EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a staff editorial that was published on page 10 of the April 23, 2008, issue of Hilltop Views. The issue was Michele Kay’s final issue as faculty adviser to Hilltop Views.

None of our readers have ever seen a byline for Michele Kay, our faculty advisor, in the Hilltop Views. Nevertheless, she has been our leader behind the scenes and a brilliant teacher every step of the way.

We asked Michele if she wanted to write a farewell message along with other members of our Hilltop Views family who are moving on. She didn’t feel it would be appropriate, but we believe the guidance she has offered us during her time here warranted some recognition beyond heart-felt good byes and best wishes in the office.

For us staffers, a day never passed by in the newsroom without Michele gracing our presence. On hectic production days, we could often find Michele sprinting between each room yelling orders, answering multiple phones and keeping us on task. During calmer days, she was often found sitting on a desktop, carefully looking over stories while chewing the eraser off of a pencil.

One of the advantages of a small campus like St. Edward’s University is the likelihood of getting to know one of your professors as a mentor and a friend. For staffers at the Hilltop Views, the bonus perks of working closely with Michele were the treasured evenings spent devouring her home-cooked food in her kitchen or trying to spot the Main Building through her husband’s telescope. More than these memories, though, we will always remember how Michele helped mold all of us into responsible, credible and skilled journalists.

We’ll also dearly miss Chris Williams as our associate faculty advisor. Chris always knew the right journalistic style to use and kept us moving.  He is a man of action in the office and out, as seen during our conference in College Station when he had the Olive Garden management bring us starving editors an order of breadsticks while we all waited outside in the cold for our table.

Though our faculty advisors names appear only in the staff box of this newspaper, their real-world experience, passion for teaching and guiding hands are a huge part of the reason the paper makes it into your hands every week. Michele, though small, has left some huge shoes to be filled and we will miss her (and her food) dearly.