made it easy for me-be yourself.

My job wasn’t made any easier with Harrower’s templates or the lab’s continuous flow of coffee. It was the talent that The Channels consists of that made my responsibility, overall, as basic as ABC done in AP Style.

Thank you to my adviser, Patricia. You ingrained in us the importance of ethics, sound journalism, and why we’re better than the News-Press. You remained dedicated to us, even when you had 14 hours of work on your desk or had to take Luke to the pool that day.

Thank you to Zach, our everything. You always pushed me farther into the creative realm, whether it was taking leaps or baby steps. You did more than assist production, you big-brothered the newsroom. With you shooting from cubicle to cubicle on your office chair, no one ever felt overwhelmed.

James, the Photo God – late nights of front pages, early mornings of budgets, and long days of Monday/Friday production were hours well spent, because they were with you. If you need help writing cutlines when you’re shooting for National Geographic, hit me up on Groupwise.

Oscar, the Opinionated Bear – with your first amendment knowledge and dedication to the spirit of the press, our paper was never published without heart. A rare gift for story telling enabled you to rally the troops when others before you failed.

Stephen, the Multimedia Master – you dove into deep waters and started swimming fast when the staff needed you most. With meticulous ed-cartoons and first-place audio editing, you have proved to be an asset. And to me, a best friend for life.

Amanda, the “Fun” One – we’ve been journalism partners since we met in 101, or as we can now say, the beginning of our careers. Your smile and pallor were constant shining lights in even the lab’s dreariest days.

Jon, the Emerald – chasing news was a task this semester, but you proved to be a warrior. Your quippy attitude at work made you a one-of-a-kind colleague.

Zac, a.k.a. “Ponch” from Chips – you put together some of my favorite pages, and you said it best: “I love the smell of production in the morning.”

Trav, the Sports-Savv – I never had a liking for sports stories, until I read yours. I’ll be a fan no matter what paper you’re writing for.

It takes more people than I can list in a column to push out such an incredible product on a regular basis.

So, to the unnamed, you are forever a part of our Pacemakers, a part of our Best in Shows, and a part of the pride we accumulate as a serious newspaper.

It’s been an honor to be part of The Channels, unscripted. Cheers.