Academics

Kara Morrow is the first GCU Honors College student to be selected for a White House internship. The 2018 graduate is surrounded by exceptional students. Her sister, Kelsey, is a 2015 GCU graduate slated to complete chiropractor school in May, and her brother, Kaleb, a GCU freshman, is a National Merit Finalist and an aspiring forensic scientist.

Complex foreign policy issues proved challenging but not daunting for GCU’s extemporaneous speech team members at the Jannese Davidson Memorial Tournament at Concordia University in Irvine, Calif. On the strength of a first place, a runner-up and a fourth-place finish by extemporaneous speakers, GCU placed second overall behind Point Loma Nazarene, in a 24-team event. GCU students spoke about issues impacting China, Venezuela and the European Union.

The marathon reading of Dante’s Divine Comedy brought the words of the 14th century Italian poet to life on the GCU campus on Friday. Students and faculty members, along with a few high school teachers, were among the 50 readers who combined to read all 100 cantos of “Inferno”, “Purgatorio’’ and “Paradiso”, a view of the afterlife. The project is the passion of Assistant Professor Jonathan Olson, who packed two lunches and reveled in every moment of the marathon.

The Curriculum Design and Development Department creates the curriculum students study in their Grand Canyon University coursework but took time out on Friday to showcase some of their creativity in the department’s first art show. But the show was anything but paint by numbers. According to curriculum developer Ruth Douthitt, it also helped build a sense of community among the employees.

The Colangelo College of Business Dean’s Speaker Series brought another industry leader to campus Tuesday. Students got to hear from Greg Hanover, who told them fascinating tales about his former career as an executive in the National Hockey League. But Hanover’s talks to multiple classes also included a very important message: Be prepared to work long hours and don’t plan on making a lot of money starting out.

When GCU celebrated the grand opening of the Colangelo College of Business Building on Wednesday morning, it was an opportunity to reflect on just how much Jerry Colangelo has brought to the University — and to the entire Valley. As Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey put it, “It’s been said, ‘What’s the difference between Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Phoenix, Arizona?’ And I would say this: Jerry Colangelo.”

It’s a legacy as big as the state of Texas: Kelly Taylor and five other members of her family have been online students at GCU since 2011. “I think the support system with GCU makes working on a degree much easier,” said Tammy Jones, one family member, who encouraged her mother, then 75 years old, and daughter to also become Lopes.

It’s been a big year so far, but there’s more to come in 2018-19. The spring semester will kick off with the grand opening of the new 150,000-plus-square foot Colangelo College of Business Building on Jan. 9 and will barrel forward through April and May with signature events such as the Canyon Challenge, Mr. GCU, the Theatre Department’s presentation of Holocaust drama “Who Will Carry the Word,” Serve the City in February, the Roadshow Tour at GCU Arena, basketball and much more. Check out some highlights from GCU Today’s 2019 Winter-Spring Calendar.

Emily Branch didn’t waste any time in her 3 1/2 years here at GCU. Not only did she maintain a full load of classes, but she worked the graveyard shift as an emergency medical technician, delved into undergraduate research on Sonoran desert plants to see if they might hold the secret to the next big antimicrobial/cancer-fighting drug, and even squeezed in an internship with Special Olympics. Not only that, but before walking the commencement stage on Friday to receive her bachelor’s degree in health care administration, she considered three job offers before accepting a position with Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

God’s plan was set on warp speed for Rachel Robinson, which is why she accepted her diploma at Friday afternoon’s winter commencement just 2 1/2 years after enrolling at Grand Canyon University. Pairing efficiency with excellence, the Honors College member earned a 4.0 grade point average, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology and a minor in Psychology.