Eleven years. That’s how long I’ve advised the Blazer.

It seems like just yesterday that I was packing up the old van with all my belongings, which could have fit into a mid-sized sedan, to head to Joliet from Pittsburgh to take on my new job as Blazer adviser and journalism instructor. (It doesn’t really seem like yesterday, but you’re supposed to say that. In fact, yesterday doesn’t seem like yesterday anymore, but that’s another story.)

During these 11 years it has become ever more clear to me that my energy and enthusiasm for my job flows directly from the students I teach and advise. Every year they are unique. Every year they are new (with a few notable exceptions). And every year they threaten to age me by 10 years—but rarely follow through on the threat.

This year the Blazer began the year with one editor and ended the year with another, which presented its own set of challenges.

Mary Moody began the fall as our editor, having served as co-editor last year, but other obligations pulled her away from the Blazer after the holidays. We were aware that that could happen, and we were prepared. In stepped Krystal Moya, who finished the first semester as co-editor with Mary. And step in she did. I will get back to that later.

This year’s staff also did something no previous staff was able to match. It produced 16-page papers throughout the year, a major step for the Blazer. When I started here in 1997, the staff was happy to put out an eight-page paper. It was a quality newspaper then, as it is now—I can say that without being immodest because it’s their paper, not mine—but it was half the size of today’s newspaper.

Part of that growth is due to increased ad sales, but much of it is due to the variety and volume of work done by the staff. It’s not easy to fill 16 pages with news, sports, features and photos, particularly with a small staff, but they were able to do it time and time again. They should be proud of that. I know I’m proud of them.

But now I come to the real purpose of this column, to tell you a little about the staff, particularly those who have been around a while or are leaving this spring.

First, Mike DiNovo and Matt Sheehan. Mike is a great sports photographer—his awards prove that—but an even nicer guy. If you were broken down on the side of the road, Mike would be the first one you would call. (Email me and I will give you his number.)

Matt is the second guy you would call, because by the time he finished telling you about his most recent film screening, Mike would be pulling up with jumper cables in tow. (Just kidding, Matt.) Matt has reviewed films for the Blazer for a "few" years—something he has also done for the Morris Herald—and he has also served as our features editor. He has been a good mentor to other staff members—rumor has it he mentored Larry King, but I can’t confirm that—and has done consistently good work for the Blazer. I’m not sure where Mike and Matt will be next year, but if they are around, we will exploit them.

Next, let’s talk about Alissa Pagels, our photo editor. Alissa is headed to Columbia and I’m sure she’s going to do great things there. She has done an excellent job with photos and has been a steady and integral part of the staff.

My first insight into her character took place when we took our annual fall trip to Eastern Illinois University for a journalism conference. Alissa decided to meet us there, driving alone so she wouldn’t have to miss work. That made me nervous. When we got separated on the way back from Eastern, nervous edged towards panic. But not to worry. Alissa called on her cell to assure me that she was fine. Later, without any prompting, she called again to say she had arrived home safely. My Friday night beer tasted much better after that call.

Another veteran staff member is our sports editor, Jim Sheldon. He has been our sports editor for two years, and will be back in the fall. He has made great strides in the last year, and I expect a lot from him next year. He is also the only person I have ever met who always knows what I’m going to say before I say it. Amazing.

Shawn Faust will be back next year, and he has stepped in this semester and filled an important role—which means he has done what has needed to be done.

Brandon Daun has written for the paper and worked on layout this year, and it was good to finally see him have the time to contribute after a couple years of being too busy to do so. I also want to mention Nick Domberg and Kristen Rohder, both of whom joined the staff this semester. Nick wrote several news articles, and Kristen provided needed help on the editing desk. Kristen will be leaving us, but I understand Nick will be back, which is good news.

A special mention must go to Randal Donley, who served as our advertising manager this year, but who has served as our editor and key writer in the past. I can’t say enough about how she managed to do her job this year while handling a family tragedy with grace and maturity . She’s a special young woman. I must say it was wonderful to hear her laugh again recently, something we had all been missing for far too long.

That brings me back to Krystal Moya, the Blazer managing editor this spring. I first encountered Krystal in the fall of 2006 when she took one of my journalism classes. She was exceptional in the classroom, and I did my best to recruit her for the newspaper, with some success.

This fall, she returned to JJC and announced that she wanted to get more involved with the newspaper. I couldn’t have been happier, because I knew she would do an excellent job. I was not disappointed.

Anyone who has ever worked for a student newspaper, or advised one, knows that the bulk of the work is generally done by a handful of people. This spring, because of circumstances beyond anyone’s control, much of the workload fell to Krystal. She was called upon to work on layout, take photos and write the majority of the major news stories, all while trying to coordinate the other editors and reporters.

Like some editors, she could have been satisfied with producing a mediocre product, but she wasn’t. She doggedly pursued stories, and when others couldn’t cover the stories assigned to them, she stepped in and wrote them, too. She often worked well into the night, to my chagrin, and did it without complaint. Okay, with a little complaint. In short, she was indispensable. She will be missed, and she will be so very difficult to replace.

So, that’s it for 2007-2008. Overall, it’s been a good year. I believe the students covered the campus well, and I’m proud of the work they did. I hope you enjoyed reading the newspaper this year, and I hope you appreciated the effort put in by these student journalists. I know I did, and after 11 years I’m not that easy to please.