The Dream Team: Best Friends to Editors in Chief Trio

The award-winning Reata of Memorial High School is a long-standing tradition, serving as both a memento of the academic year and a reflection of the talent of the students on the staff. Leading the staff each year is a team of editors in chief, appointed as seniors based on their past contributions.

This year’s team is especially tight, made up of three close friends: Ace Eicher, Kelsy Donovan, and Kate Perry. Eicher and Perry entered high school with the goal of joining the yearbook staff, beginning their freshman year by taking the Journalism I course. Intriguingly, each girl had a different path to joining the staff. Perry’s love for journalism began with the Spring Branch Middle yearbook, while Eicher was inspired by her aunt Macy Livingston, who was a rare, yet outstanding solo editor in chief during the 2011–2012 school year at Memorial as well. Donovan, on the other hand, joined unexpectedly her sophomore year when Ms. Hartman encouraged her to apply. Donovan notes that she initially secured her spot as a photographer with experience from Memorial Middle, but found a love for writing and journalism that pushed her to later become a reporter.

The three became friends during their sophomore year through mutual connections and a shared enrollment in the yearbook course. Once officially on staff, their bond deepened, and they made a pact to become editors in chief together their senior year. They referred to themselves as the “dream team,” motivating one another through long hours of work. Donovan recalls that whenever she felt tired or overwhelmed, she reminded herself of the promise they had made, which kept her moving forward. Their determination has now paid off: they are beginning senior year as the trio leading Reata.

The current editors in chief and Ms. Hartman at the 2022-2023 yearbook banquet at the end of their first year officially on staff, where the name “dream team,” was coined.

Each individual brings a distinct strength to the team. Perry describes their dynamic as uniquely skilled, yet perfectly compatible: Eicher is a true creative with a natural talent for design, Perry is detail-oriented and precise in editing, and Donovan excels in compelling writing and task management skills. Together, their chemistry and strong work ethic form a team well qualified to guide the yearbook.

Their friendship outside the classroom also plays a role in their leadership. Over the summer, they shared road trips to Fredericksburg and Round Top and countless sleepovers, cementing their bond before their busiest year yet. Sponsor Holly Hartman described the girls as both as “individually so self-motivated and hard-working,” which made her certain that they would be her choice for the editor positions. Further, she remarks that her favorite thing about the trio is “what genuine friendship they have and how much they support each other. That carries over into our classroom. They make everyone on staff feel welcomed and appreciated, which I love to see.”

The trio now begins their final year at Memorial with excitement and increased responsibility, guiding the Reata through another annual cycle. Their story reflects not only the dedication needed to create the yearbook but also the power of equally motivated friendships.