Academics

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.

What makes a great teacher? It starts with a great education, and Aimee Frank, Victoria Monk and Jessica Gajewski all spoke highly of their experience at Grand Canyon University. They were three of the College of Education graduates Friday in winter commencement.

With a 3.9 grade point average, two internships and short stories and poems published in four literary journals, Cymelle Edwards is an exceptional member of the winter commencement graduating class. She developed her phenomenal writing gifts under the tutelage of several GCU professors, including Dr. Andrea Alden, assistant professor Brian Raftery and author Dr. Diane Goodman, who proclaimed, “I am confident that when Cymelle completes her MFA (Master of Fine Arts), she will emerge as a voice for her generation.’’

One of the impressive early graduates at winter commencement Friday morning was Payton Kuhnel, who needed just 2 1/2 years of college to get his Sports Management degree. But that’s only part of the story. Not only was he summa cum laude; he also worked the whole time he was on campus and already has a job in Major League Baseball.

Playing poker not only can be fun, it can provide a learning opportunity. And the bonus lesson for GCU math students amid their semi-annual Poker Day was seeing their instructors in a different environment. “It is fun to see the professor as a person instead of a teacher,’’ said Computer Science major Jeremy Mog.

The December 2018 graduates of the College of Education celebrated the end of their student-teaching experiences on Monday night, reflected on what they learned and expressed their appreciation for the COE faculty who thoroughly prepared them to teach. “I knew teachers did a lot and I knew how much I loved and appreciated them, but you don’t really, truly understand how much you love teachers until you have to be in the position to teach,’’ said elementary education aspiring teacher Sarah Schalick.