Dear Hilltop Views’ readers and Hilltopper community,

I would be lying if I said it didn’t feel wrong to write this letter. For the past four years, Holy Cross 218 and JBWS 180 have been my home, the places where I could escape all the noise from the outside world. Through the many unavoidable and inevitable changes that come with being in college, Hilltop Views felt like the only constant I could count on; a steady, reliable resource through which I found my voice and discovered who I want to be. 

For those of you who know me on a personal level, you know that Hilltop Views has been my everything. From reporter my freshman year to editor-in-chief during my last, I have seen it all and done it all, all while giving my all to this newspaper and our community. Our newsroom has seen me cry out of joy, sadness and frustration, has seen me laugh with my best friends, study until the late hours of the night and most importantly, it has seen me grow into the person I am today.

I came into my first budget meeting as a scared international student who had recently moved away from her home country. I didn’t know what to expect and what would come of it in the end, but I knew I wanted to try it out at least once. I interviewed my first sources, I wrote my first story and accepted the edits that Claire Lawrence and Nina Martinez left on my Google Docs file while thinking that the story wasn’t good and that I wasn’t going to come back the following week. But the support system I found within this organization proved me wrong. It showed me that I did belong among an incredibly talented and dedicated group of people and that I did have what it takes to continue to persevere in this field. 

It was because of the support that I encountered here back in 2022 that I chose to change my major from international affairs to writing and rhetoric and that I got offered a staff writer position going into my sophomore year. I remember crying when I first saw that email, feeling like I had finally found my “thing.” Three years later, I can confidently say that I did, and that I have had the privilege of seeing many around me find their “thing” at HV as well. Better than seeing what I’ve done during my time here was being able to mentor others and see them grow to love the place I have always loved so much. It pains me immensely to have to leave Hilltop Views — and St. Edward’s as a whole — but it brings me so much comfort, fulfillment and joy knowing that I am leaving this place in the hands of a great group of people who I’m sure will continue to lead our newsroom with so much grace and tenacity.

My time at HV has been my favorite thing about attending St. Edward’s, and I hope that the incoming students will love our student-led, award-winning newspaper as much as I do. 

I want to start the long gratitude parade by thanking the staff that welcomed me back in 2022. Sienna Wight and Chloe Almendarez, who watched me sign my name in the interest sheet at the Involvement Fair and who encouraged me to continue to come to budget meetings. Nina and Claire, who helped me navigate AP Style and edit many first drafts during my freshman year. Melissa Gunning, who trusted me with her corner desk and with the sports editor position, one that I hold very dearly to this day and one that changed my life completely. Kennady Basdekis-Morin, for being patient with my camera skills and for believing in my growth as I juggled both writing and photography for the first time in my life. I owe everything that I know today to all of you.

To my mentors, Dr. Curt Yowell and Jena Heath, thank you for continuously pushing me to be better each and every day. You both have encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone, try new things, believe in myself and have inspired me to become the leader I am today. Professor Heath, thank you for showing me the importance of journalism during our J1 class back in 2023 and for always reminding me of the value that we hold as journalism professionals. It is because of you that I have the courage to keep pushing, especially when times are tough. I aspire to be half the professional you are. Dr. Yowell, thank you for believing in me every step of the way, especially when I didn’t believe in myself. Thank you for helping me when InDesign wouldn’t cooperate or when pushing print took longer than usual. Thank you for always supporting my ideas for HV and for helping me make my visions a reality. Thank you for being an incredible mentor not only to me, but for our entire staff. 

To my friends who have accompanied me in this journey, the biggest thank you to all of you. To Gabrielle Caumon, thank you for being my international sister and for being by my side during our Solutions Journalism journey. I am sure you will accomplish incredible things at UT, and I can’t wait to continue to cheer you on. To Max Hoelker, thank you for helping me with my very first articles at the study room on the second floor of Duj and for joining me on the other side afterward. To Daniel Mendoza, thank you for being one of my oldest friends and for stepping out of your comfort zone when bringing your incredible talent to HV. Thank you for teaching me so much and for always being by my side. To Jack Connoly, thank you for teaching me so much about sports and for helping me become a better editor. Excited to join you in Arizona! To Mia Aguirre, Enrique Rivas Carbajal and Matt Owens, thank you for being the best staff writers I could have asked for and for becoming such great friends of mine. To Magnolia Westfall, I am forever grateful to J1 for bringing us together. Thank you for being one of the best gifts that St. Edward’s could have given me and for bringing so much joy and light into my life. 

To Jeremiah Dimas and Dani Brannon, thank you for being by my side since we met at orientation, and thank you for taking a chance on me as a friend and a leader. I couldn’t have asked for better editors and friends. To Zemira Recio for going to Chicago with me and for always making production more fun with music and collaboration. To Nicole Williams-Quezada for being the “co to my EIC” and for showing me what a leader should be like. I am incredibly thankful for the semester we spent together and for everything I learned from you. To Michaela Fallon, thank you for understanding me like no other and for being my fellow sports girl until the end of time. To Riley Freddo, thank you for making Hilltop Views better with your creativity and for giving my last year at St. Edward’s a little more color. And to Dalia Zamora, thank you for being my right hand woman and for being the most organized, caring and perfect person to lead HV into its next chapter. I have no doubt in my mind that you will be an amazing EIC. 

And to everyone who I’ve had a chance to connect with and get to know through HV, thank you for taking the time to share your stories with me. Thank you to the entire Athletics Department for letting me tag along for the past four years. To the Holy Cross Institute, the Brothers of Holy Cross, the International Student Services and many more; thank you for answering the million questions I asked you and for continuously showing me, and the rest of our community, what makes St. Edward’s so unique. You all are what makes HV special.

Leaving the hilltop is hard, but leaving HV as an organization is even harder. I will forever cherish everything that I’ve learned here, the people I met, the stories I heard and the print issues we made. Thank you for showing me the path I want to follow in life and for trusting me to be the voice of our community. Transitioning into the next chapter of my life is incredibly difficult, but I’m beyond grateful that I get to look back to something so amazing and life changing. Thank you for everything.

With so much love,

Anna Pratts — your Spring 2026 EIC