Dear Readers,

My gratitude for The Cardinal Chronicle cannot be expressed in a single letter, but it is certainly reflected in the lively and passionate community of student journalists that have made the club such a vibrant presence at Middleton High School. 

The Cardinal Chronicle has been integral to my growth not only as a journalist, but as a human being. Surrounded by courageous, dedicated reporters and photographers inspired me to be the best Editor-in-Chief that I could be — for the club and everyone in it. Each smiling face at our monthly meetings and the niche jokes exchanged between the editorial board fueled my passion for writing, informing and being a leader. Without the commitment of the whole team, none of what we accomplished this year would have been possible. 

I am tremendously proud of the 2023-24 reporters, photographers and editors for accomplishing so much this year. We have had our biggest staff to date, once again reached triple digits in published work and have had an astounding number of page views. Beyond our numerical success, we have also grown our SciTech section exponentially and our beloved Art Hub — which is now published quarterly — has seen amazing artwork, photography and music this year. 

Everything that I have learned about journalism I have learned from all my fellow Cardinal Chronicle members, both past and present. I would like to thank Lauren Lamson, last year’s Editor-in-Chief, for setting us up for success this year and breathing new fervor into our newspaper. Her commitment to fostering community within the club made members excited to show up and contribute to our publication. Thank you to this year’s amazing editorial board, who kept up with important events and taught new writers essential journalism skills. 

Thank you so much to MHS teachers and administrators; your support for The Cardinal Chronicle created strong bonds between our club and the school, and helped us to cover important events. Thank you to the Middleton Optimist Club for so generously funding an end-of-year physical issue, which was proudly shared among staff members and handed out to families during graduation. Thank you to the editorial board of the ‘24-’25 school year for being the most dedicated, intelligent and hardworking people I know. 

Thank you to Keira Marckel, my Managing Editor, for expanding our social media and making sure everything ran smoothly. Her meticulous eye made our publication seamless and full of flair. A true example of leadership, she brought our staff closer together and made sure everyone’s voices were heard.  

And last, but certainly not least, thank you to Mrs. Julian for making this all possible. Without her unwavering support both in and out of the meetings, The Cardinal Chronicle would not where it is today. 

I am certain that The Cardinal Chronicle will continue to be an integral part of MHS and the Middleton community, and that it will fly to even higher heights. Readers, thank you for supporting student journalists; I hope you continue to love The Cardinal Chronicle as much as we do.