End of year: A letter from the editor

Story by Meg Qualls, Editor-in-Chief • May 19, 2026

Readers,
When I walked into this program in the fall of 2022, I didn’t fully understand what it would become to me. I had a need to be involved. I was a video girl through and through, but I didn’t yet know what it meant to care deeply about telling stories that mattered. Sometime between my junior and senior year, that changed. I learned to embrace the late nights, deadlines and doubt. I
learned the joy of writing.

This year, our staff did more than produce content; we built something tangible. We grew as writers, editors and leaders, learning to listen more carefully, support one another and hold ourselves to a higher standard. Like many student publications, our work is driven by collaboration and a shared commitment to creating something meaningful. That commitment showed. We covered important campus stories, traveled and earned recognition as the best college news website in Kansas.

This is what The Baker Orange has been growing into. And there is still so much more potential to reach.

For me, this program has been more than just a class or extracurricular. It has been a place where I found my voice, learned how to lead and found my calling. I discovered what it means to be responsible for something bigger than myself, which has shaped me into the person I am becoming. As I look ahead, I will carry the lessons The Baker Orange taught me into my career and into
every space where storytelling matters. Journalism is about understanding people, amplifying voices and documenting those moments that might otherwise go unnoticed.

As I leave this place to pursue a news position at KUSA in Denver, Colo., I’m reminded once again of how important student journalism is. To those who continue writing: keep pushing, keep questioning and keep caring, because that’s what makes this work worth it.

To the staff: thank you for your dedication, your creativity and your willingness to grow. To our readers: thank you for trusting us to tell your stories.

Welcome back to The Baker Orange.

With love,

Meg Qualls, Editor-in-Chief, The Baker Orange

About the Contributors

Meg Qualls, Editor-in-Chief

Meg Qualls is a senior mass media major from Lenexa, Kan., and is the Editor-in-Chief for The Baker Orange. This is her fourth year on staff. At Baker, she is the Student Body President, an RA, and the president of Baker’s Future Alumni Network. In her free time, you can find her taking pictures, reading the news, or writing her tell-all epic on the defunct Baldwin City Taco Bell.

Madi Weaver, Multimedia Editor

Madi Weaver is a senior mass media major. This is her third year on The Baker Orange, and her first year serving on the editorial board. She is a member of Alpha Chi Omega, where she has served in two positions on the executive board. She is also a Wildcat Welcome and Orientation Leader and owns a small sewing business, Madi Grace Designs.