An Andrews University student from Benton Harbor is making waves in the journalism world after receiving the Best Emerging Journalist Award at the 2025 Associated Church Press Awards last month.

Nicholas Gunn is a familiar face around Southwest Michigan, having done independent work, work for the university, and even some features for Moody on the Market. He tells us he got started with a YouTube channel called Nick Eats when he was 16.

“Me and a group of my friends, we would just go to these local restaurants and just  experience what Southwest Michigan has to offer,” Gunn said. “It just made me want to learn more about our community as a whole. And I love politics and I love our community.”

Friends suggested that Nick start interviewing city leaders, and that’s just what he did, meeting with city managers and assistant city managers in Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, and South Haven. From there, he started writing.

Although Nick originally majored in elementary education, he later changed that to digital communications, and from there, he was on the road to being a journalist. He tells us the award he received last month leaves him feeling humbled and blessed.

“It’s truly just affirming that the work that I’m doing is being seen and it’s impactful.”

Andrews University says Gunn began studying at the university in 2022 and quickly became involved. He’s served as a Bible study teacher at Pioneer Memorial Church, radio host at WAUS 90.7, writer for the Office of University Communication, and member of the Community Engagement Committee and Unified Civic Monuments Curriculum Council. For his leadership and dedication to community service, Andrews says he was awarded a full-tuition scholarship his freshman year.

Gunn this week is in New York taking part in the Ed Bradley Journalism Fellowship at New York University. He says he’s been meeting with several big-name journalists at major publications and thinking about one day going that route. For now, he’s still got a year left at Andrews University and plenty of volunteering to do in Southwest Michigan.