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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.’’

The Canyon Choral Society performed at Carnegie Hall in the spring and has tackled some major choral works, from Handel’s “Messiah” to Brahms’ Requiem. The GCU community choir — the only nonaudition choir on campus — is getting ready to perform Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in the spring and is looking for a few good vocalists to add to its roster.

The Eta Chi chapter of Delta Mu Delta, which achieved Star status (top 5 percent of all chapters) in August, added 132 members Wednesday, 24 of whom were on hand for the induction ceremony. “Delta Mu Delta confirms that you have a proven track record of academic achievement,” said Conner Teich, the chapter’s president.

Alyssa Moran goes a little old-school in her calligraphy-inspired artwork. Yesenia Thomas spent a summer working at Phil Vischer Enterprises (Vischer is known for the animated series “VeggieTales”). Loren Jaxson was inspired to create more than 70 cards inspired by mythology. All displayed the artwork they created during their time at GCU in the Senior Design Showcase on Tuesday. It’s the culmination of their studies at the University, just before they walk the graduation stage on Friday.

It didn’t quite look like the typical finals week in instructor Li Tan’s Principles of Mechanical Design class. Students in his class took over the courtyard area outside of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology Building Tuesday to test the results of their class project — to design remote-control cars. Teams of four used SolidWorks to design their vehicles and then put them through the rigor of a speed race course and obstacle course. “They had to pass all the different terrains to satisfy the design concept. During this process, they’re able to learn the basic principles of design,” said Tan.

A partnership between GCU and Phoenix Rescue Mission produced toys, games and household goods for needy children and hope for recovering adults, residents of PRM who attended the Lopes women’s basketball game Tuesday night at GCU Arena. “It is crazy to think I am coming to something like this, a GCU basketball game,’’ said PRM resident Kassandra Elson. “This is how I am spending my free time rather than doing things that put me in prison.’’

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.

Bill Palowski served in the Air Force for 23 years. Christina Herman was a GCU student who changed her major three times and wasn’t sure what she wanted to do as a career. But after immersing themselves in four months in GCU’s Java Certificate Program, the new coders both were hired, before graduation, by a large technology consulting firm. They are examples of the success of the program, which made its debut this year. Palowski, Herman and five other Java boot camp students are finishing the camp Friday and held a showcase this week for industry leaders.