Looking back, it’s hard to imagine what my last two years of high school would have looked like without The Smoke Signal. Probably a lot less busy (and a lot less stressful), but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. From covering events to leading meetings to tracking down writers to publishing stories, it’s been difficult to find time to take a step back and see the amazing work we’ve been able to accomplish this year as a staff.

It is my pleasure to announce that The Smoke Signal has earned itself several awards this year, including a First Class rating with two marks of distinction by the National Scholastic Press Association, six SNO (School Newspapers Online) badges, and the SNO 2016 Distinguished Site award.

My fellow staffers and I have had to work incredibly hard, constantly taking risks and pushing ourselves out of our comfort zones, but we can finally take the time now to smile at how much we’ve grown this year. I’ll never forget the friendships I’ve made, the laughs I’ve shared, and all the pizza parties and inside jokes I’ll never forget. I’m so proud of the community we’ve created.

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as the Editor in Chief of The Smoke Signal this year. It was never easy, but this job isn’t supposed to be. The lessons I’ve learned here will always stick with me; running this newspaper was truly a highlight of my senior year.

That being said, it should be made clear that my staff and I were never alone. I would first like to thank Mr. Bill Rawson, who deserves so much more recognition than he would ever allow himself to receive. He spent countless hours attending meetings, helping writers, and teaching our staff the “do’s and don’ts” of journalism. He showed us the ropes, helped us to grow, and encouraged us every step of the way. He truly went above and beyond his duties as our adviser, and I couldn’t be more thankful for that.

I’d also like to thank Mr. Matt Morone, my former English teacher, who gave me the confidence to join the paper in the first place. His constant encouragement and words of advice have helped me tremendously throughout my high school career.

Lastly, I’d like to thank everyone on this year’s editorial board: Brianna Ruback, Kyle Comito, Lauren Cohen, Robyn Roznitsky, Chandni Shah, Madison Gallo, and Kayla Barry. Specifically, I want to thank Comito, who has stepped up as an editor very recently but has proven to be one of the most talented and dedicated members on our staff. His positive attitude and strong work ethic have set himself apart this year, and I’m proud to announce him as next year’s Editor in Chief. With Comito leading the way, I have no doubts that The Smoke Signal will uphold its reputation of excellence and continue to grow as a distinguished student publication.

I couldn’t be more excited to start a new chapter of my life next year at The College of New Jersey, where I’ll be joining last year’s Editor in Chief, Justin Cook. With Rawson and Comito leading the way, I can’t wait to visit pvhsecho.com from my college dorm room and be proud of the work I see. Congratulations, Smoke Signal staffers, and thanks for all the memories.