Faith Evans, or Evans as she is known around the Reynolds School of Journalism, has been a student of journalism since the eighth grade. From then until her senior year of high school, she served as a writer, copy editor and news editor for different school publications, including the Coronado ROAR and the College of Southern Nevada High School news magazine.
“I have always known that journalism is what I wanted to do,” Evans said.
While her passion for journalism has never wavered, her ideal position in a newsroom has changed since coming to the Reynolds School. After getting comfortable writing long-form articles and feature stories, she took a turn at breaking news.
“I love the adrenaline rush of having someone text you on a Saturday night and say, ‘Hey I got a letter from a secret society slipped under my door, and you need to break this story right now,’” she said.
Evans realized her love for breaking news after taking a reporting class with Nico Colombant, a lecturer of digital media and cross-cultural reporting at the Reynolds School. Although her classes with Colombant were rigorous, she is grateful for the experiences that he provided.
“He really forced me to step out of my comfort zone…I love throwing everything down and breaking a news story, and if not for Nico, I would not have found that love again.”
She has since taken another class with Colombant, and he took note of her heightened work ethic and proficiency in writing.
“No assignment seems to scare her. In fact, she embraces new challenges and seeks to get out of her comfort zone. She also inspires others with her polished, calm and confident demeanor, as well as with her professionalism and evident love for writing,” Colombant said.
Evans is graduating this spring and has been named the 2021 Spring Senior Scholar for the Reynolds School. She earned this prestigious honor by maintaining a 4.0 GPA, the highest cumulative GPA in the Reynolds School.
“It is definitely a constant uphill battle to keep my GPA where it is. But I know what I am capable of, so I have high expectations of myself. My number one goal has always been to turn in work that I can add to my portfolio.”
Senior Scholar was not the only award that Evans took home this year. At the 2021 Savitt Awards, she won the Robert Laxalt Distinguished Writer award. Colombant commented on her impact as a writer.
“Whichever stories she pursues in the future, she will be a huge asset to the news industry and bring enlightenment to people who read her words.”
Evans has already received a job offer for post graduation. She will continue her career in journalism as a reporter for the Nevada Appeal in Carson City, covering local and state government news.
