By Dustin Livesay
Throughout my time at Youngstown State University, I have met a lot of great people. All of you have had a big impact on my life, and I thank you all for giving me memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
I want to start off by thanking my wife, Heather Livesay, and our two beautiful daughters Ava and Amelia. I know it has been rough on you guys with me pushing through school. It has probably been harder for you than it has been for me. Just know that I worked so hard while in college for you three so that we can have a great future as a family. I also want to thank you for all of the support you have given me over the years. I couldn’t have done it without you.
Joe Catullo: You have become one of the best friends I have ever had. I will never forget all of our trips covering games and I know you are a friend that I look forward to having for the rest of my life. You have played a big part in making my college life so memorable. I look at you more like a brother than a friend.
Mary Beth Earnheardt: You encouraged me to write and helped me gain a love for it. You also helped me to see myself as a journalist and not “just a photographer” as I liked to say in the past. You are a great teacher and a role model for all journalists to look up to. You always have our backs at The Jambar and don’t let anybody push us around for being students.
Mary Dota: Thank you for being like another mother to me. If it weren’t for you, I would never have gotten paid. You mean a lot to me and I am thankful for the time we had with you!
Mary Sweetwood: Thank you for always pushing me to find my true potential as a journalist (even when I didn’t want to). You always had faith in me to be able to get stuff done, which gave me more confidence in myself.
Mark Sweetwood: Please don’t fail me! On a serious note though, thank you for all your help at The Vindicator for senior project and for helping me become a better magazine writer throughout this final semester.
Alyssa Lenhoff: Through working with you at the News Outlet I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of people and have done things that I would not have had the chance to do if it wasn’t for you. You always had faith in me and knew how to push me in order to get the best work out of me.
Bill Lewis: You are the best photographer that I have ever met. I have learned so much from you, and you have helped shape me into the photojournalist that I am today. If I become half the photographer that you are, I would consider that a success.
Dave Davis: Thank you for all the great journalistic knowledge you have given me. I had a blast in your classes and appreciate everything you have done for me in my path to graduation. You lifted my spirits about the condition of our industry.
Steve W: I have to say we are the best karaoke singers ever. You also are the master of making amazing mixed drinks that get the job done in a hurry. Thanks for all the memories. You are a good friend and a great journalist. I can tell you have a great career ahead of you.
Frank G: I have entrusted you with a great responsibility. You know a lot of my secrets on how to talk to the opposite sex. Don’t waste this knowledge. I am proud of the strides you have made.
Liam B: Thank you for not firing me! You have been a good boss even though you threatened to kill me at least three times a day. Sorry for posing your stuffed animals in bad ways.
Graig G: You have the best beard. I have major beard envy when I look at you.
Gabby F: It was nice getting to know you the past couple years. You are a great editor and have a big future. Thanks for letting me play your ukulele.
Amanda T: Go Struthers! You are a good friend. Lets face it … fitness walking was a rough class. (Sorry Vlad)
Anthony D: You and I have become good friends over the past couple years. I had a blast hosting our radio show with you. I enjoyed all our talks about sports and all them football games we played outside the office. Oh and Go Steelers.
Dan H: You are a real easy guy to work with and I value the friendship we have built in the short time we have worked together. It was fun covering games with you and always playing catch in the office … until you get hurt that is. Go Steelers.
Jeff B: I had a blast traveling with you this semester and I am glad you were there to witness my amazing swing dancing skills! Go Steelers.
Alyssa P: You rock. Sorry for always beating you in Super Mario Bros. You are a good friend and great writer. Keep up the good work.
Justin W: Thanks for not making me feel as old as I am. You took the title of oldest person in the office from me and I appreciate that. Even though I have grey hair and you have a beautiful head of thinning hair.
Jordan M: Thank you for always making me look like a better writer than what I am. It was nice getting to know you a little better on the way to Philly. It was because of you and Spencer that I decided to watch more of the X-Men movies. Thank you for that.
Spencer C: You are a cool dude. Thanks for feeding my new found X-Men craze.
Cassandra T: We finally did it! It means a lot to me to be able to share graduation with you! It was really fun working with you!
Corin M: Congrats on graduation! I can’t believe the time is here!
Billy L: Stop talking down to me … literally. Sorry for always comparing you to a drug addict — Billy Mays.
Lexi R: It was nice getting to know you this semester. Stay classy.
Stacy R: You take some amazing photographs. Keep up the great work.
Rebecca, Amber and Liz (copy editors): Thank you for making all of us not look like bad writers. Sorry I didn’t have a chance to get to know you guys better. Amber: Your dad is cool.
Jeri Wethli: I want to thank you for letting me write my senior project story on you. I know it must have been tough with me hanging around for so long and I hope I did you justice by the finished product. I really value the friendship we have developed. Thank you for everything.
Trevor, John and Jamie (sports information): I want to thank you guys for giving me so many wonderful opportunities to work with the athletic department. Some of the best memories I have are from trips to cover games. You guys have helped give me the chance to go to states that I never thought I would ever visit. I will miss you guys as well as everyone else in the athletic department. Go ‘Guins!
Mark Hardaway, Val Jeffery and Tre’ Moore: I want to send out a special thank you to all of you. You all took the time to open up your lives to me in order to write stories about you and I hope you all enjoyed the stories I wrote as much as I did writing them.
Nathan Gibbs and Joey Cejudo: You guys are awesome and I wanted to say how much I enjoyed writing a story about you guys and the friendship you have. I am very thankful to be able to call you guys my friends.
Stephen Chalmers: I want to thank you for pushing me so hard in class so that I can reach my full potential as a photographer. I had a lot of fun in your classes and they allowed me to make some good pictures for my resume. Thank you!
Joy Christiansen Erb: I had a lot of fun in your classes. It was so awesome learning how to process film and make prints from film. Thank you for everything. You have truly helped me become a much better photographer.
I am sorry for making you all read this long goodbye letter, but the truth is so many of you have impacted my life in such great ways. I will never forget you guys, and I am so appreciative of everything all of you have done for me these past few years. I know for a fact that I could not have graduated if it was not for the support from all of my family, friends and teachers. I will miss all of you and I am so proud and honored to have been called a Penguin.