As our term as Editors-in-Chief comes to a close, we are reminded of the long-spent Tuesday nights in Corr Hall’s Basement. Entering the office as bright-eyed freshmen for our section meetings, neither of us quite realized how impactful this place would be for us– how much it would become a home. When our predecessors Colin Beazley and Vivi Melkonian told us to enjoy every moment of it, they really meant it.
It is difficult to encapsulate what exactly it means to be a part of a Villanovan production night. In the confines of these pale blue walls, we’ve been brought together through our love of journalism, and left with a love for so much more than that.
Looking back on those sacred nights, we are now tasked with summing up just how much this entire experience has meant to us. Producing a newspaper is a labor of love, but it never feels like gruesome work because of our editors: the most creative, capable and lovable bunch you will ever encounter.
It is hard to leave behind something we love so much, but we would not want to come out of this with anyone other than our three incredible seniors: Owen, Graydon, and Hayden.
Owen, our Sports Editor, has the ability to spark a room roaring with laughter with a witty one-liner. Our resident Villanova men’s soccer expert, he also happens to be an Adobe InDesign wizard with an incredible taste in music.
When our Photography Editor Graydon is here, you know it’s going to be a good time.
Graydon brings an insane level of energy and passion to everything she does, and has the ability to make anyone feel instantly comfortable in her presence.
Our Digital Editor Hayden’s creativity knows no bounds. She brings our paper to life on the screen, and she also crochets, studies engineering and has even produced a cookbook. What can’t she do?
As we seniors end our term, we are lucky to have our legacy carried on by our beloved sophomores and juniors.
Madeline, our Copy Desk Editor, is the backbone of this paper. Without her, the paper would be at risk of grammatical errors, punctuation issues and worst of all: Oxford commas. If this article is riddled with grammar mistakes, it’s because we didn’t let Madeline read it ahead of time. Beyond her role as editor, Madeline never fails to make us laugh.
Natalie, the TikTok queen of The Villanovan, never gets quite enough credit for how hilarious she is. Adventurous and spunky, we love hearing all about her incredible journeys– from working at Disney World to filming a documentary in the Philippines and more.
Co-News Editor Finn always brings the energy. His enthusiasm for the paper is unparalleled. He is the ultimate hype man of The Villanovan.
Opinion duo Kailey and Avery are the greatest. Kailey leads with a kind heart and is the sweetest person you will ever meet. Avery’s intuition never steers her wrong. She is outgoing, smart as a whip and capable of accomplishing anything she sets her mind on.
Culture Editor Maggie’s artistic vision is the coolest. Maggie can assemble an aesthetic photo out of pretty much anything and has an incredible eye for the finer things in life. Her counterpart Sophie, or as we like to call her, our very own Rory Gilmore, is essential for both the culture and the quality of the paper. On our busiest nights, her comforting personality and patience grounds us.
Katie is a true team player. Whether it be producing the basketball magazine or teaching new writers the ins and outs of ‘Nova sports, we know we can count on her. Our favorite fake Bostonian, Katie’s confidence is inspiring and we look forward to seeing all she will accomplish.
Peter came to the paper and gave us something new and exciting: our very own crossword section. He is truly one of a kind, and he made a spirited addition to our staff. Plus, he makes a mean apple cider.
We sincerely hope our newsletter editor and satirist Sof takes our advice, and graces Saturday Night Live with her presence. Her wit leaves us crying with laughter every time we read her articles.
This year, two of our most experienced editors will be stepping into new roles.
Arden, who will be returning from her semester in Copenhagen as a Senior Editor, is an expert of all things Villanovan. When big news breaks, Arden is there. Her storytelling ability is unmatched and she has a contagious energy and that is an asset to everything she is involved in.
Lauren will be taking on the role of Associate Editor-in-Chief. Lauren is hardworking, passionate and always eager to lend a helping hand wherever it’s needed. One of the best things about Lauren is that she makes everybody feel welcome. We have no doubt she will create a supportive and positive environment for the new team of editors.
Now, it is time to pass (have it pried from our cold, dead hands) the torch to two new Editors-in-Chief. Though we are sad to reach the end of our term, we look forward to living vicariously through our successors, Nicole and Brooke.
Brooke has played a vital role in the paper since she joined her freshman year. As a staff writer, Sports Editor and later, Associate Editor-in-Chief, Brooke has seen this paper from just about every angle. Her experience, along with her adaptability, confidence and vibrant personality make her exceptionally suited for this role.
Nicole is a natural leader and one of the hardest workers we know. This past year, Nicole handled everything we threw at her (which was a lot) with elegance and grace. Her positivity, attention to detail and reliability make her a perfect leader for this team. We look forward to seeing all that this duo accomplishes together and we could not be prouder of them both.
Lastly, we would not be where we are now without the unwavering support from our advisors: Mr. Bradley and Cat Coyle. Their dedication to the paper and belief in our potential have been a constant source of strength. They have inspired us to be the best we can possibly be.
It’s hard to say goodbye to everything these past two years have given us. But aren’t we so lucky to have experienced something that makes saying goodbye so hard?
For the last time: Emma and Hannah, signing off.
P.S.: Rush The Villanovan.
