I walked into the Kernel office for the first time in February 2023 looking for an opportunity and will be walking out with three years I’ll never forget, with titles including editor, friend and husband (my favorite).

Let’s start from the beginning.

After switching my major from accounting to sports journalism in summer of 2022, my first ever college class was Journalism 101 with the amazing Jen Smith.

She made me realize I was right where I needed to be and that I made the right call. I realized that telling stories was something that I could become so passionate about and be fully entranced in. I also realized this profession required real experience so that sparked the next chapter.

In spring of 2023, my Journalism 204 class toured the hallowed halls of the Blazer Dining basement and the Kentucky Kernel office. Sam Money represented the sports desk that day and had me sold on it by the time I left. I decided to attend the next meeting and that set the stage for the next three years of my life.

My first ever published story with the Kernel was Feb. 12, 2023 and I reaffirmed that I was right where I needed to be. I took on the task of becoming the beat head for the 2024 Kentucky baseball season and man, did my life change fast.

I worked harder than I ever had before to tell the best stories possible about a team that had so many personalities and was very weird. My life changed again on April 16, 2024 when I made the trip to cover the Kentucky and Louisville game with someone I did not know, who needed to cover the game for a class assignment.

That woman was named Savanna Emrick and we had a great time covering the game. During that four hour and 13 minute game, we got to know each other a bit, and I knew that I could not let this be our only interaction. A few weeks later I lucked out and she officially became my girlfriend.

My luck kept on rolling as the Bat Cats had an historic season that landed them in Omaha, Nebraska for the College World Series. The little kid in me was so happy because I got to check something off my list by being at the mecca of college baseball. It was a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget.

Towards the end of the school year, I was prompted to Assistant Sports Editor along with joining the football beat with some of my best friends: Colton Johnson (CJ) and Sara Gibson. This was the next challenge for me, but I stuck to my core values established during the 2024 baseball season. I got to take a trip to “The Swamp” with Gibson to knock another thing off the bucket list.

Also during that football season, I took on a hurricane on the road against editors’ and advisors’ advice to make it to Oxford, Mississippi for Kentucky’s game against Ole Miss. The decision paid off when Kentucky beat then No. 6 Ole Miss and it taught me the importance of never missing an opportunity because you never know what could happen.

That fall gave way to another spring with the Bat Cats, but before I got there I hit one knee and made Emrick my fianceé on Christmas Eve 2024. As that spring rolled on my role changed from Assistant Sports Editor to the head honcho of Sports Editor. That summer before coming back to school I sealed the deal by marrying the love of my life on Aug. 6, 2025.

My final year with the Kernel was by far the toughest, because it was a whole new series of challenges and there was no other lifeline anymore, it was all up to me. There were several failures along the way, but I can hang my hat on the fact that I gave it all I had every single day.

Now that we have my three-year story summed up, I owe a lot of people a thank you for their part in my journey before it’s time to say goodbye.

Savanna: First is my amazing wife. Thank you so much for keeping me sane and reminding me of why I do this in the first place. You were there for every late night, every high and every low. You were there the days when I was ready to give up and on the days I’ve never felt more passionate about this profession. You were the home I could come back to that made the whole world around me stop, which I needed with this job more than you’ll ever know. Your endless support made me never want to stop. I love you honey.

My family: You guys rooted me on every step of the way and that will never be lost on me. It made my day every time I saw you share one of my posts on Facebook and it taught me to take pride in my own work. Seeing how proud everyone is to see my name in print means everything to me. I love y’all.

Cole Parke: Your leadership and guidance made me the writer I am today. You gave me every opportunity to succeed and I will be forever grateful for that. That late night conversation after my first football game made me decide I wanted to buy-in and become an editor. You handed me the keys to the castle and I did my absolute best to maintain that reputation. However, what I will always value the most is our friendship that I hope lasts forever.

My fellow editors: There is a long list here so I can’t do individuals for this one. It was truly a pleasure to work with every single one of you. Seeing our collaborative visions come to life was something I take great pride in. We did some great things and made a bit of history as we continued to grow this amazing organization. It’s been real.

Ryan Craig: For a while I admired you from afar, however I am glad we got closer this semester. You talked me down several times when I was about to make decisions that would NOT have been good for the organization. Thank you for all of your help planning my next steps in life, that conversation and KPA means more than you know.

Bryce McNeil: We were all business until this year outside of the occasional baseball conversation. Thanks for letting me sit in your office and yap about wrestling or whatever else it might be. It was very fun to be having a talk at a table of people and being the only two who knew what we were actually talking about.

My Staff: I loved being in a leadership role to help guide all of you while I was still figuring out things myself. Y’all are such a passionate bunch of people and I will miss collaborating with all of you. I have complete faith that every one of you can do anything you set your mind to and don’t let anyone stop you. I will always be in your corner and rooting every one of you on as you navigate through this journey.

It has been a journey I’ll never forget, and it has made me a better person, journalist and leader. I feel like there is not a situation I’m not equipped for in the “real world.” While I am unsure what’s next, the Kentucky Kernel will always hold a special place in my heart.