Campus Life

The Class of 2019 got to GCU at a time when the campus was starting to really grow. The soon-to-be graduates have a lot of thoughts about what they’ve seen.

The idea for the April issue of GCU Magazine actually was hatched in 2015, when we told the stories of some of the incoming students in the Class of 2019. Now they’re graduating, and it was time to see what their four years were like. The answer: It was a head-spinning time of growth, both on campus and for the students themselves. This issue also features the University’s first graduates from its engineering program and its Students Inspiring Students initiative, a look at how GCU teaches computer programming differently, the heartwarming story of Jesse Dalla Riva‘s transformation from drug addict to graduate, and a My LopeLife piece by another 2019 grad. There’s more: what’s ahead for the GCU men’s basketball program, the increasingly important communication tool utilized by online instructors and students, and yet another heartwarming story — this one on recent GCU Hall of Fame inductee Sharky Baker. To read the digital version, click here.  

Students and faculty made their way to the Colangelo College of Business lobby Friday to watch the inauguration of ASGCU’s new leadership, led by President Samuel Yonan and Executive Vice President Bret Malkin, and bid farewell to 2018-19 President Noah Wolfe. “I’m excited for what they’re going to do. They’re going to do a great job,” Wolfe said. “We’ve had a great run and got a lot of stuff done, so I feel confident to hand the baton off to some wonderful people. I’m looking forward to what’s in the future.”

A large gathering turned out Thursday night for the Latino Student Union’s meeting, which featured a talk by award-winning journalist Mary Rabago and a performance Costa Rican accordion player Tatiano Crespo, whose appearance at TEDxGrandCanyonUniversity was such a hit. It was just another sign of the success the Latino Student Union is having with its inclusive approach.

English/professional writing major Jordan Radcliffe said StartleBloom is important because it assures that “student creativity has a voice and an outlet.” About 40 student-created literary works, such as poems and short fiction, are included in the latest edition of the literary review. The StartleBloom team handed out copies of the publication Wednesday on the Promenade.

As the Colangelo College of Business Building wraps up its first academic year, it’s interesting to look back at how the 150,000-square-foot structure has centralized everything the college is doing. But one thing hasn’t changed: It’s “Lopes First” commitment.

Monday night marked the final Canyon Worship Songwriters Showcase for Katie Brown and Harrison Russell, and the two stars of the Worship Arts program went out with a crescendo — they performed side by side for two songs. The way one of those songs came together is an interesting story, and so are their thoughts about their experiences in the program and where it’s headed.

The final Chapel talk of the spring semester was more than just a talk. Justin Unger of Likewise Worship Collective performed songs before discussing the importance of using music to bring people together at church services — not have separate services for different age groups.

The new roller hockey rink in the Canyon Activities Complex opened Thursday, and it didn’t take long for members of the club hockey teams to feel right at home. They figure to soon be joined by lots of other students enjoying the facility, built and funded by the Arizona Coyotes. It’s another sign of the hockey team’s growing relationship with the University.

Areahna O’Rea spent more than two years preparing her startup idea, Ninjobi, for the Canyon Challenge, and it paid off Wednesday morning when she took home the $5,000 awarded the winner of the competition. Not only was her presentation well done — one of the judges, Dan Schultz, described her job-placement application as “something unique.”