A second-year dual-enrollment student became the editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper on April 1.

Sam Gauntt, who served as managing editor of Campus Current since fall 2022, replaced second-year communications student Zack Buster, who stepped down from his position as editor-in-chief to run for Student Government Association president.

Gauntt, who will leave AACC at the end of the semester, said he wants “to make the paper the best it can be.” Gauntt plans to attend a four-year university in the fall.

“I want to make sure that we’re serving our community,” Gauntt, who is the first high school student to serve as editor-in-chief since the paper relaunched in 2016, said. “That’s our largest purpose, our most important purpose: to serve the community of Anne Arundel Community College, and to make sure that we’re delivering good news, timely, in an efficient manner, accurately, without bias.”

Buster said Gauntt is “responsible. He’s like the very definition of an overachiever. He’s got the skill set for [editor-in-chief and] he’s got the experience.”

Journalism professor and Campus Current faculty advisor Sharon O’Malley said Gauntt is “very well prepared to step into Zack’s very big shoes.”

“He’s among the youngest people on the staff, but he’s by far one of the best writers, one of the best reporters, one of the best managers,” O’Malley said. “He’s mature way beyond his age. And one of the things that impresses me the most about him is … his disposition. He never seems to be angry. … He’s just very level, which is a good, calming influence on the newsroom. And it’s a sign of a great leader.”