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They sang. Oh, how they sang. They worshiped. Oh, how they worshiped. The annual Ignite ceremony, a staple of Welcome Week, turned everyone in GCU Arena on Thursday night into a participant and challenged the emotions of everyone who was there. It was that powerful.

Grand Canyon University Theatre Department’s first play of the 2019-2020 season looks to be one of the most comedic it has done in a while. Director Michael Kary compares the comedic styles to shows like “The Office” or “Parks and Recreation,” and the cast said audiences won’t want to miss the production. “It’s very funny, I will go as far as to say I’ve never been part of a show that is funnier than this one,” said Micah Larsen, who plays the role of Francis Henshall. “There’s a laugh at every turn, so if that’s not good enough reason to come out and laugh a little, I don’t know what is.”

The GCU Cheer team, along with Thunder, was a big winner at its recent camp in Santa Barbara, Calif., but that’s not the main reason for attending. It’s all about coming together as a team and also be a good example for others. “It’s an opportunity to intentionally influence people, and hopefully they walk away going, ‘Wow, they really and truly are good, Christ-centered people,’” said Emily Stephens, Director of Spirit Programs.

Photos by Elizabeth Tinajero and Enrique Lucha GCU News Bureau Thursday’s Welcome Week activities included socials for the Academic and Career Excellence (ACE) centers and transfer students, ROTC orientation and a welcome-back party for Worship Arts students.  

Photos by Elizabeth Tinajero GCU News Bureau The annual Ignite ceremony, a worship event designed to get the Grand Canyon University academic year off to a strong spiritual start, drew a large gathering of mostly freshmen to GCU Arena on Thursday night. The students sang with the Worship team, which played for nearly an hour, and then went out to the Quad for the traditional lighting ceremony, now done with cellphone flashlights.    

GCU’s Esports Club isn’t just about competing in tournaments and being the No. 1 player in your league. It’s also about meeting new friends with the same hobbies. It’s that social aspect that the club is focusing on this academic year as its student leaders plan more social events and try to draw students to the Esports Arena, which was expanded over the summer and is being re-introduced during Welcome Week. “This is going to be the first year where we’re really focusing on making a community that isn’t just good at playing the games,” Esports Club President Conner Kleinsasser said. “We want this to be a place now where you can come in, even if you’ve never played a game before …”

The GCU Dance team won multiple awards at two summer camps, but it was applauded for far more than its technical skill. Most telling was when it won the Leadership Award at a camp in Santa Barbara: When participants were asked, “If you couldn’t be on your team, which team would you want to be on?”, most of them chose GCU. The team also earned a fully paid trip to the United Spirit Association National Championships.

Move-In gets the year started off right for incoming GCU students, but it has the same effect on the volunteers who help them. Whether they’re helping for the first time or are seniors and have done it every year, they treasure the excitement. “It’s my third year, and it’s always the same energy,” said one.

There’s a reason GCU’s signature event, Move-In, runs smoothly. Event Services, Student Affairs, Residence Life and other teams work hard to make it the most memorable experience possible for first-time Lopes, and they often do it from behind the scenes … and with Uncrustables at the ready.

Photos by David Kadlubowski, Elizabeth Tinajero and Gillian Rea GCU News Bureau The first day of Welcome Week at Grand Canyon University started with Move-In. After having all of their belongings taken to their room by volunteers, incoming students and their families could relax in the Family Lounge and learn about GCU at New Student Orientation and the Orientation Expo. The day concluded with the Canyon Cool Down.