Archive for February, 2015

This week’s Antelope Intros feature two enrollment counselors, one who works in Tempe and another who’s in Peoria. Whether tracing family history or providing a skill that translates well, they both are self-starters.

The contributions of freshmen to the GCU men’s and women’s basketball teams have paid dividends this season as the newcomers have gained confidence and earned more playing time. Coaches Dan Majerle and Trent May had some interesting thoughts about how they have worked with their new players to help them make the transition from high school to college.

By Janie Magruder GCU News Bureau Each year, as Dr. Juan Hernandez, director of Grand Canyon University’s music department and assistant dean of its College of Fine Arts and Production, is planning the kind of music that vocalists and instrumentalists should perform at major concerts, he goes straight to the Bible. This year, in Philippians 4:8, Hernandez found his inspiration from the Apostle Paul: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.” Music that exists to do just that, in the praise and worship of God, will be performed at GCU’s Masterworks Concert II, beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday at First Southern Baptist Church of Phoenix, 3100 W. Camelback Road, on the southeast side of campus. The free event will feature about 100 student performers in the Canyon Chorale, Canyon Singers and Critical Mass, in addition to faculty and student soloists, performing traditional choral repertory. They will be led by Hernandez and GCU vocal instructor Dr. Sheila Corley and accompanied by veteran pianist Mark Fearey. The feature work is English composer Benjamin Britten’s “Rejoice […]

By Janie Magruder GCU News Bureau Since emerging from the fog she and her family were trapped in for nine months in 2012 and 2013, Jennifer Stahlecker has asked herself the same question over and over: “Why didn’t I do something sooner?” After all, Stahlecker was an expert in recognizing the telltale symptoms of childhood cancer, among them, an unhealthy pallor, fever, headache and other physical complaints. For a decade she had worked as an oncology nurse at Phoenix Children’s Hospital (PCH), helping dozens of little cancer patients through brutal, but medically necessary treatments and offering both her expertise and a shoulder to cry on to their parents and siblings. But in July 2012, Stahlecker, who had just earned a nurse practitioner degree, was away from PCH and training for her advanced career in a pediatrician’s office, where she focused on runny noses and sore throats instead. “In oncology, it’s always something horrible, but I was more in the mindset at this time of ‘Oh, it’s always nothing,’” she said. Stahlecker, who was eight months pregnant, had noticed her son, Tyler, acting strangely. Perhaps he had the “terrible twos” or somehow sensed his life was about to change with a new baby in the family, she thought. He […]

This week’s Chapel had a different look and a different sound but included an important message in the “Making a Difference” theme. Pastor Tim Griffin, GCU’s dean of students, talked about the importance of the “It’s on Us” campaign against sexual violence.

The GCU Film Festival will include screenings of student films at Ethington Theatre from 6-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. An award ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday. Awards will be given out for six categories (animation, comedy, documentary, drama, faith and music video), in addition to an award for best overall film and a fan-favorite award students can vote on. The festival will be hosted by Associated Students of GCU president Cody Dumas and Lopes basketball player Daniel Alexander. Both are film majors.

When prominent Christian songwriter Mark Harris lectured Center for Worship Arts students Monday night about his craft, they got an inside look from someone who isn’t just good at it, he loves it, too. Harris shared some tricks he uses to put songs together and then make them better.

Photos by Darryl Webb GCU News Bureau GCU welcomed online students and faculty to campus Saturday with a reception and free tickets to the men’s basketball game. In rolling out the purple carpet, the University also feted three exemplary students who gave testimonials during the reception, and it awarded scholarships to the children of one of the students, Jessica Smith.    

By Janie Magruder GCU News Bureau The Manning family of Tucson really enjoys Christmas together, right down to the five pairs of matching jammies that Santa brings. But the past two Christmases were a little rough on John and Rhonda, parents of eldest child, Jessalyn, and the baby of the family, Lauryn, because their son, Javen, is in the U.S. Air Force and couldn’t get holiday leave. They made up for it Saturday night in Grand Canyon University’s Arena where, during the first timeout of the men’s basketball game, Javen surprised his sisters by greeting them on the Jumbotron and then walking onto the court. It was part of a hush-hush plan that began in January with a conversation between John and GCU CEO/President Brian Mueller, and it was configured by Helen Bleach, senior director of University relations and campus events, and her super stealth Events Services staff. Thunder knew about it, too, but most everyone else did not. Lauryn, a 20-year-old GCU sophomore and member of the dance team, screamed and burst into tears shortly after her big brother’s smiling face appeared on the huge screen. The scene had been configured to have Lauryn, Jessalyn and most everyone else […]

While Grand Canyon University’s campus is safer than many, students, faculty and staff are encouraged this week to sign a pledge statement to a universal “commitment to help keep women and men safe from sexual assault.” The effort is part of the national “It’s On Us” campaign launched by the Obama administration.