Archive for April, 2016

Ariz. Gov. Doug Ducey visited Grand Canyon University on Friday to give a keynote address at the 10th annual Youth Leadership Day. He praised more than 600 high school leaders from across Arizona for setting a high bar, tackling tough issues and dedicating hours of time and energy to providing service to others and generally making Arizona a better place.

When Grandy Glaze came to GCU for the 2015-16 season, he and head coach Dan Majerle made a deal: Glaze would bring the energy, and Majerle would give him a chance to score. It worked out better than anyone could have imagined.

This week’s Antelope Intros feature two dads who are proud of their college degrees, passionate about learning and self-development — but could never go wrong with watching a game of football.

  Story and photo by Jeannette Cruz GCU News Bureau It takes a lot of work, dedication and collaboration to make a difference in a community, and Grand Canyon University’s Learning Lounge is all for it. Wednesday, the Learning Lounge received an Award of Excellence in Individual, Business, Foundation or Civic/Community Organization for Contributions to Public Education, presented by the Arizona School Public Relations Association, during the ASPRA*tions Awards at the Arizona Broadway Theatre in Peoria. The Learning Lounge was developed in partnership with nearby Alhambra High School in 2012 as part of GCU’s Strategic Educational Alliances Department and the University’s five-point plan to revitalize west Phoenix. The program provides free academic assistance and meals to students of any grade level and pairs them with GCU student mentors for one-on-one and small-group learning sessions. The results thus far have been remarkable. Alhambra, a D-rated school by the Arizona Department of Education three years ago, is now nine points away from being a “B” school. The number of high school graduates at Alhambra increased from 417 in 2013-14 to 536 in 2014-15 Alhambra seniors earned $2.7 million in college scholarships in 2014-15, up from $1.2 million in 2013-14 And the number of students taking advanced placement exams […]

Former world-class swimmer Dagny Knutson earned her highest honor Friday when she graduated from GCU with a bachelor’s in sports management. GCU coach Steve Schaffer helped Knutson get a scholarship, despite her ineligibility to swim competitively in college, because he was moved by her story. Today, Knutson is filled with gratitude for GCU and hopes to return to get her master’s degree here.

When Jennifer Cameron did her doctoral dissertation on the need for more African-American women in positions of leadership in the Army, little did she know that an important promotion was right around the corner: Nadja West became the first black female three-star general.

After 14 years as a professor and a stint as interim dean of GCU’s Colangelo College of Business, Dr. Kevin McClean is retiring. But don’t expect him to stay away from campus too much. He plans to visit often to attend games and is also considering online teaching. During his tenure, his servant style of leadership helped set an example. “That means relying on our faith, our learning and our beliefs to inform our decisions in business,” he said.

Photos by Takashi Sato Special for the GCU News Bureau Saturday morning’s full-house graduation of online students at Grand Canyon University was a heart-warming, triumphant event. And in a morning filled with bright moments, one of the highlights may have been when Diana Dichter, 73, who is in a wheelchair, received her first college degree.  

Photos by Darryl Webb GCU News Bureau More smiles, cheers and proclamations of congratulations were on display during the afternoon session of the final day of spring commencement at Grand Canyon University.  

The opening of the Grand Canyon University Hotel and Grand Canyon University Championship Golf Course were big stories in 2015-16, but they were just part of the continued community revitalization. And the rapid growth on campus continued, too. GCU Today Magazine picked the top 10 stories of the academic year just completed.