When students think of The Hawkeye, they might think about our newspaper filled with stories and photos about the various events on campus. What they don’t see are the sleepless nights filled with tedious editing. Each article goes through multiple rounds of edits and requires the final approval of our editor-in-chief, Zoe Sissac. 

Her commitment and leadership have raised the quality of our student-led paper to a new standard, turning it into a reliable platform for student voices. Whoever next steps into her role will have some truly enormous shoes to fill.

Disclaimer: I wrote not only about a coworker but also a friend. Zoe joined The Hawkeye as a writer three years ago and is currently a senior double-majoring in English and Spanish. 

From the start, she committed herself to her craft with inspiring dedication. Our boss and Hawkeye director, Whitney Martin, often praised Zoe’s work ethic and her passion for publishing quality articles. 

I find myself working harder because I saw how tirelessly she commits herself to the paper each week. She sacrificed time from her personal life repeatedly because of the care she put into the workplace.

In her journey from talented writer to respected leader, her tireless commitment never faltered. For last week’s issue, I planned to be the last staff member to leave the office since my section only covers two pages. I arrived at noon and worked until about 10 p.m. But Zoe? She started her day in the office at 8 a.m. and stayed until every article was perfect.

Zoe’s excellence extends beyond journalism. Her professors eagerly shared their thoughts about her. Assistant English professor Vanelis Rivera reflects on Zoe’s achievements.

“I’ve admired Zoe’s drive, curiosity, and ability to dive into complex concepts. I have never seen her shy away from sharing her ideas and insights,” Rivera said.

Next semester, Zoe will step down from her role as editor-in-chief.

Our newspaper could never fit enough pages to cover all the ways Zoe sparked change at The Hawkeye. 

Zoe, I’m not sure if you remember our conversation about things that are replaceable, but it always stayed with me. I can confidently say that our next editor-in-chief will have a hard time matching the impact you had. 

The Hawkeye never looked better or had better content than with you as the lead editor. Thank you for everything.