As another year of The Current comes to a close, so does an important chapter in our publication’s history. This spring, we say goodbye to two people who have helped shape the newspaper in different but equally meaningful ways: graduating Co-Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth Ahn and faculty advisor Mr. John Pennisi.

While Elizabeth is heading off to college, and Mr. Pennisi is stepping away from advising the paper after two years, both leaving behind a publication that is stronger than ever because they were part of it.

If there is one thing anyone who has worked on The Current knows about Elizabeth, it is that she is always ready to take on challenges with excitement. Our student newspaper is built on strict deadlines, meticulous edits, consistent meetings, and important logistics, but it is also sustained by something harder to quantify: energy. Elizabeth brought that energy to everything she did. She was the person who would respond “Yes, absolutely!” to a task or idea before anyone else had finished thinking about it. Whether editing articles, planning print editions, or discussing the smallest details of a story, she approached the work with positivity that uplifted others during stressful publication weeks.

As Co-Editor-in-Chief, Elizabeth helped guide the publication through a year of growth and transition. She made our weekly lunch meetings more enjoyable, celebrated the successes of other writers, and created an environment where students felt supported, mentored, and excited to contribute. As she graduates and begins her next chapter in college, she leaves behind not only a stronger publication but also a community that is better because she was part of it. We’re going to miss her every time we distribute a new edition, sit down to edit an article, or type an “E” into the “to” line of an email and see her name pop up.

While Elizabeth’s departure marks both the end of her time at The Current and her graduation from Potomac, Mr. Pennisi’s marks the conclusion of a different chapter.

For the past two years, he has served as one of The Current‘s faculty advisors. The majority of an advisor’s work happens quietly. Readers see articles, writers see edits, and section editors see publication timelines. What they do not always see are the countless conversations, check-ins, approvals, and moments of guidance that keep a student newspaper running successfully behind the scenes.

Mr. Pennisi has been one of those people. Throughout his time advising The Current, he has been a steady presence behind the operation. He was always willing to listen, offer perspective, ask thoughtful questions, and help us navigate challenges when they arose. He pushed us to think bigger, write better, and hold ourselves to a higher standard, while also providing the support and reassurance student leaders need.

What made his advising especially valuable was the trust he gave to our student leadership. He gave editors the space to experiment, make mistakes, solve problems, and develop their own vision for the publication, and that’s exactly how you build a strong paper with stronger writers. We never took that trust for granted. The confidence he placed in us helped us develop confidence in ourselves—not only as journalists, but also as collaborators, leaders, and decision-makers.

At a school where many students juggle demanding schedules, rigorous academics, and ambitious commitments, The Current has been no exception. Through busy publication cycles and inevitable last-minute challenges, both Elizabeth and Mr. Pennisi consistently made time for the paper and the students behind it.

Though Elizabeth and Mr. Pennisi are leaving for different reasons, their contributions share a common thread. Both invested so much time and energy in The Current‘s tight-knit community and cared deeply about the success of every writer, fostering long-term growth that future writers will certainly appreciate.

Student newspapers are dynamic organizations. Every year, people leave, and new writers arrive. Editors graduate, and leadership changes hands. Yet the publication endures because each generation of leaders leaves its mark on the pages that follow.

On behalf of The Current, thank you for your time, your dedication, and the countless ways you helped this publication become what it is today. Elizabeth, we wish you the very best as you begin your next chapter, and Mr. Pennisi, we thank you for all the guidance and support you have provided over the past two years.

In the years ahead, as new headlines are written, more lunch meetings are held, and future editors gather around the same tables, your impact will remain.