Andrew Kerley, Executive Editor
I came to VCU lost, dazed and enthralled — a freshman with no concrete major who questioned: “What the hell am I gonna do for the next four years?”
One week and a signed clipboard later, the answer to that became journalism, as well as my unofficial second major: a Bachelor of science in The Commonwealth Times.
One semester later, that answer became “News Editor for The Commonwealth Times.” One rejected application later, it became “Audience Editor for The Commonwealth Times” — a happy accident through which I forged new, and sometimes bad, ideas as the only freshman on staff.
One year later, the answer became “fired from The Commonwealth Times.”
Yeah, it wasn’t pretty. I failed a bunch of classes too. I made a lot of mistakes. It took a lot of time and some excruciating soul searching to learn from them — but I’d like to say I came around.
One more year later, the answer to my question became “Executive Editor of The Commonwealth Times.”
Being a journalist means being a lifelong learner. You have to become an expert on something different every week. In another sense, you have to keep pushing and persevering for everything you have.
To me, being a journalist means being a lifelong community carer and inquirer: someone with the audacity to ask questions and hold out a microphone to the quietest, most under-represented voices. Nobody falls into this kind of work to make a living — we do it out of passion. I can only hope that this tired editor’s efforts made a smidgen of a difference.
Running this newspaper has been the joy, and stress, of my life — and watching the team we built work so tenaciously and compassionately has made it all worthwhile.
I could seriously write 35 letters of this same length about every single one of them. Instead, I’ll spare you the gushing and doting, and just name the names of this wonderfully talented team. Trust me, they’re all ones you’re gonna wanna remember.
Molly Manning, Sapphira Mohammed, Heciel Nieves Bonilla, Drew Thompson, Alexis Washington, Maeve Bauer, Cora Perkins, Katie Meeker, Maya Sunderraj, Shiny Chandravel, Bilan Osman, Ashley Davis, Kieran Stevens, Zoë Luis, Naveen Griscom, Zach Montgomery, Milena Paul, Marty Alexeenko, Raya Freeborn, Quinn Lysek, Kyler Gilliam, Ethan York, Daijah Hinmon, Jenny Allen, Ben Martindale, Rachel Nicholas, Hayden Braun, Burke Loftus, Landon Walker, Abbos Soliev, Sophie Tran, Abriana Ridgley, Bryer Haywood and Kylie Grunsfeld.
Thank you staff, for never failing to blow my mind every single day.
Thank you to my predecessors Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves, Hollyann Purvis, Katharine DeRosa and Selna Shi for teaching me so much, and for giving me a little bit of the tough love I needed to become the leader I am today.
Thank you Thai Wilson for believing in me when I needed it most, and setting the example for the kind of editor I wanted to be.
Thank you Jessica Clary for being a principled, gentle director who made the VCU Student Media Center an inviting place for all creatives. Thank you Mark Jeffries for all your wisdom and crazy stories — and for encouraging me to keep pushing in spite of everything.
Thank you to the iconic Editor-in-Chief of Ink Magazine Lareina Allred, who shared much of my student media journey with me, and to her talented staff who keep the “represent the unrepresented” ideal alive.
Thank you Alix Bryan, Veronica Garabelli, Dr. Aloni Hill and Ashley Poerstel for teaching me everything I know. Y’all make the Robertson School a special place that nurtures talented journalists.
But more than anyone, thank you Sarah Hagen — the best classmate, Managing Editor, vice president and friend I could’ve ever asked for. This newspaper is dedicated to you. Love ya Sarah.
Long live student media. Print never dies!
Molly Manning, Managing Editor
My first two years at VCU, I was going through the motions — my classes didn’t feel like they were teaching me things that were actually about my field of study, journalism. I didn’t feel like a journalist until I wrote my first article for The CT. As a contributing writer, I realized I could actually start doing the thing I was going to school for.
I jumped at the opportunity to apply for assistant news editor at the beginning of my senior year, after contributing throughout junior year while I balanced everything else life was throwing at me. I was persuaded to take on the role, not of assistant, but as the full-blown news editor.
I will be the first to say it was both the most challenging and most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. In this role I met such a wonderful community of peers, all committed to the same thing I am!
I am still absolutely awed at everything these people around me and I have been able to create together, as students, as journalists and as a team.
The Commonwealth Times has been a home for me and the best first impression of the field I hope to make my livelihood I could have asked for, and I hope to carry with me the drive and passion I have shared with my peers here throughout my career and my life.
Thank you to Alix Bryan for expecting the best from me, thank you Jessica for supporting each of us on our own paths.
Thank you Andrew and Sarah for trusting me to take on a role I wasn’t sure I trusted myself to, and Heciel for learning with me. Thank you to all of the friends I’ve made along the way, I am so lucky to know you all.
Lots of love,
Molly
Sapphira Mohammed, Copy Editor
If you told me five years ago that my favorite part of college would be working for my school’s newspaper, I would genuinely laugh in your face. But here I am, as happy as I can be for having spent my senior year here, and as sad as I can be for having to leave it behind.
My journey is not as traditional or linear as some of my other coworkers. I came to VCU fresh out of high school and cosmetology school, just waiting for the pandemic to be over so I could graduate with a business degree that would help my future salon.
While business school ended in dropping out because of my hatred for PowerPoint, it helped me find mass communications. I fell in love with journalism, as it mixed my love for writing with getting to know what makes people tick.
Then one day in my copy editing class junior year, a late, messy-haired, bright-eyed Andrew Kerley walked in with a job listing for editors at The CT. I had never wanted a job more than this one, being a part of helping others make their stories the best they could be.
Being our Copy Editor has had its ups and downs, but it has taught me so much about not only the field of journalism but who I am as a journalist. The opportunities I’ve gotten mixed with the friends I’ve made are something I could only dream of.
Thank you, everyone, for the late-night 7-Eleven runs and impromptu karaoke sessions. Special shout-outs to Sarah Hagen and Kerley for giving me a chance and to Maeve Bauer and Heciel Nieves Bonilla for letting me write some of my favorite articles while I was here. I really could go on about how much I love everyone here, but I only have 300 words and I don’t want to spoil your goodbye cards.
It’s been real, but as corny as it sounds, this isn’t goodbye, just a see you later.
Heciel Nieves Bonilla, News Editor
A word of advice: it is a fulfilling act to do service that some wouldn’t do for others, and to make a case for a craft through one’s practice of it. It takes a certain folly to build a life acting upon that knowledge; to wish to pull a ladder down from under you that you only just started climbing. A certain folly, and a certain wisdom. A wisdom I found the people I worked with at The Commonwealth Times shared in earnest.
When I first wrote for The CT, I’d lived in Richmond for four weeks. I was introducing myself to the city as much as I was introducing others to its workings. The field of journalism found me first, and found me late, and I felt in danger of succumbing my intentions to its unfamiliar conventions — but what found me next was a supportive and passionate group of changemakers who pushed me and helped me use it to positive ends.
I began Spanish-language translations to reach people others cannot, I featured stories and followed up on news that others would have shied from. I outwrote elders, I made known the presence of the unspoken, and so did they. I could not have done any of that without their guidance.
You can do all the same and more. You can serve the public goods we all deserve.
The role of news editor is a surprising and impactful one, and I leave it to a surprising and impactful young man named Sal Orlando. My only request is that you, the readers, push him and engage him the way you came to do to me. Molly, Sapphira, Andrew, Bilan, Katie, Drew and the rest of us graduating changemakers will be rooting for The CT as we leave what I consider the best job I’ve ever had.
La única manera de vivir es con otros. Con gratitud,
Heciel
Drew Thompson, Sports Editor
I genuinely don’t know where I’d be without The Commonwealth Times. I came to VCU with really no social network and struggled to make friends. It wasn’t until I joined The CT that things changed. I have met some lifelong friends through The CT and more specifically the sports section. As sports editor, I had the privilege to cover the Atlantic 10 tournament, and the first two rounds of March Madness — memories that will stick with me forever.
I want to give a special shoutout to the people who made all of this possible. Thank you Thailon Wilson for being a great mentor for me while I was still a new writer. Because of you, I was able to build confidence and become a better journalist. Shoutout to Alexis Washington for being the best assistant editor I could ask for. Thank you Ethan York, Kyler Gilliam, Marcus Leary, Hayden Braun, Andrew McGhan and Jenny Allen for being such great friends to me while I’ve been here.
Outside of the Sports section, I’m grateful for the team of editors I was privileged to work alongside. I’ve met some amazing people and have made friendships that will last a lifetime. Thank you everyone for all the great memories. And the University of Richmond Sucks; VCU clears. Go Rams.
Alexis Washington, Assistant Sports Editor
I never imagined joining The Commonwealth Times would define my college experience — and now writing my final byline, it is hard to put it into words.
Sports have always been a part of my life, but I never thought it could turn into a passion of mine.
I was inspired by former sports editor Arrick Wilson, when I came across his work on Instagram and thought, “I want to do exactly what he’s doing.” I sent an email at the end of my freshman year to the sports editor Thai Wilson and the rest was history.
I’ve grown so much as a writer, especially building my confidence. My most memorable moment has to be covering the NCAA men’s basketball Tournament. Being in the room with professionals that I look up to was a surreal moment.
Through my time here, I’ve built friendships that go beyond the newspaper. To my sports editor Drew Thompson: thank you for giving me the opportunity to work alongside you. I wouldn’t have it any other way. You made my time here enjoyable and I wish you nothing but the best in your future career.
To the rest of the graduating class: thank you for the memories and I’m proud to have shared this experience with you.
P.S.: Don’t be afraid to send a cold email, you never know where it will take you.
BIG LEX OUT
Cora Perkins, Assistant Spectrum Editor
It is interesting for me to think back on what my senior year of college would have been like if not for The CT. It would have been quieter, with less moments full of eardrum-shattering laughter and conversations on how we should edit a story. It would have been calmer, with more time to relax and sit. It would absolutely have been less fulfilling.
Without the unbridled chaos that comes with writing and editing for a paper, I wouldn’t have written at all. There would have been no byline under my name, no passionate article about arts and culture in the area with my contribution.
Not to mention that without The CT, I wouldn’t have made the friends I have now. Stepping into the SMC for the first time, seeing everyone sitting at the tables talking amongst themselves was nerve-wracking and exciting at the same time. I knew when I sat down myself, that the people around me would change me for the better. Meeting these people, creating these lifelong friends, has lit a spark within me I hadn’t known before.
I’m so grateful to have written and worked for The CT, to have spent long nights editing and re-writing graphs, to have pushed myself to create some of my best work and to have been their “hardcore-espondent.”
Katie Meeker, Opinions & Humor Editor
In my freshman year, a friend dragged me along to my first-ever budget meeting for The CT; news. I left the meeting wrong-footed and unsatisfied, and pretty sure journalism was just not something I had any interest in pursuing.
Two years later, my friend and predecessor Natalie McEwan asked me to write an opinions article. I was hesitant at first, but as the semester went on, I found myself enamored with the process, the people and the results — I had found my niche.
Whether it be political commentary, local criticism or stupidly dark satire pieces, I’ve had great fun writing opinions for The CT. More fulfilling, though, has been the opportunity to edit for and publish the opinions of so many others. If there is one thing I’m proud of, it would be the large swath of people who have found their voices through my section.
I had to make a lot of sacrifices to be here — time, sanity, other commitments. But I think I can safely say that, in the end, it was all worth it.
A huge shoutout to all the dear friends I’ve made while working at this newspaper. You’ve made every long night and early morning not only bearable, but enjoyable.
I’d like to thank Natalie McEwan for supporting me as a contributor, then as an editor and always as a friend, and for providing me with a fantastic legacy to live up to.
Thank you especially to the amazingly-talented designers — Mimi, Zach, Marty, Quinn and Raya — for putting up with all our nonsense and for making our paper clean, crisp and beautiful.
Thank you to my two wonderful (and award-winning!) assistant editors, Maya Sunderraj and Shiny Chandravel, for writing some absolute bangers and for helping me out when things got tough.
And, of course, thank you to Andrew Kerley, for suckering me into this whole thing in the first place. Despite all my griping, it really was an honor to work with you.
CALVIN FOREVER!
Bilan Osman, Multimedia Editor
I started with The CT in August of my freshman year when my mentor at the time, Anna Chen, encouraged me to join The CT’s photojournalism team.
I remember coming to VCU my freshman year as a shy student who was unsure of herself. Photography got me out of my shell, and The CT has provided a space and community where I could grow as a journalist and visual storyteller.
I’m grateful for all the opportunities and experiences that I have found at VCU and The CT. I will forever be inspired by and grateful for all the creative, passionate and kind people I got to work with in my time here.
It has been amazing being part of The CT these past four years, three years as a photographer and one year as an editor. One of my favorite parts of serving as an editor has been developing and overseeing our new video journalism section (multimedia!).
I want to give a special thank you to Jessica Clary and Mark Jeffries. Thank you for advising us and providing a welcoming space where student media can thrive.
Long live journalism and student media!!!
Ma’a Salama! Peaceee!
Milena Paul, Art Director
Firstly, I wouldn’t be here without Victor telling me about this opportunity my sophomore year when I was trying to find paid on-campus jobs. Thank you, Victor.
When I joined The CT as a designer in Fall 2024, I didn’t envision The CT becoming such an important touchstone in my college career. At first, the big appeal was seeing my design work printed every week, but I never expected to fall in love with newspaper layout design and journalism.
There’s something really special about starting and completing a project each week as a team. It’s a routine I’ll really miss, despite all the late nights. It’s incredible how much we’ve achieved together, we’ve really made our mark on The CT timeline.
The CT is full of so many incredible writers, editors, producers, illustrators and of course designers: Zach, Marty, Raya and Quinn. I love you guys. You’ve been incredible to work with, all so talented and dedicated. I’m going to miss playing stupid ASMR on the TV. I’m so grateful for this gorgeous paper I helped put together for two years. Thank you for trusting us with this newspaper, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
MUAH!
Zach Montgomery, Art Director
I wouldn’t trade a day, hour, minute or even second of my time spent working with the incredible designers and talented staff at The CT these past two years. This past year alone, it’s been an absolute honor to co-lead an amazing team of designers, and to transcend the digital and print identity of the paper.
To see your work and contributions printed physically en masse on a weekly basis is something truly nerve-racking, yet extraordinary. Everyone on the team this year has brought forward intention, diligence and care in their contributions to the paper and to the environment at the SMC. I see incredibly bright futures ahead for many of the people I was privileged enough to work with.
It goes without saying this year had its challenges and awfully late nights, but everyone’s persistence and commitment to upholding the integrity and high standard of output is truly what makes us stand out. A warm thank you to the designers this year — Marty, Quinn and Raya — for your patience, talent and trust. Mimi — I seriously couldn’t have survived those 2 a.m. paper finalizations without you, and it was such a thrill to continue our work together and navigate a new year as co-leads (and reclaim the Design Den!)
Thank you to Mark Jeffries and Victor Romanko for bringing me on board the SMC design team nearly two years ago; I wouldn’t have made it to this point without your trust and support. And finally, a big thank you to all of the writers from this year and last, for your tenacity and courage toward upholding the values of independent journalism, and for the grace and love you’ve given to the design team.
Words fail to capture how much I’ll miss everyone and the experiences I’ve made in my time at The CT, but I know the paper’s future is in great hands. Love you guys. #Printneverdies
Marty Alexeenko, Designer
What a ride it has been spending three years with the SMC! Thank you Ink and The Commonwealth Times for having me, I’m so grateful to be surrounded by such incredible talents every day. Being a part of a collective that is so driven to amplify the arts and local community has been the most rewarding experience through my time at VCU.
My BIGGEST thank you’s to Zach, Mimi and Mark for bringing me on board with the CT! I love The CT design team so much, it’s been such a blast to work with such a strong group of dedicated designers, (Raya and Quinn!!!!) I could not have gotten through all the long nights turned into early mornings without you. I truly wouldn’t want to tough it out with anyone else. I can’t wait to see the amazing feats you all accomplish soon, it can only get better from here.
Thank you to the awesome writing and editing staff for shining a light in the dark! Sapphira, Maeve, Molly, Heciel, Katie, Drew, Cora, Alexis, Kieran, Zoë, Andrew — you have all been so incredible to work with! It’s so inspiring to be surrounded by such a diverse and passionate group of writers, your endless grit, kindness, patience and perseverance truly keep it all afloat. I can’t wait to see you all change the world soon!!!
Thank you Jessica and Mark for being cheerleaders all this time. Your commitment to bolstering student media success is truly one of the most inspiring prerogatives to witness, I am so lucky to work with such supportive advisors, you rock! I can’t wait to see what’s to come from the SMC in the future.
I have so much love for the student media community and everything it has taught me, I’m again so eternally grateful to have been a part of it — I can’t wait to see what the future holds for The CT 🙂
Raya Freeborn, Designer
First and foremost, I’d like to thank the entire CT staff for welcoming me with open arms.
When I first started working at The CT, I was extremely nervous and not sure-footed in myself as a designer. There were lots of new faces and unfamiliar formats, and designing for the newspaper was something I’d never done before. To be honest, I wasn’t exactly sure what I had signed up for.
I recently found the first spread I worked on in the paper and can wholeheartedly say it was bad. No flavor, no text-wrap, no nothin’. Now that I’ve been here for a year, it’s fun to compare the past to the present, and the growth is noticeable. The CT is a place full of talented, eloquent, creative individuals, and I’ve ended up learning a lot just by being around them.
Being a designer at the SMC has been one of the coolest and most rewarding experiences I’ve had at VCU. There’s no greater feeling than opening up a paper you’ve designed, and the sigh of relief seeing everything printed correctly and with the right tones. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity I had to be around like-minded individuals, see how they tackle creative challenges, and learn what music and videos they play in the background while doing their work. Mimi, Zach, Quinn and Marty are some of the most creative, accomplished and well-deserving designers I’ve met at VCU, and I can only imagine what great things they’ll accomplish.
Thank you to Mark Jeffries for believing in me and to Jessica Clary for overseeing the whole operation. Lastly, a huge thanks to Mimi for sending the mass email about the job opening.
If I could tell my past self anything, it’d be to join The CT sooner! :3
Quinn Lysek, Designer
Prompted by a recommendation to apply (shoutout to Zach Montgomery) and secured through luck, I essentially fell into this job with little thought towards where it would take me; all I knew was I would be working on a team with my close classmates, so I was happy.
I came to find out The CT family was actually much larger than I had expected, but that just meant even more open arms of welcome. Be it for everyone’s universal passion for the work, or rather the trauma-bonding of shared, very late nights (or most likely both), the staff acted with such care and devotion towards their peers and their duties. I am duly inspired by their diligence and their ability to remain lighthearted.
Working at The CT gave me a sense of empowerment and confidence in my work, procured not only through months of technical practice, but also through the encouragement of the team — without the support of whom I would not have created what I think to be my magnum opus during my time at the newspaper: the “BOO!” spread in the Halloween issue.
I am grateful for all of the people I was privileged to work with, particularly the rest of the design team, who helped transform our design den into a little sanctuary. I look forward to watching the evolution of the paper from afar, and I hope the following staff find ways to make it their own too. Long live student media!
Jenny Allen, Staff Writer
I came to VCU with a strong passion for writing, but it wasn’t until The CT that I realized writing is far more than just putting words down on paper. In a broad picture, writing seems so simple, however, The CT made me notice that every little step, comma and word has the difference to change everything.
Writing for The CT Sports Section taught me that writing is more than just informing readers but rather to provide them with the opportunity to imagine what they are reading.
Completing an article is far more than just writing; it takes research, creativity and time commitments such as attending games and tournaments. However, seeing your name at the top of an article makes it all worth it!
As a journalism major, a majority of my college studies focused on formatting, grammar and language, but The CT is truly what allowed me to put my studies to use.
I stuck with The CT for three years not only due to the professional experiences and practice it gave me, but also due to the connections and relationships it brought into my life.
The networking possibilities that come along with The CT are truly one of its greatest components.
Aside from the professional opportunities that come along with The CT, it also gave me life-long friends which is the biggest reward.
With that being said, I am sad to say farewell but I am beyond thankful for the lessons, exposure and relationships I gained!
VOB4ever
Xoxo, Jenny Allen
Hayden Braun, Staff Writer
It’s crazy to think a single text I sent to my friend and former sports editor, Thailon Wilson, would end up shaping a huge part of my college experience.
When I first started at The CT, I was entering my Junior year. I was honestly pretty lost on what I wanted to do with my major and joining The CT really helped me figure it all out. From doing game recaps, press boxes and weekly recaps, writing for The CT has helped shape me into the writer I am today.
I will never forget the experiences and people I’ve met along the way. I have made many life-long friends from my time at The CT and I will forever treasure the opportunities and memories I’ve been given because of my time here.
I want to thank my editors and my fellow writers for pushing me to grow and for making my time here unforgettable.
I cannot forget to shout out one last group…
Thank you to the Village of Belt…
Shoutout Drew, Alexis, Jenny, Kyler, Andrew, Marcus and Thai.
Sincerely,
Hayden Braun