It has been a long, strange journey. For two and a half years, I could always rely on The Heights to be the dependable part of my week. Every Wednesday and Sunday night in McElroy 113. I can definitely say that some of my best memories from Boston College are from the times spent in The Heights office or at other Heights events, like the yearly trip to New Hampshire and the Chritmas Dinners. It's hard to put into words how valuable and special an experinece this has been for me, and how it has been such a significant part of my time on the heights.
I started working on the Heights right away when I got to Boston College as a photo staffer in the fall of 2004. Photo Editors Christy Berkery and Todd Seekircher were the first people I met on the Heights and were very welcoming and gave me the chance to jump right into sports photography. I continued working as a staffer for the first year, and then joined the board officially in September of 2005. Former Editor-in-Chief Ryan Heffernan and Photo Editor Marc Deley asked me to join in the wake of a resignation, and at that point I was too naive to know what kind of committment the Heights would entail and how it would come to take over my life. I am thrilled, though, that I took that opportunity and have never regretted for a minute having become a member of this organization and this family. I have met some of my closest friends at BC through the Heights, and I have had some incredible experiences, especially traveling with the Boston College sports teams. I have been fortunate enough to have covered five away football games, two Frozen Four hockey championships, Three Hockey East Tournaments and Beanpot Tournaments, the ACC Basketball Tournament, and many other events. As a freshman, I never would have thought that the Heights would come to define my college experience, but looking back on two and a half years, it is the people that have made this such a special experience, and one that I will never forget.
I had to fight my parents at points to stay on the board, because they thought it was taking over my life, which it was, but I am so glad that I did, and thank you to my parents who supported me in whatever decision I made in regards to the newspaper. Thank you to all of those who supported me during my time here and time of the board, and to all of those who have read my writing and helped me to get better. It is hard to be finished with something that has been so important in my life and during my college years, but it signals the beginning of a new chapter, and I feel that my experience with The Heights has prepared me for what lies ahead. I will miss those long nights in the office, when we're not sure what time we will finish, the Saturday night parties before production day, the Chritsmas dinners and cry night, and the people who make this paper what it is. Thank you to everyone that I have worked with over the past three years.
Jeff - You are a great leader, and it has been a pleasure to work with you for the past year. You are truly dedicated to the sports journalism field and I'm confident that somewhere down the road we will reading about your work. You have become a great friend over the past two years, and I hope that we are able to stay in touch after graduation. It has been fun to recount different times from Caribou, and the ACC tournament trip last March was a great time.
Jess - I know we've given each other a hard time here and there, and we still don't agree on some things (J.D. Drew comes to mind), but it has been great working with you. Your passion for sports, energy and enthusiasm are unparalleled, and you will do a great job leading the sports section for the next year. Take what you have learned from Jeff and me, and run with it, it's yours now and I know you will do great things. Have a great time leading the sports section next year. I can't wait to look at it next semester and see how you guys have made it better.
Ira and Dave A. - You have arguably the best job on the paper with the travel and events that you get to cover. It is so much fun and take advantage of every opportunity that you get and enjoy working with it everyday. I look forward to reading the sports section next year and see the great work that you three are able to produce.
Dan Schwartz - I'm glad that you got to be a part of the Heights, you proved that persistence pays off. You were a fun person to have in the office and thank you for allowing me to write for the sports section and give me some guidance in making my switch from Photo.
Swets - You've become one of my best friends at BC, and you helped the paper and stepped up when asked. Your contributions were immense and people will always remember that. We'll always have those times at the Heights to talk about that nobody else will understand.
Kevin Armstrong - You set the bar high for the sports section and have had a significant influence on all of us who have worked with you. You are a tremendous writer and an even better person. You are the model for all of us who want to succeed in the field of sports journalism.
Ryan Heffernan - Thank you for giving me an unbelievable opportunity to be a part of this newspaper. Had you not asked me to join the board, I'm not sure if I ever would have run and become an editor. The Frozen Four was a great experience, and I had a great time covering that event with you. You gave your all for this paper, and you set the expectations high for all of us.
Lauren - I'm am so glad I have I gotten to know you over the past two and a half years. It's hard to believe that there are only three of us who made it this far. You have an amazing personality and are always enthusiatic and energetic in the office. You have a way of being able to make people smile and that is a special quality. I am confident that you will be succesful in whatever career you choose to pursue and I look forward to staying in touch with you.
Mariel - It has been great getting to know you, and without The Heights, I doubt we would have ever crossed paths. You are such a fun person to hang out with, and I hope that we continue to hang out next semester. I am in great company with you and Lauren as one of the only three time board members. It is a special group, and I'm glad to be a part of it. It has been fun to reminisce with you and Lauren about the past three years and the craizness that we have found a way to survive.
Q - You made a self-less move from the biz office to graphics to benefit the paper, and your contributions have been great. Your humor is a great asset and you always make it an enjoyable place to work. Thank you for stepping up and into a new role that demanded more time and you certainly rose to the occasion. It is great to see that you are coming back next year, and you will definitely leave big shoes to fill when you complete your next term.
Paschall - Thank you for stepping up and becoming the layout editor. Without you who knows where this paper would have been. You made a self-less move that was in the best interest of the entire board, and we are all truly grateful for the work that you did.
MKP - You are a great business man and a very smart kid. You will do a great job as the top guy on the business side. You will do great things when your time on the heights is finished and you enter the business world. If our paths cross when we are in the professional world, I would be proud to work with you. You carry yourself with the utmost dignity and professionalism and that will take you far in life.
Jackie, Tula, Courtney - You girls did a terrific job in copy. You always brought smiles into the office and were excited about production night. You all put in countless hours, many more than most of us, and do not properly get the recognition that you deserve. You have all been fun and lively in the office and it has been a pleasure to have worked with you for the past year. Jackie, I hope you have a great experience in South Africa, I know that that is something you are passionate about and I'm glad you have a chance to go abroad. Tula and Courtney, good luck next year as you both move into roles with more responsibility.
OB and Keith - You guys do a great job with the marketplace section, and I'm glad that you will both be back next year. You have both contributed to this paper in so many ways and have moved up the ranks each year. Good luck next year, and keep up the great work in the marketplace section.
Phil and Erika - You two have been great assets to the board and have made significant contributions during your tenures on the board. You have both brought so much to this paper, and it is sad to see you both leave.
Fouhy - You have grown tremendously as a person and a leader over the past two years, and it has been great to watch you take the paper to another level. You have made great strides from back in the day when you, me and Deley ran the photo corner. I hope that we can stay in touch over the next few years, and I would not be surprised at all if we crossed paths in the business world.
Pat Irish - You did a great job as the leader of the newsroom this past year, and I know how hard it was for you to not win the EIC election, but I was thrilled, as others were, that you decided to come back as the Outreach Coordinator. That truly shows how selfless you are and how you are willing to do whatever is best for the paper. You are an extremely smart and driven kid, and you bring an interesting viewpoint to the office and constantly challenge people to reach greatness.
Pilar - You are fully prepared for the challenge that you are about to take on. You have a great group of people working with you, and you will be a great leader for this board. I am excited to see you lead this paper and to see the great work that you will all produce next semester. You are definitely the right person for the job, and Fouhy has left the paper in a position for you to make it your own.
Grant - You will do great as the Managing Editor, you're a great kid and you will command the respect of all the editors in the newsroom. You have big shoes to fill, Irish did a great job, but I am fully confident that you and Pilar will be successful. You two have developed a great working relationship, and that will prove invaluable as you both move up the chain of command.
Chris Maroshegyi - You are one of the most intelligent and articulate kids that I have met at BC. You did a great job when you joined the board as Editorial Assistant, and I was very happy when you decided to remain on the board in the News section for this past year. I wish you all the best in Cairo and in what ever you pursue in your professional life after BC.
Deley - This isn't the way either of us envisioned this journey coming to an end. It still hurts that you and I couldn't finish up and have that last Christmas dinner. You inspired me and pushed me to try to be a great photographer and an even better person. You taught me most of what I know about photography and you are a great friend. I have the utmost respect for your work and I know you will do great things in your life.
Ian - You got where you wanted to be. Thank you for trusting Marc and I when we suggested that you start in systems; you brought your talents to both sides of the office, and we knew that you would get your shot to run the photo desk. Your patience paid off and you have done a great job this semester, especially when you were the lone man in the photo section. Keep on working in photo, you are very talented and could definitely make a career of it. I know you just applied for the AP Internship, which would be a great opportunity for you, and I wish you the best of luck with that and with another year on the board.
Dave G. - You are a very talented photographer and will be a great asset to this paper. You and Ian will be a great team, and have a blast covering all kinds of BC events. Thank you for stepping up this fall and filling a major void on the board, you did an excellent job. It was fun to travel to Clemson with you, and it makes me feel even more confident in your abilities as both a photographer and an editor.
Kim - It has been so much fun to get to know you and hang out with you over the past year, and especially this semester. You've got a great sense of humor and always find a way to make people laugh. I'm glad that you got a chance to be part of the board for a year, and it was great having you be part of the family.
Neil - You brought a very interesting and clever sense of humor to the office, and it was fun joking around and listening to your comedy. I'm glad you got a chance to be on the board and become a member of the Heights family.
Struzz - You did a great job this past year in the business office, and you are one of the funniest kids on the board. I'm sorry that things didn't work for you with photo, but I hope that you do stay involved with the paper either in photo or the business office. You are a very smart and savvy business man, and you will do great things someday.
Alexi - You did a great job as EA, and will do an even better job as the News Editor. You have made great strides over the past year as a writer and are ready for the challenge that News will present. Good Luck next year.
Mooney - You are the perfect person for Opinions. You are an incredibly intelligent and articulate kid, and you will do great things with the Opinions page and the new Editorial Board. I look forward to reading your page next semester and seeing the great ideas that you and your team are able to come up with; I'm sure they will be visionary and will push for change.
Stuart, Alex, Joe - you guys made a great team in Arts. You guys always brought smiles and laughs to the office, and helped keep the office light-hearted and fun, even late at night. Alex and Stuart, it's sad that you two will not be coming back, but I'm glad you are taking the time to pursue your passions and other interests. Joe, you will do a great job with Arts, good luck.
Diana - Congratulations on becoming a member of the board. I am excited for the opportunity that you have to contribute to the paper and to move up the ranks over the next few years. It has been a pleasure to get to know you over the past few months, and I wish you all the best as you begin your journey with the Heights. It can be a truly rewarding experience and I urge you to make the most of it.
John, Mike, Zach, Kyle and Dan - My five roommates, you guys have helped me stay grounded and listened to my complaining. Thank you for all the help and support you have given me and for reading almost everything I have written. Thank you for giving me a chance two years ago, and for being there for me ever since. You guys are the best and I definitely wouldn't have made it this far without you.
Mom and Dad - Thank you for all that you have given me and all the support, advice, and encouragement you have given me over the past four years at BC. Dad, you were right, working on the newspaper can be an incredibly rewarding opporunity and a great way to become part of a smaller community in college. As you have, I feel like I have made some of my closest friends over the past few years during ym time at the Heights.
Gene DeFilippo, Chris Cameron, Dick Kelley, Tim Clark and the entire BC Athletics Department - It has been a pleasure to work with all of you for the past two and a half years. I have learned so much from all of you and had a great time covering BC Sports.
2008 Woodie Awards
