After two and a half years, my time at PennWest California is coming to an end. I can honestly say that some of the best memories, most valuable learning experiences, and lifelong friendships have come from my time at Cal. The friends I’ve made and much of the woman I’ve become are a direct result of this school. I’m happy to say that one of the highlights of my journey here has been my work with the CalTimes.

My journey with CalTimes began in my first semester at Cal when I took Dr. Carlisle’s news writing class. I remember submitting my first story and receiving a comment from Dr. Carlisle, which said that it was the only “A” in the class and that he had submitted it to CalTimes for me. Being a journalism minor, I was very encouraged by this. I continued to write throughout the semester, covering various campus news events. The following year, I was eager to get more involved with CalTimes. I was given the role of Assistant Editor by my former Editor-in-Chief, Sarah Seader. I really enjoyed representing CalTimes at club and organization fairs and tabling events, and I felt a deep sense of pride in being part of such a vibrant team.

This semester, I had the opportunity to take on the position of Editor-in-Chief, a role I am so thankful to have had.  I am so proud of the work our team has done this semester! The team we had this semester was truly special, with officers and staff writers who displayed unwavering dedication and pride in our newspaper. I feel incredibly fortunate to work alongside such a talented group.

This semester, we had our awesome News Editor, Jessica Wheeler, step up and take the position of Vice President.  Jessica wrote an article almost every week and always offered to help whenever something needed to be done. We also saw our Treasurer and Social Media Chair, Ashlyn Hornick, take the role of Digital Editor. Ashlyn never fails to amaze us with the incredible graphics she creates for our articles, and this semester she also began writing articles. I really encourage her to continue writing! She also designed our amazing CalTimes banner this semester, which our team will use at club and org fairs and events moving forward!

Braxton Turner also stepped up in the role of Sports Editor this semester. Braxton goes above and beyond for CalTimes, writing an article almost every week and working hard to cover games and ensure they are published promptly.  As a fellow graduate, I wish Braxton the best of luck in his future plans!

I cannot wait to see what the rest of our staff writers accomplish moving forward.  This semester, we welcomed many newcomers who truly impressed me with their enthusiasm and commitment. Alivia Wheeler showed incredible initiative, stepping into the role of Secretary right from the start and writing some great stories throughout the semester. Another newcomer was Evy Esek, who covered news events on campus and also wrote awesome album reviews, which I always looked forward to reading.  Evy also shared her expertise in SNO from her high school newspaper experience and was always eager to lend a hand with any task.  Sydney DeCurtis, another new staff writer, came to us with a strong desire to get involved and quickly became a dedicated contributor, writing weekly articles.

Nikkisha Thompson also went above and beyond for our team, covering news events for the campus and offering to take on any story possible! We were so proud to sponsor Nikki for Homecoming this semester, as she does so much for CalTimes and continues to impress us with her hard work!  

Our other staff writers, Owen Haluska, Luke Clister, Micheal Visnkick, and many other students who contributed pieces this semester deserve recognition for everything that they do for CalTimes. 

Our incredible team of photographers—Nate Kurtz, JJ Robinson, and Noah Turner—have been essential to making CalTimes what it is. They have truly brought our stories to life. We will miss Noah as she graduates, and I want to wish her the best of luck in all her future plans.

I would also like to give a special thank you to our advisor, Dr. Goh, for her guidance and constant encouragement.  She is always available to answer questions and provide help whenever needed.  I wouldn’t have succeeded in this position if it wasn’t for Dr. Goh!

We are all proud to be journalists, graphic designers, and photographers, committed to preserving the legacy of PennWest Cal, ensuring our students stay informed, and amplifying their voices with our platform.

Finally, a thank you to all of our readers for supporting our beloved student newspaper, which will always hold a special place in my heart.  I cannot wait to continue to read the weekly issues as I begin my journey as an alumna and enter the journalism field.  Thank you, CalTimes.

Signing off as Editor-in-Chief for the last time,

Anna Hohowski, Editor-in-Chief