After a four-week break from publishing, we’re back! With the eight week session beginning, the summer edition of the Kentucky Kernel will be here to provide you with news you care about, and offer you a place to express your views and opinions throughout this summer.

I’d like to take this opportunity, in our first edition of the paper, to introduce myself to you. My name is Allie Garza, a junior journalism major from Louisville. I will be the editor in chief this summer and look forward to providing news that’s valuable to you.

After spending nearly five months  in the balmy beaches of Santa Monica, California for an internship, I’m excited to be back in Lexington. Believe it or not, being away from trees, grass and fresh air can make any Kentuckian homesick for the beloved blue grass state.

While many people flee Lexington for their summer vacations, there are those of us who chose to be here. Be it for summer school, an internship, or realizing how incredible this city and campus can be during the summer, you chose to stay in Lexington.

That brings us to why I’m here:  to bring the news of what happens at UK to you, the student, who is braving the somewhat desolate summer streets of Lexington.

While this is a more relaxed version of the daily Kernel, the weekly summer Kernel will still uphold its high standards of excellence.

With that said, if you are interested in writing, designing, drawing cartoons, submitting a column, letter to the editor, or would like to take pictures, do not hesitate to contact us! We also want to hear your comments, questions, recommendations and criticisms.

Additionally, if reporting sounds like more your style, we’re looking for regular staff writers for the summer paper. All interest levels and skill levels are encouraged to apply.

The Kernel is located in the basement of the Grehan Journalism Building. You can reach us at [email protected] or [email protected]

I look forward to what this summer holds and am eager to hear from many of you.