Campus Life

The GCU Library has uploaded to its website a new feature that’s worth a long. nostalgic look. The Historical Archives Collection is filled with photos of life at Grand Canyon College from 1949 to 1984. “We knew we had some treasures, but we didn’t know how much,” said Nita Mailander, Director of Library Services. “… There was a lot of treasure.”

Tony Barrera struggled to find a balance between his Latino heritage and American culture as he tried to answer the “Who am I?” question. But then he came to GCU and was accepted so readily by other students, he found his identity — and told his story in this “My LopeLife,” reprinted from the April issue of GCU Magazine.

A lot happened at GCU near the end of the 2019-20 academic year, but nothing could come close to the significance of COVID-19 forcing students off campus in March. Athletics also felt the brunt of the pandemic with the WAC Basketball Tournament and spring sports being canceled, but the hirings of new basketball coaches Bryce Drew and Molly Miller made for a promising future.

GCU and GCE employees came through in a big way when they were given the opportunity to donate money for the University’s production of personal protective equipment (PPE). The goal, with GCU and GCE matching each donation dollar for dollar, was $100,000, but the final total was nearly twice that. Employees also are jumping in to help with PPE production.

The pandemic has meant all manner of adjustments on the fly, not the least of which is inspecting hundreds of campus residents’ rooms with resident advisors moved off campus. That’s why 140 employees stepped up this week to don masks and gloves and help. The work was scheduled for four days but was completed in only two.

Brian Mucyo wasn’t sure how it would work out when he arrived at GCU. He’s blind. He needed his guide dog, Mannix, to get around campus. But from the moment he arrived, he felt at home. And now that he’s graduating, he has some strong feelings about what it has meant to him.

To some, making face masks out of unused T-shirts might seem like a simple task. It’s not. The Canyon Promotions team had to use considerable ingenuity to adapt its machines and by last week had the project fully up and running. Similarly, the College of Science, Engineering and Technology quickly figured out a way to make face shields in its 3-D printers.

The idea was lodged in the mind of senior Sam Yonan long before the COVID-19 pandemic upended the world: GCU should have a cross to represent who we are as a Christian university. The project moved forward even during the health crisis as three crosses were assembled in a shop on campus this week. Their message of hope for the future resonated even more.

Photos by David Kadlubowski GCU News Bureau The COVID-19 pandemic has created eerie scenes across the world: Normally jam-packed landmarks are empty as people stay home and large public gatherings are discouraged or outright banned. The Grand Canyon University campus also is a quiet place these days, with fewer students still living there. But there is peace, serenity and beauty in its stillness.    

Six GCU graduates from the last decade have one thing in common: They see the value of their time at the University. Several still are getting value in other ways. Maya Hinojos struck a deal with GCU to sell more than 6,300 beds from her family’s mattress company, and three are employed by the University. Reprinted from the February issue of GCU Magazine.