Archive for October, 2019

Are Google interviews really as intense as everyone has heard? Is it true that employees get free food, free massages and have access to an onsite gym and health clinic? What is the next big thing for Google? And what about privacy? A panel of “Googlers,” including account executives David Tully and Alexis Russo, account manager John Dzera and software engineer Mauricio Molina, stopped by GCU on Wednesday to answer some of those questions, give away some cool Google swag (mesh Google laundry hamper, anyone?) and talk about everything from how they got to Google, what they do, what they love about working at the $75 billion technology company and more. The talk, called “A Day in the Life of a Google Employee,” was brought to campus by Grand Canyon Education’s Digital Marketing Team and Strategic Employer Initiatives and Internships.

What started as a preceptorship would eventually grow into an unbreakable friendship and an opportunity for both Dr. Viola Pierce and Dr. Brittany Bass to graduate with their Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees together at Grand Canyon University’s Fall Commencement ceremony. The pair started the program together and graduated together, surrounded by each of their families. “We went through the entire program together, so this is special for us and I love her dearly,” Pierce said.

Brian Mucyo’s Senior year at GCU is jam-packed with responsibilities connected to his passions, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Mucyo was recently selected as the National Federation of the Blind of Arizona’s Award and scholarship recipient, as well as taking a seat on the Arizona Association of Blind Students board. October is meet the blind month and Mucyo hopes to help spread awareness of issues that affect people with visual impairments. “The thing that makes this award kind of special to me is that it’s an award where sure, I’m being recognized for the things I do, the effort I put into school and the passion I have for everything that I do but it’s not one of those awards that I’ll be getting where it kind of leads with ‘despite the fact that he’s blind these are all the things he’s doing and that’s so incredible that’s why we’re giving it to him.’” Mucyo said. “To me I feel like it’s affirming that what makes me special isn’t that I’m blind and somehow overcame it, no it’s just who I am as a person.”

GCU News Bureau GCU had a strong presence at the recent Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) National Education Forum in Orlando, Fla. Key developments to note:  ● GCU has signed a CEP participant agreement through the K12 Educational Development Department with ALAS because our mission and vision so closely aligns to support underrepresented populations and show how higher education is possible for students of all socioeconomic statuses. ● GCU will award scholarships to administrators who join our advanced master’s and doctoral programs. ● GCU will serve as host for the ALAS Superintendent Leadership Academy in January 2020 and the ALAS State Affiliates Conference in March 2020, which will bring school district superintendents and administrators from all parts of the country to campus.

Jillian Hartman, an Assistant Professor in the College of Education, has considerable experience in mentoring new teachers and is passionate about new technology that makes her more effective in her job. Away from work, she and her husband are plenty busy with their three young children, who look absolutely adorable in this photo with Thunder. Her past includes an interesting competition that requires a lot of skill to master.

In this week’s Fitness Facts, Connie Colbert explains the symptoms and causes of hand, foot and mouth disease, which is highly contagious. This is what it looks like, how it can be prevented and how it is best treated.

In this week’s Mental Health Vitamin, Dr. Deb Wade explains the differences between healthy fears and phobias. Some people are so debilitated by phobias they can’t perform simple functions, such as driving on a freeway, and Dr. Deb provides an example of how therapy can help overcome those fears.

We all have to decide eventually what our spiritual journey will be like, and Jo Saxton wanted to intercept the students listening at Chapel on Monday if they hadn’t yet made that decision. But not only do we need to decide what we’re here for, she said. We also need to understand who Jesus is and not let others determine what our story will be.

GCU News Bureau About 300 Grand Canyon University students — along with GCU President Brian Mueller and Dr. Tim Griffin, Pastor and Dean of Students — painted and landscaped at 12 Canyon Corridor locations on Oct. 26 for the twice-a-year Serve the City. Students volunteer at multiple Habitat for Humanity projects for Serve the City. This was the 10th Serve the City in which GCU and Habitat teamed up, and both parties are thankful for a partnership that has facilitated 606 renovations on 263 homes before Oct. 26.

Two years ago, the Cartwright Community Garden, which sits adjacent to Bret R. Tarver Elementary School and Marc T. Atkinson Middle School, was just an empty lot where a fire destroyed plans for a garden — and destroyed a mobile garden dubbed Gus the Garden Bus. Phoenix Fire Captain Austin Moreland, a GCU alum and former baseball player, couldn’t just let those plans fall by the wayside and enlisted the help of the community to restore the garden and create a new Gus the Garden Bus. The memorial garden was the site Saturday for the city of Phoenix’s Food Day and the Junior League of Phoenix’s Healthfest. GCU was there, with Canyon 49 Executive Sous Chef Michael Willison and members of the men’s baseball team, Milwaukee Brewers and the Learning Lounge to help inspire people to change the way they look at food.