Prize Day is an especially bittersweet day for The Circle Voice staff, which must say goodbye to the Sixth Formers who have lent their guidance and expertise to the paper for the past year. As the new staff settles into place, we look back on the hard work of the 2015-2016 Editorial Board and hope to emulate its example.

Ethan Woo and Varsha Harish, this year’s Editors-in-Chief, led The Circle Voice to new heights with their lovingly firm leadership. This year, the CV Room moved out of the grim basement of Brooks House and back into the Schoolhouse. The staff especially loved the specific signs about layout details they posted around the new room. During fall term, the two editors organized a change in printers from the CV’s traditional printer to a new one, improving the quality overall. With this change, they began to print the centerfold in color, adding vibrancy to the paper.

Besides the technical changes, Ethan and Varsha also taught an eager staff the skills necessary to journalism: perseverance, integrity, and – their favorite – timeliness. They helped panicked assistants with layout, encouraged lower schoolers to take on challenging topics, and ensured that the paper maintained the high standards established in years past. Ethan and Varsha proved to be strong leaders in the CV Room and good friends outside of it. Their funny emails about writers’ meetings and their smiling faces will surely be missed next year.

Yanni Cho served as the pivotal leader of a cohesive News Section. She guided her assistants patiently while providing necessary critiques of their work. Whenever they came across obstacles, Yanni would happily offer assistance. With copious support and encouragement, she turned the daunting layout process into a largely enjoyable experience. Her expertise and kindness are some of Yanni’s positive qualities that we will sorely miss.

Zahin Das was not just a shrewd, diligent editor; he was also a caring friend who always made sure his assistants were doing okay, and we will always be grateful for that. He truly cared for us, and he was very understanding and kind in making sure that we weren’t stressed or overworked. Zahin was very honest and fair, and he taught us that although opinions themselves may not be faulty, there is always a clearer and more effective way to express them. Thank you, Zahin, for everything you’ve done for us.

Features Editor Ross Ewald never backed down from a challenge. Whether it was coming up with interesting and amazing article ideas or burning the midnight oil doing layout in the CV room, Ross always came through. Her patience and constructive criticism helped everyone working under her. From teaching her assistants InDesign to working to perfect an article, Ross’s determination and dedication will be missed in the CV Room next year. More than just a great writer, editor, and friend, Ross was a great leader to all on The Circle Voice.

George Klein and Parker Banks have been incredibly organized and reliable Sports Editors. They came to each writers’ meeting with creative and original article ideas and encouraged new and experienced writers alike to write for the Sports Section. George and Parker made sure that a wide variety of student athletes were featured and also helped to ensure that there was a balance between articles centered around Groton sports and real world sports. When it came to layout, George and Parker always stepped up, helping to meet deadlines and putting in the extra work required to make the section look neat and perfected. They were extremely helpful in showing their assistant editors the ropes of InDesign. As they leave the circle, George and Parker will be sorely missed by the Sports Section.

Candace Tong-Li brought a distinct energy to the Arts Section this year. Her bubbling personality and breadth of knowledge in the arts elevated the page beyond what it had previously been, and the staff was grateful for the time spent learning from her. She always sought to find new ways to engage readers and bring new perspectives to articles, all while managing to maintain a balance between the types of articles featured. She made sure all aspects of student life in regards to the arts were showcased in The Circle Voice, including everything from movie reviews to seasonal playlists to summaries of jazz band concerts and art gallery exhibitions. We will miss her vivacious leadership next year.

Steven Anton and Nena Atkinson lent their talent to one of the most beloved parts of The Circle Voice: the Humor Section. They provided comedic relief in times of stress and added a little bit of fun to each issue. Their haikus, memes, and lookalikes were painfully accurate and loved by all, giving the whole Groton community something to relate to. Truly, the Humor Section brought the school a little closer together with each subsequent issue.

Thanks again to the editorial board of 2015-2016. We wish you the best of luck as you move onto your next adventure. Just remember when you come back to visit, the door to the CV Room will always be open.