Archive for August, 2019

The international and out of state student social brought together students from far away or far, far away and made them feel a little more at home at GCU. “The time that they get to spend here, whether it’s four years, whether it’s two years, we want them to cherish the memories, we want them to cherish the friends and the moments that they make here,” ASGCU President Samuel Yonan said. “I hope that they take away that they’re welcomed here, that we’re excited to have them here, that we want to make this the best opportunity of their life.”

Photos by David Kadlubowski and Elizabeth Tinajero GCU News Bureau The final days of Welcome Week provided an opportunity for out-of-state and international students to learn more about the University with orientation and get to know each other with a mixer. And then the Glow Party on Saturday night was just wild and crazy fun.       

Yes, they set the record. That was the main thing people on campus wanted to know about Friday’s “Welcome Back at the CAC,” a Welcome Week event designed to draw students to the Canyon Activity Center with an attempt at breaking the Guinness World Record in knockout basketball. The patience of the 728 participants also was record-breaking — the event took awhile.

Photos by David Kadlubowski GCU News Bureau Students turned out in big numbers Friday evening for Lope-A-Palooza, the annual Welcome Week pep rally staged by the Cheer and Dance teams and Thundering Heard Pep Band, and a new event, Infuse, in which students gathered on the Quad afterward for refreshments and games.  

In a new GCU Today feature, Faculty Focus will highlight outstanding faculty at the University, both ground and online. The first installment is on College of Education Professor Dr. Meredith Critchfield, who has an unquenchable zest for education as well as some other interesting passions.

GCU’s College of Education leaders knew they had a department of skilled faculty and a rigorous and innovative curriculum. Others have agreed. COE was awarded the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) for seven years after reviewing the evidence collected through a process of self-study and peer review. Dr. Kimberly LaPrade, Dean of COE, said the national accreditation validates what she knew: “There are a lot of people that don’t have the depth of experience that our faculty has.”

They sang. Oh, how they sang. They worshiped. Oh, how they worshiped. The annual Ignite ceremony, a staple of Welcome Week, turned everyone in GCU Arena on Thursday night into a participant and challenged the emotions of everyone who was there. It was that powerful.

Grand Canyon University Theatre Department’s first play of the 2019-2020 season looks to be one of the most comedic it has done in a while. Director Michael Kary compares the comedic styles to shows like “The Office” or “Parks and Recreation,” and the cast said audiences won’t want to miss the production. “It’s very funny, I will go as far as to say I’ve never been part of a show that is funnier than this one,” said Micah Larsen, who plays the role of Francis Henshall. “There’s a laugh at every turn, so if that’s not good enough reason to come out and laugh a little, I don’t know what is.”

The GCU Cheer team, along with Thunder, was a big winner at its recent camp in Santa Barbara, Calif., but that’s not the main reason for attending. It’s all about coming together as a team and also be a good example for others. “It’s an opportunity to intentionally influence people, and hopefully they walk away going, ‘Wow, they really and truly are good, Christ-centered people,’” said Emily Stephens, Director of Spirit Programs.

Photos by Elizabeth Tinajero and Enrique Lucha GCU News Bureau Thursday’s Welcome Week activities included socials for the Academic and Career Excellence (ACE) centers and transfer students, ROTC orientation and a welcome-back party for Worship Arts students.