Archive for June, 2021

When Nicole Raum made the Canyon Worship album in her final try before she graduated, it was the perfect way to end her time as an undergraduate student at GCU. But her musical influence goes beyond the Worship Arts program — she was on the Worship team at Chapel for three years, an experience that turned into a ministry. Second of a series on Canyon Worship 2021, scheduled to be released in September.

What started as a leap of faith for junior theatre major Daniella Brown would turn into a job as an A2, or production audio technician, for this summer’s Williamstown Theatre Festival. After the internship program she applied for folded, Brown received the offer with the Massachusetts summer program. She’s working on nine shows celebrating black playwrights and actors of color until late July.

Glenda Moton had her own fears as a teacher last year but wondered why no one was focusing on the kids’ anxiety during the pandemic. The GCU alum helped her Miami, Florida, students express themselves with writing, which recently became a book, “Hopes and Fears: Learning Academically in a COVID-19 Environment.” She’s earned a lot of media attention for the project in south Florida as the school year ended, but she isn’t stopping there. Next up is a curriculum guide for teachers on how to help students with writing and meditation. Moton is an example of College of Education products across the country who stepped up in a big way in a trying year.

In an academic year faced with a multitude of obstacles, including a global pandemic, GCU’s National Society of Collegiate Scholars made a name for themselves on a national level. For the second time since 2014, the GCU honors organization was named a Platinum Star Status Chapter for the 2020-2021 academic year and also won the second-place award for Virtual Member Engagement Star Status Merit. “It’s always exciting to achieve such an accomplishment and have this national recognition, but once you set the bar, you have a new bar,” said Honors College Associate Dean and chapter co-advisor Dr. Breanna Naegeli. “It’s not only continuing to meet those standards but to find ways to surpass that each year moving forward.”

We’re sharing this message on behalf of 88-year-old Marjorie Farrier, who wanted to reach out to two unknown GCU or GCE “angels” who came to her aid. It’s one of those stories that personifies the best in all of us that you definitely want to read.

GCU Nursing alumna Brittney Hoyt grew up singing in church and at county fairs in Case Grande, Arizona, so when her best friend asked her to sing at her wedding, she was thrilled to be a part of her big day. It’s where she met fellow wedding singer Jake Hoot. Eight years later, the two are married and Jake, after winning the 17th season of NBC’s “The Voice,” is a rising country star. Not that Brittney isn’t a powerhouse herself. The labor and delivery nurse returns to Nicaragua often to do missionary work, she operates her own nonprofit, and she has returned to singing, regularly joining husband Jake when he performs.

Part of the healing process is acknowledging that we have grievances, then moving on from there to forgiveness, when we release our resentments and free ourselves. Kristan Farley of the Office of Student Care writes about forgiveness and grief in part one of a two-part article that continues next week.

According to the American Thyroid Association, about 20 million people in the United States have some form of thyroid disease, with an estimated 60% unaware of their condition. One of the most common thyroid conditions is called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Lily Limon discusses symptoms of the disease, what foods to avoid and when to see the doctor.

The Christian music community has taken notice of the Canyon Worship albums in a big way, and the 2021 version figures to draw even more attention. In the first of a weekly series, GCU Today provides an early glimpse of the student artists from GCU’s Worship Arts program and the songs they wrote. Today’s featured performer: Amanda Riffe.

Wildland firefighters often traverse rigorous terrain, hike long distances, breathe in smoke, and don’t eat or sleep well, among other stresses. They also are at risk of heart attacks. One study found that the risk for acute myocardial infarction during active fire suppression increased anywhere from 12 to 136 fold. It’s why a group of researchers, including GCU’s Dr. Zach Zeigler and students-now-alumni Payton Greer and Laura Verduzco, conducted a study to look at the effects of wildland firefighting on cardiovascular health.