Dear Wickies and AIS Community,
I was lucky enough to join The Wick in my freshman year after being invited to join by a former Editor-in-Chief, Kimberly Tyson. Through my four years on The Wick staff, I have watched various leadership styles, each inspiring in their own ways, but passionate all the same. I want to first thank Kimberly, Phoebe, Chloe, and Sophie for caring so much about The Wick because I could not have accomplished anything this year without your groundwork.
One of my favorite parts of The Wick is the community, something that I have cherished each year I have been a part of it. Watching every member write articles, create social media posts, and visuals on things they are passionate about is why I am so passionate about leading The Wick. We all take for granted how committed our Wick staff have been this year.
My goal for this year was to make The Wick more communicative. I believe that no organization can be successful without clear communication. We created teams, highlighting the importance of a definitive layout structure, and put out reminders and emails, prioritizing keeping our members constantly involved and informed. In addition, we began moving to writing more opinion articles rather than news ones. I think this gave the members more room to express themselves and their opinions, which is what makes The Wick so great.
Beyond the staff, I could not have done anything this year without constant support from my leadership team. For one, Kiran McCormick, our associate editor, kept The Wick organized by taking notes for every meeting and helping to send out communications. Lizzie Shacklett, our social media head and deputy editor, was extremely dedicated to The Wick despite her thousand other obligations. Her expertise with social media is truly remarkable. Lastly, Chloe Spears’s, our layout head and deputy editor, ability to connect with other people is inspiring, and her commitment to The Wick is unwavering.
In addition, none of this would have been possible without our faculty advisor, Mrs.Verdeur. Having served as Editor-In-Chief her junior year, she provided much-needed insight to our Wick journey. She edited each article, gave constructive advice, and was always a supportive voice in our corner. She is an inspiration to us all and will be deeply missed next year, although we all know she will continue to do amazing things in her next chapter.
Finally, I want to wish Chloe Spears and Grace Meyerle all the best next year as they work together as Co-Editor-in-Chiefs. I know they will continue to make The Wick the best it can be. Grace Meyerle is a brilliant writer and editor, having served as World News Editor this past year. They both have a clear vision for the future, and I cannot wait to see all they accomplish next year!
I will miss The Wick a lot next year, but I have taken many lessons from my time serving on the staff. However, I do not doubt that The Wick will continue to grow as a result of our new leaders, but also because of its dedicated, accomplished staff. I cannot wait to see what you all accomplish next year!
Love,
Rachel Avery
