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Michael McKenney grew up in a place where teens were unlikely to graduate from high school, much less go to college. But the Clinical Coordinator of the Athletic Training Education Program at GCU wanted something different for his children. The Allocate to Elevate initiative made it possible for him to send his children to private Christian schools. The workplace-giving program, in which employees can divert their tax dollars to Habitat for Humanity, School Choice and public school extracurricular programs, is kicking off its ninth year this month with a $3.2 million goal.

A new season of Ethington Theatre plays begins Wednesday night with Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors.” In addition to debuting on the new outdoor stage, the production will showcase some original musical pieces adapted written by instructor Michael Kary and composed by theatre student Ryan Ardelt.

Funny how being unable to attend classes in person for six months makes them that much more appealing. Whether they were returning to GCU or fresh out of high school, students were eager to resume the classroom experience this week. “It’s completely different being here as a student,” said one freshman. “It’s a big, amazing school, and there’s a completely different atmosphere than most colleges.”

Chapel returned to its usual campus setting Monday, but GCU President Brian Mueller wanted to make it clear that a year like no other deserves a special response: He expects this academic year to be the best of his 13 at the University. “God is really clear throughout Scripture that He wants us to take action,” Mueller said.

Excited students brought life back to the GCU campus on a Saturday night of celebration. Welcome Fest was filled with activities all across campus. What the new students learned was the overwhelming sense of community that can still exist six feet apart and wearing masks. “You are not alone,” host Caleb Duarte told a group of freshman gathering on the fields in The Grove. “We are one Lope. We are one herd.”

“There are a lot of things that I am unsure of. But tonight, what I do know, is that we are at a place that has allowed an opportunity for diversity and awareness and inclusion to be possible,” said Donald Glenn, Director of the Multicultural, Diversity and Inclusion Office at Sunday’s One Love Awareness Walk. About 500 students and others in the campus community joined in the event, symbolic of GCU’s commitment to love, compassion, respect and dignity this semester. The walk, which introduced the campus to the newly expanded office, culminated Welcome Week events and helped usher in the new semester as students begin in-person learning today.

Nathan Hollis II, Assistant Professor in the College of Education, is a faculty member worth watching. After all, how often do you hear someone say, “I don’t believe my most notable professional accomplishment has come just yet. I believe it is on my journey ahead, and God continues to prepare me.”

The new outdoor stage for Ethington Theatre productions has been constructed in time for the first play of the season, “The Comedy of Errors,” which begins Wednesday night. It turned into an educational project for College of Fine Arts and Production staff and students. “I think we’re uniquely suited for this,” COFAP Assistant Dean William Symington said. “It’s been a challenge, but we create a problem-solving way of thinking of how to do something in a different way and how to make a positive out of it.”

The highlight of GCU senior Connor Keene’s summer? That’s an easy one: He went to Vermont for a six-day seminar focusing on the free-market beliefs of the late Milton Friedman. The trip was arranged by two of his Colangelo College of Business mentors, Robert Vera and Tim Kelley, and Keene made the most of it.

Christian Simmons starts in-person classes Monday with a lot of intense stories he can tell about his summer. He fought wildfires during one of the most intense fire seasons ever. The Government major and Students Inspiring Students scholarship recipient shares how one day in the Tonto National Forest the flames were too close for comfort.