Grad Student Wins Evangelical Press Scholarship

Comm student stands out in Christian journalism

Felecia Datus is the first ever Andrews University student to be awarded the EPA scholarship.

Andrews University graduate student Felecia Datus was announced as the winner of an Evangelical Press Association scholarship during the EPA convention held in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in early April. Datus, a native of the Bahamas, will receive a $2,000 scholarship based on her proven track record in Christian journalism.

Majoring in communication, Datus is the managing editor of the student-run publication “Envision” magazine, and has written articles for the “Lake Union Herald” and “Praying Woman” magazines. She serves as a host for the Communication Media Center production of “Inside the Bible” and Northern Caribbean University’s radio program “Daybreak Delight.” Datus also teaches a journalism course in the Department of Visual Art, Communication & Design.

“Felecia was responsible for a wide range of tasks from writing, to editing, to selling advertisements and working with designers,” said Debbie Michel, editor of Envision. “She juggled the multiple roles with professionalism, and distinguished herself not only as a strong storyteller, but as a very creative, mission-minded student.”

Since enrolling at Andrews University last fall, Datus was selected as a graduate assistant and says this scholarship is an answer to prayer.

“I never thought that winning this scholarship was possible but I knew that God was capable of working in marvelous ways,” she said. “I had put off applying for weeks, just because I thought I could not get it but my weakness combined with God’s grace afforded me this opportunity. The skills that I honed in my communication classes at Andrews played a huge role in me getting the scholarship.”

After her studies, Datus plans to continue serving on short-term missions; last December she served in Honduras and this summer she goes to Rwanda. She also intends to do editorial work for a Christian publication, combined with media productions that would capture the ways that God works in the lives of people.

The Evangelical Press Association is a professional association of Christian publications that exists to provide inspiration, instruction and networking to strengthen evangelical periodicals. The scholarship was established by New York Times best-selling author Jerry Jenkins, a former editor of “Moody Monthly” magazine and founding editor of “Today’s Christian Woman.”

For more information about the Andrews University Department of Visual Art, Communication & Design, visit andrews.edu/communication, email commdept@andrews.edu or call 269-471-6314.