24 • GCU TODAY
GCU
Alumni
It's like a
home away
from home
‘Lopes on the Road’
program shows how
well GCU’s sense of
community travels
B Y L A U R E N M I C H E L S E N
A
sk any Lope, past or present,
what they love about Grand
Canyon University, and the word
“community” is bound to be heard
many times over. With GCU recently surpassing
100,000 graduates and spreading its reach
nationwide, the need to engage alumni, online
students and off-campus staff is greater than
ever, and “Lopes on the Road” does just that.
The Alumni Relations and Athletics
departments team up to stage Lopes on the
Road, a family-oriented pregame reception
that brings GCU fans — including parents of
ground students — together before they go
wild for the team at the game. They gather for
a meal, collect free swag and get in the spirit.
This was the third basketball season of
Lopes on the Road events, and they were so
successful the departments have expanded
the program to other sports. There have been
Lopes on the Road events at two baseball
games this season, and another one is
scheduled for May 3 in San Jose, Calif.
“Other schools look at us like, ‘Where did all
these GCU people come from?’” Vice President
of Athletics Mike Vaught said.
It’s not unusual for purple-clad GCU fans to
take up a whole section in the opposing team’s
arena. “As an athlete, it’s good to not feel like
it’s ‘me against the world,’” Vaught said. “It’s
good to have people on your side.”
While Lopes on the Road provides a support
system for athletes, it also creates a sense
of camaraderie between fellow alumni and
non-traditional students by “bringing a piece
of campus to them,” said Kimberlee Marlow,
director of alumni relations. “The interest level
and attendance has exceeded our expectations.”
“I’ve had the ability to meet fellow students,
alumni and even GCU staff members that I
would not have been able to previously meet
thanks to the ‘Road’ programs,” said Nick
Roberts, a former online student and the
Seattle alumni chapter president. “Getting to
watch the team go out there and represent our
school makes such an impact when you’re so
far away. It really loops you into the campus.”
The big Lopes on the Road turnouts
have shown that the togetherness at GCU
events is not exclusive to the west Phoenix
campus. “The GCU community is amazing
and improving every day,” said Erik Adams, a
former online student.
No matter whether it’s on campus or far,
far away.
DanMajerle mingles with GCU fans when they gather for “Lopes on the Road”
at away basketball games.
