Academics

Christina Solares already has a bachelor’s and master’s from GCU and enjoyed it so much, she’s working on her doctorate. Her connection with her chair, Dr. Tetiana McLemore, has helped shape Solares’ dissertation. “The chair that I have, she’s the only person I can think about when I come back to this doctoral program,” she said. “She has pushed me so hard and she’s so supportive, and that is probably the number one thing that us doctoral students would ever want.” Fifth in a series highlighting learners in the College of Doctoral Studies. 

Many 25-year-olds still are trying to figure out what to do with their lives. But for Mireille Mukiza, her pursuit of a doctoral degree from GCU is just one impressive accomplishment she can add to her resumé. Her education is an inspiration to her family back home in Congo, where women are not encouraged to pursue higher education. “I’m a woman and I can do it,” she said. “I know my degree will have my name on it, but it kind of feels like a family achievement.” First in a series highlighting learners in the College of Doctoral Studies. 

When Madison Strong heard that Dr. Jeff La Belle was joining the College of Science, Engineering and Technology, she knew what a dedicated researcher he was and wanted to be part of his research team. So she introduced herself and was the first GCU student to join La Belle Lab. She has since been listed as the first author of a research paper and was accepted recently to the biomedical engineering Ph.D. program at Northwestern University.

The list of GCU graduates entering law schools with hefty scholarships keeps growing. Recent grads Jacob Frankson, Rebekah Zufelt and Christina Boyle share how the legal studies courses, law clubs and mentors and teachers at GCU helped them secure spots against stiff competition. “The proof of the validity of the pre-law program is in the continued successes of the students,” said Kevin Walling, Chair of Justice Studies, Government and History.

Summer isn’t as quiet as you’d think around the University this year. More students than ever — 1,137 — are housed on campus this year. For the first time, they can live in University apartments, and many are eager to make up for lost time after a year of pandemic disruptions. “For me, having the option of being on campus and getting a job and doing it for a lower expense – I would take that to be with my friends a bit longer,” said Caleb Canfield, a resident assistant.

When the state closed its test-taking sites for the National Council Licensure Examination during the COVID-19 lockdowns, GCU’s nursing students were worried. They were worried, too, that once those sites opened back up that they might not be as prepared as they could have been to take the test, which they must pass to begin working in the field. Still, GCU’s nursing students in the first quarter of 2021 scored a 100% first-time pass rate on the exam, thanks to the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions faculty who found answers when COVID presented roadblock after roadblock. Said Dean Dr. Lisa Smith, “We’re going to do everything we can to support our students until they cap.”

It was a coup for the College of Science, Engineering and Technology, whose students swept the top spots in the the oral presentations category of the recent meeting of the Arizona and Southern Nevada branch of the American Society for Microbiology. At the virtual event, hosted by Touro University in Henderson, Nevada, GCU took first and second place in oral presentations, two others talks were named runners-up, and student Karson Rush-Briones was recognized with the W.W. Norton Award in the category of Undergraduate Poster Presentations.

The virtual Commencement ceremony for online students Saturday was actually eight prerecorded ceremonies — one for each college, with a promise of more ceremonies this fall for graduates who would like the in-person experience. But the acknowledgment of their accomplishments amid the pandemic couldn’t wait. “What you have accomplished is remarkable, and we are celebrating it today,” GCU President Brian Mueller said.

No one would blame Rosemary Zuniga for quitting after she started college as a single mother in Las Vegas 30 years ago. She had worked fulltime as a cocktail waitress, had medical problems, her parents died of cancer months apart and she had back surgery. But Zuniga made a promise to her mom during their last conversation and to her daughter Mariah, who was a newborn when she first started college. She wouldn’t quit. She is set to graduate from GCU on Saturday.

Bill Engvall found success on the comedy stage. His “Here’s Your Sign” album reigned at No. 1 on the Billboard Comedy Chart when it was released in 1996. He followed that with the wildly popular Blue Collar Comedy Tours with Jeff Foxworthy, Ron White and Larry the Cable Guy. He also had his own TV show, “The Bill Engvall Show,” on TBS, placed fourth in 2013 on “Dancing With the Stars” and just wrapped up a guest gig as Rev. Paul on Fox sitcom “Last Man Standing.” Now Engvall is adding another achievement to his list of successes: He’s graduating from GCU with his bachelor’s degree in Christian Studies.