Archive for October, 2021

The Masterworks Concert for the fall semester, scheduled for Sunday afternoon in Phoenix and Monday evening in Scottsdale, will feature the return of the Canyon Choral Society, Canyon Chorale and Canyon Symphony Orchestra to performing in public. It is dedicated to Dr. Sheila Corley, who passed away in August. “Her passing is a tremendous loss to our GCU music community, and we are honored to remember her through the performance of this work,” said Dr. Juan Hernandez, Assistant Dean of Music for the College of Fine Arts and Production.

Photos by Ralph Freso GCU News Bureau GCU students went on a scavenger hunt and tried their luck at getting a cookie from their forehead to their mouth without touching it Thursday in the Amazing Thunder Race.  

(October 29, 2021) – Earlier today, Grand Canyon University (GCU) refinanced $500 million of the secured note held by Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (GCE). The note was issued in 2018 as part of the University’s transition back to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit status and allowed the University to purchase all of the tangible and intangible assets comprising the University’s campus from GCE. The refinancing allows GCU to capitalize on today’s low interest rate environment and realize significant interest cost savings. The ability to refinance the note is a reflection of the University’s strong growth and solid financial performance in the three years since reverting to its historical nonprofit status. Recent audited financial highlights include: From the closing of the acquisition on July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2021, GCU has generated $341 million in cash from operations. GCU has increased its net assets to $443 million as of June 30, 2021. GCU closed fiscal year 2021 with over $407 million cash on hand. With its strong financial position, GCU has been able to continue to invest in its students, employees and community: From the closing of the acquisition on July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2021, the University has reinvested $368 […]

After GCU student Angel Cervantes recently won an Arizona Justice Educators Association Scholarship, he gave credit to everyone else. That includes his parents, who run Hard Knocks Gym in Phoenix, and teacher Kevin Walling, Chair of Justice Studies, Government and History at GCU. “You can learn from everybody – athletes, my mom, mentors in my life have all taught me to have an open ear,” said Cervantes, who wants to be a detective and restore faith in law enforcement in his community.

Connie Colbert shares Halloween health and safety tips for you and your children if they’re going to be trick-or-treating Sunday and just for you if you plan to attend a party.

Ever had your feelings get the best of you? Mike Wallace says the first step toward handling those situations is understanding that each of the seven core emotions is a gift and a curse.

The new Golden Lopes program, designed to give older learners an opportunity to keep their minds sharp, began this month. It kicked off with a luncheon at which two full-tuition GCU scholarships were handed out in a random drawing. “By having different classes here at GCU, it helps the seniors mentally and even physically walk around the campus and see the life of our students,” said Homer Drew, who helped organize the program.

Photos by Ralph Freso GCU News Bureau For the first time since the pandemic started, dance students were able to perform their Fall Student Spotlight Concert on the Thunderground stage. The event presented 11 live pieces and one film, capturing a wide array of emotions and messages. The student-led production is an opportunity for dance majors and minors to exercise their creative abilities and perform their own choreography in front of an audience.  

Students hearing Jodi Hickerson for the first time at Chapel on Monday probably were taken aback by her ability to deliver a fiery talk with barely a breath between sentences. And that was before she launched into a piece of poetry that had the crowd mesmerized. She built her message around all the “that just happened” moments in Jesus’ life and said, ““We have a Savior who is ready to meet you in the middle of your mess.”

One of the doctoral degrees at Monday’s makeup Commencement ceremony was a milestone: Dr. Kelly Maguire became the first learner to officially receive the Teaching and Learning degree. It was quite a culmination to her journey through the program with her husband, Joe, supporting her — just as she had done for him through his three decades in the Marines. “I feel like this accomplishment is equally his,” he said.