It was a pleasure to print.

This semester, The Daily Evergreen faced more trials than its usual share, and showed the students who produce it each night they are more powerful and resourceful than they could have imagined.

Working for the Evergreen requires its staff to keep up with the goings-on of the university and community, be literate in its budgetary issues, scrap together solutions when resources are scarce, and respond to breaking news or sudden challenges all while turning out a nationally acclaimed product every day.

The semester’s production comes to a close tonight, and I leave my place as editor-in-chief assured that the next generation of journalists and student leaders is looking brighter than ever.

Jennifer Ladwig is taking over as editor-in-chief of the Summer Evergreen and The Daily Evergreen in fall. I am excited to see where her creative ideas will take this paper. Rebecca White will be her managing editor, which comprises the first girl-power duo at the helm of this paper in recent memory.

These two smart, capable women have at their disposal an eager staff that has set the bar high for itself. In April, several students won and placed in various categories for the Society of Professional Journalists’ regional Mark of Excellence awards.

In addition to awards that went to Student Media graduates, such as best general news reporting and finalists for best photo illustration and best general column writing, Sophia Stephens, who graduates Saturday, won best general column writing for her gender and race issue columns.

Outgoing sports editor Kelsey Jones’ sports features made her a finalist for best feature writing at a large university. Graduating former editor-in-chief and outgoing Web & Mobile manager Michelle Fredrickson’s Sports for Dummies columns made her a finalist for best sports column writing, and freshman news reporter Zachary Anders was a finalist for best general news reporting.

While the work we do is rewarding enough, the accolades serve as a reminder to us and to our readers that the nation reads, and more often than not commends, The Daily Evergreen, too. Often the most wonderful products of The Daily Evergreen come back to us in the form of alumni mentors and advisers.

“It does not get any better than this. And it also doesn’t get any worse.” On my first night, a much beloved mentor reached out to me with words that sent a bittersweet pang through my chest whenever I was especially proud of my editors or particularly heartbroken after a loss. “This is about to be the best time of your life, and simultaneously the hardest,” she wrote. “And the defining experience of your college career, and the laughs and memories by which all future job and relationships are measured against.”

Her sentiments were met with steel from our current content adviser. “Give ‘em hell,” he’ll call after us as we run down the hall to pursue a new lead. He’s known to compare taking on riskier projects to keeping knives sharp and powder dry. I hope he knows how much we took to heart his fierce passion for journalism that matters.

This semester paper defended its right to freedom of the press and asked difficult questions about a secret presidential search. With a dedicated staff of writers and photographers and fiercely loyal and talented editorial team, it was a pleasure to burn and a privilege to fight.

The Daily Evergreen changed my whole life. My heart is breaking, but only because it’s so full.

I am locking up the newsroom tonight as confident as ever that the state of The Daily Evergreen is strong.