Welcome Week kickstart is an early pick-me-up

Story by Ryan Kryska
Photos by Travis Neely
GCU News Bureau

The grapevine is purple for a reason. It’s how sophomore Isiah Brown heard about the way Lopes do things, ultimately leading to his decision to join the herd this year on Grand Canyon University’s men’s basketball team.

He said in April, "I can't wait to meet them. I've heard great things ...” and on Friday, faculty, staff, alumni and students showed him great things.

“They are really about what they say they’re about,” Brown said. “It’s great helping the people that will be out supporting our team at the games.”

Men's basketball coach Dan Majerle said the team tries to make it out to volunteer during Welcome Week every year.

"We want to be a big part of this university and the guys love being out here," he said.

The team was just one of the many groups of Lopes out before the sun to move in 1,100 Welcome Crew members, who in return will move in the remainder of on-campus student next week.

Nine members of the University’s qualifying specialists department were among the Lopes moving in student volunteers. Qualifying specialist and alumna Hannah Miller was one of them, covering all the bases of Welcome Week. She has moved in during the organized chaos as a freshman before volunteering in later years as a Welcome Crew member.

We’ll call it a natural cycle.

“I remember being a freshman. We want to give them that great experience,” Miller said.

Qualifying specialist Caden Wakefield is a Move-in newcomer like Brown. He has been a GCU employee for almost a year and said it was great to "see everyone smile getting to school" while volunteering Friday morning.

"It’s been awesome working here," he said.

Fritz Bordes, a College of Education university counselor, has volunteered to move students in each of the four years he’s been working at GCU. He says he’s bled purple since day one. His 3- and 4-year-old children are in the Junior Lopes Club.

“I love doing this,” Bordes said. “I love giving back. GCU is not just a school to me, it’s family.”

Evonne Perez and Caleb Glennie were COE volunteers as well. They shared a similar sentiment – that the look on parents’ faces makes it all worth it.

Glennie says it’s important that parents feel comfortable leaving their children on campus, and having them watch staff and fellow students take care of their child’s move-in is a joy.

Rob Oskey was one of those parents. He dropped his daughter off on Friday for her senior year at GCU.

“This is beautiful, the fact that the kids come down early,” Oskey said. “It’s a chance for a Christian education that will prepare her for the rest of her life. It’s amazing. The kids are unbelievably efficient.”

That’s all Oskey had time to say before his SUV was unloaded -- time for the next car in line to pull up.

The fun continues Monday. Here is a list of the major nightly events of Welcome Week:

Monday: Canyon Cool Down (slippery slides, water fights) on Juniper Field

Tuesday:  Night at the Movies (“Avengers: Infinity War”) at GCU Arena

Wednesday: Ignite Worship at GCU Arena

Thursday: Lope-A-Palooza (pep rally with Thunder, Dance team, Cheer team, Thundering Heard Pep Band and Havocs) at GCU Arena, followed by a concert (mystery artist)

Friday: Women’s soccer match, followed by a men’s soccer match at GCU Stadium; opening of the theatre production “Ring Round the Moon’’

Saturday: Glow Party at GCU Arena

Sunday: Students are encouraged to attend church services with their Life Leader

Contact Ryan Kryska at (602) 639-8415 or [email protected].

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Related content:

GCU Today: Move-In volunteers bring a welcoming warmth

GCU Today: Welcome Week establishes pay-it-forward culture