Dear Reader,
As another year of The Crusader newspaper comes to a close, there are a few people I would like to thank.

First, thank you to our readers. Whether you picked up an issue in the hallway, clicked on an article online, or stopped one of us in the hallway to talk about a story, your support is what keeps student journalism alive here at Riordan.

Every article, interview, photo, graphic, and production cycle ultimately comes back to one sole purpose: serving our community. So I thank you for allowing us to do that.

Next, I want to thank The Crusader staff.

This year brought extreme transitions, growth, and honestly a lot of figuring things out as we went.

From redesigning our website and navigating the transition into a completely new logo, to simultaneously continuing meaningful coverage, I could not be prouder of what this staff accomplished together.

Our logo has always represented more than just a design or label. It represents prior years of student journalists who built this publication into what it is today.

Change can be extremely difficult, especially when it involves something people care deeply about, but what made this transition so meaningful was that students still remained at the center of it.

Watching our staff adapt while continuing to produce thoughtful coverage reminded me exactly why our newsroom, 207, means so much to so many people including myself.

Somehow despite the rough deadlines, last minute changes, long production hours, and the constant chaos that always comes with journalism, we still found a way to make it all work together.

I also want to say how incredibly grateful I am for Riordan’s journalism program as a whole.

This program gave me opportunities I never imagined I would have in high school. Through this journalism program, I found my voice, confidence in my writing, and a caring community that pushed me to grow both as a student and as a person.

It gave me experiences I will carry with me forever.

From interviewing public officials like the mayor and traveling across the country to national conventions, this program shaped such a huge part of who I became during high school, and I will forever be thankful for that.

Of course, none of this would be possible without our exceptionally hard working journalism adviser, teacher and my personal mentor, Ms. Sutton.

There are not enough words to fully explain everything she does for this publication. Beyond teaching us journalism, she taught us how to lead, collaborate, communicate, and care deeply about all the stories we tell.

People see the final products in the newspaper, magazine, website, and numerous awards but they do not always see the countless hours behind the scenes that make all of it possible.

This year also reminded me why student journalism matters now more than ever.

In a time where misinformation spreads quickly with the rise of AI, student journalism continues to play an important role in keeping communities informed.

To the incoming Editor-in-Chief Rachel Gerke ’27, I know you will continue leading this publication with creativity, passion, and dedication.

You care very deeply about this publication and the people in it, and I cannot wait to see where you take The Crusader next.

To Loghan Hwang ’27 and the future staff of The Shield magazine, I am so excited to watch your publication continue growing and evolving.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to The Crusader this year. Thank you for your hard work, your patience, your dedication, and your belief in the importance of student journalism.

Keep asking questions. Keep telling stories. Keep writing boldly.

Your voice matters more than you know.

With sincere love and gratitude,
Daniella Lainez ’26