Senior Letter 2025

By Kathryn Taleporos and Vince Gasparini | May 14, 2025

Pictured above: Kathryn Taleporos (left) and Vince Gasparini (right).

Photo Credit (left): Kathryn Taleporos / Albany Student Press

Photo Credit (right): Vince Gasparini / Albany Student Press 

Kathryn Taleporos

The Albany Student Press has been the highlight of my time at the University at Albany. This newspaper has given me new friends, writing skills, and a passion for student journalism. I am incredibly grateful to this amazing organization and the people who make it what it is. 

When I first came to UAlbany, I was looking for a way to be involved and learn more about the campus. I started going to the pitch meetings and weekly office hours, eventually working up the courage to write my first article about the Student Association. 

After writing another news article, I later found my way to the Arts and Culture section writing about fall activities in Albany. I fell in love with this section. Arts and Culture gave me an opportunity to write about what I cared about and be creative. From Taylor Swift to Hamilton, this section gave me opportunities to talk to people in the community and share my interests. 

After my first semester, I was asked to be the Assistant Arts and Culture Editor, from then I moved up to Arts and Culture editor, and this year also being the Managing Editor. 

My editorial role has taught me not only how to write in a new style, but the creativity that exists on this campus. Thank you to the editors who continue to make this newspaper amazing, I’m so grateful for all of you and everything you do. 

Thank you Albany Student Press for the community, memories, and experience these past 3 years. 

Thank you! 

Kathryn Taleporos 

Assistant Arts and Culture Editor (Spring 2023) 

Arts and Culture Editor (Fall 2023 - Spring 2025) 

Managing Editor (Fall 2024 - Spring 2025)

Staff Writer (Spring 2023 - Spring 2025)

Vince Gasparini

It has been an honor and a privilege to have spent my senior year of college serving as the editor-in-chief of the Albany Student Press. This newspaper has given me the opportunity to do amazing work alongside equally amazing people, and I am so thankful for everything it has given to me.

When I came to the University at Albany in the fall of 2021, I knew I wanted to make my mark on this campus, but I wasn’t entirely sure how I wanted to accomplish that. Having been interested in journalism for some time, I wrote my very first ASP article in the spring of 2022. After not writing in the fall of 2022, I picked it back up in the spring of 2023, where I wrote about men’s basketball and food safety issues on campus. At the end of that semester, I applied to be a copy editor for the following year and was accepted.

In the fall of 2023, I decided to fully throw myself into the ASP. I was writing stories about UAlbany’s AI Plus initiative, research grants and the football team’s historic season that year. The next semester, I was promoted to the position of sports editor, where I put our sports section together each week and covered our men’s basketball team. These experiences helped me build my foundations as a reporter, and helped me land an internship with The Buffalo News last summer. My senior year, I covered the Student Association, which gave me the opportunity to learn more about political and legislative processes and prepare to write about those topics when I am a professional reporter.

My tenure as a student journalist was marked by a particularly major moment during my junior and senior years when students both at UAlbany and across the country protested against the ongoing genocide and apartheid in Palestine. I had the opportunity to cover several of these protests, where I was able to document a historic moment in our campus’ history. I am honored to have been able to witness and write about this type of student mobilization, and I have nothing but respect for the student activists who were brave enough to call for justice while facing potential repercussions for using their voice.

As I prepare to begin my career as a journalist, I am eternally grateful for every experience and opportunity this newspaper has given me. I want to thank every single person who I worked with at the ASP and I wish luck to those who inherit the privilege of leading it. In particular, I would like to thank Christian Hince, Shawn Ness, Henry Fisher, Mattie Fitzpatrick, and Kathryn Taleporos. You have each done so much for this paper and have helped me grow as both a journalist and a person.

I would also like to congratulate each of our graduating seniors who have worked with us this year, including Kathryn, copy editor Natalia Anderson and social media managers Layla Melendez and Sahmya Rosier. You have each been valuable contributors to the mission of the ASP and I am so thankful to have been able to work with you.

With that being said, congratulations to the Class of 2025. Thank you UAlbany, and thank you Albany Student Press.

Vince Gasparini

Editor-in-Chief (Fall 2024 - Spring 2025)

Sports Editor (Spring 2024)

Copy Editor (Fall 2023)

Staff Writer (Spring 2023 - Spring 2025)