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Nicholas Gunn
Benton Harbor
Hero Story
Community-minded and motivated, a self-starter who always takes time out to help others – these are just some of the inspirations that drive Nicholas “Nick” Gunn's academic, personal and volunteer activities, which share one thing in common.
When asked what else drives him to take on a project or start one, Nick responded, “To be an advocate for where I live, and where I've grown up. I see people in need of help, and I'd like to show my support in any way I can and help them.”
Nick is demonstrating that commitment as a member of Benton Harbor Team Solutions, which is tasked with supporting the City of Benton Harbor's efforts to end its water crisis by April 2023, by replacing all its leaded water service lines.
As part of that effort, Nick has joined other volunteers in distributing free bottled water to City residents. “I teamed up with a few churches, including New Bethel Baptist Church, to distribute water in Benton Harbor. We meet just to bring light, and to be better people, help one another out,” he said.
Nick's other notable media activities include working for the Benton Spirit Community Newspaper as a reporter, photographer, videographer, radio engineer, website and social media assistant. He writes a popular regular column, “Nick's Community Beat,” which rounds up local people and places of interest to readers. He's also become something of a local personality, achieving that distinction in January, when he won the Mr. Benton Harbor pageant.
The column serves as the print extension of his YouTube channel, Nick Eats, which focuses on different local eateries. When the COVID-19 pandemic shook the world in March 2020, Nick hit the ground running, creating Nick Eat's as a way of showcasing local eateries — whose owners and employees were hit especially hit hard by the resulting crisis. The channel serves as a grassroots rallying point for these establishments, whose existence literally depends on how many customers come through the door. (For more information, please visit online at: youtube.com/nickeats.com.)
“The premise is me going out with a group of diverse friends, and we're going to different local businesses, or meeting with local business owners and city officials, highlighting local issues. We've done over 24 local businesses, and five local elected officials,” he said.
Nick is currently a senior at Berrien Springs High School, from which he graduates in June as Class of 2022 President. He's made his mark in various ways, such as the after-school Bible study that he organized in November 2021. “There are over 120 members and I lead them in different types of activities,” he said.
Another example is the After School Advisory program, where he organizes various projects, including the assembling of CARE packages for people at homeless shelters. Nick has also done yard work at the Central County Senior Center, on Shawnee Road, in Berrien Springs.
His various activities include Black Professionals of America (three years); Business Professionals of America; Concert Choir (two and a half years), marching band (one year); Student Council (four years, including two years as treasurer); and varsity sports, including four years on the football team (as nose tackle, defensive end), golf, and wrestling (three years, including two years as captain).
Nick's other notable community involvements include volunteering for the Future Leaders and Doctors Program, founded and run by Dr. Donald J. Tynes. “I help out, with him teaching me different things, and helping in his clinics,” he said.
On the academic side, Nick serves as a co-op student at Blossomland Learning Center, where he serves as a teacher assistant, helping students with learning disabilities.
He also serves as a board member with Fresh Start, run by local gardener and business owner, Emma Kinnard, an organization that helps inner-city youth by bringing fresh food and fresh gardens; a volunteer with Sisters From Another Mother, which teams up with Feeding America, and Michigan Works!, to distribute food to needy people; and as a volunteer cadet at Station #2, with the St. Joseph Township Fire Department.
Nicholas Gunn
Benton Harbor
Hero Story
Community-minded and motivated, a self-starter who always takes time out to help others – these are just some of the inspirations that drive Nicholas “Nick” Gunn's academic, personal and volunteer activities, which share one thing in common.
When asked what else drives him to take on a project or start one, Nick responded, “To be an advocate for where I live, and where I've grown up. I see people in need of help, and I'd like to show my support in any way I can and help them.”
Nick is demonstrating that commitment as a member of Benton Harbor Team Solutions, which is tasked with supporting the City of Benton Harbor's efforts to end its water crisis by April 2023, by replacing all its leaded water service lines.
As part of that effort, Nick has joined other volunteers in distributing free bottled water to City residents. “I teamed up with a few churches, including New Bethel Baptist Church, to distribute water in Benton Harbor. We meet just to bring light, and to be better people, help one another out,” he said.
Nick's other notable media activities include working for the Benton Spirit Community Newspaper as a reporter, photographer, videographer, radio engineer, website and social media assistant. He writes a popular regular column, “Nick's Community Beat,” which rounds up local people and places of interest to readers. He's also become something of a local personality, achieving that distinction in January, when he won the Mr. Benton Harbor pageant.
The column serves as the print extension of his YouTube channel, Nick Eats, which focuses on different local eateries. When the COVID-19 pandemic shook the world in March 2020, Nick hit the ground running, creating Nick Eat's as a way of showcasing local eateries -- whose owners and employees were hit especially hit hard by the resulting crisis. The channel serves as a grassroots rallying point for these establishments, whose existence literally depends on how many customers come through the door. (For more information, please visit online at: youtube.com/nickeats.com.)
“The premise is me going out with a group of diverse friends, and we're going to different local businesses, or meeting with local business owners and city officials, highlighting local issues. We've done over 24 local businesses, and five local elected officials,” he said.
Nick is currently a senior at Berrien Springs High School, from which he graduates in June as Class of 2022 President. He's made his mark in various ways, such as the after-school Bible study that he organized in November 2021. “There are over 120 members and I lead them in different types of activities,” he said.
Another example is the After School Advisory program, where he organizes various projects, including the assembling of CARE packages for people at homeless shelters. Nick has also done yard work at the Central County Senior Center, on Shawnee Road, in Berrien Springs.
His various activities include Black Professionals of America (three years); Business Professionals of America; Concert Choir (two and a half years), marching band (one year); Student Council (four years, including two years as treasurer); and varsity sports, including four years on the football team (as nose tackle, defensive end), golf, and wrestling (three years, including two years as captain).
Nick's other notable community involvements include volunteering for the Future Leaders and Doctors Program, founded and run by Dr. Donald J. Tynes. “I help out, with him teaching me different things, and helping in his clinics,” he said.
On the academic side, Nick serves as a co-op student at Blossomland Learning Center, where he serves as a teacher assistant, helping students with learning disabilities.
He also serves as a board member with Fresh Start, run by local gardener and business owner, Emma Kinnard, an organization that helps inner-city youth by bringing fresh food and fresh gardens; a volunteer with Sisters From Another Mother, which teams up with Feeding America, and Michigan Works!, to distribute food to needy people; and as a volunteer cadet at Station #2, with the St. Joseph Township Fire Department.