Campus Life

Erik Yost, Nathan Olsen and Noah Krepela were expecting to compete in the poster presentation portion of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research conference recently in Baltimore. It’s where undergraduates present their work to the scientists in attendance. But the team, all members of GCU’s STELLAR group, found out it was hand-picked, instead, to give a professional oral presentation about their microbial fuel cell research. “This is a huge honor and, basically, unheard of,” said Erik Yost, president and founder of STELLAR, a club/research group that is getting ready to send its microbial fuel cells to the International Space Station in May.

Ruben Hernandez once ran the streets near GCU, getting into trouble and painting graffiti late into the night. But then he was sentenced to serve community service. His assignment was at a church, and his redemption began. He went from high school dropout, to art school graduate before arriving at GCU. Here, he practiced his art in Thunderground and learned business acumen as an entrepreneurial studies major. He was hired to paint a large mural in the lobby of the Antelope Canyon Center, and his creation is fitting: the Grand Canyon.

Photos by Ralph Freso GCU News Bureau Grand Canyon University students enjoyed a different sort of shopping experience Tuesday — clothing, jewelry and other items being sold by their peers — at the Student Market.  

Photos by Ralph Freso GCU News Bureau Grand Canyon University students dressed up in their holiday finest, danced, ate great food and danced some more Monday night at the annual Hanging of the Greens in GCU Arena.   

Students who made the effort to come back to campus after Thanksgiving break and get to Chapel on Monday were rewarded with another passionate talk by the inimitable Chris Brown. The Senior Pastor of North Coast Church in Vista, California had a lot to say about how trusting God with your life will never disappoint. “The longer you dare to walk with God, the further you dare to walk with God,” Brown said, “the more and more, I promise, you’re going to find exactly as He has said.”

Photos by Ralph Freso GCU News Bureau Chris Brown of North Coast Church in Vista, California, returned to the Grand Canyon University campus Monday to give another of his spirited talks, this time about the importance of trusting God with your life. GCU grads Chandler Jennings and Chandler Kruse provided the worship music.  

The Lope Shop has a big selection of GCU gear for Christmas shopping, and that’s the operative word — big. Oversize is the style this year. Shelly Schrimpf, Assistant Director of Campus Retail and Licensing, says she has trouble keeping larges and extra larges in stock. Reprinted from the November issue of GCU Magazine.

It’s easy to get caught up in the season and occupied with the decorations, watching football and catching up with family. But GCU Director of Spiritual Life Erik Nelsen in his brief Thanksgiving message during Monday’s virtual Chapel asked the campus community to pause, remember the hope of the season gifted to us by the Christmas story, and check in with friends and family who might have lost some of that hope. “Treat yourself to a peppermint mocha and spend time with God,” he said.

GCU Engineering, which debuted just six years ago, has been making big strides lately. Several of its degree tracks received ABET accreditation, considered the gold standard in engineering and computing accreditation, and now the department is getting set to launch three new programs: industrial engineering, computer engineering and a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with an Emphasis in Aerospace.

With so many different iterations of “The Addams Family” over the years, it’s no surprise that the Theatre Department was excited about making it the third play of the season. But the excitement extends beyond the iconic characters taking the Ethington Theatre stage — it also will be GCU’s first musical since before the pandemic. “I think there is just so much joy that comes along with a musical, so I think it’s just really a great atmosphere to bring back to GCU,” said Christian Shepard, who plays Wednesday Addams’ fiancé.