Community

Few people know more about the history of GCU than Faith Weese, whose has led a half dozen departments during her more than 30 years of service to GCU. And few people know as much as Facilities Manager Rich Oesterle when it comes to what buildings are going up next on campus. Weese and Oesterle, who have been called two of the most beloved employees at GCU, are retiring and were honored Wednesday with a party that Weese said felt more like a reunion of family and friends.

The Canyon Activities Complex is as huge as an airport hanger — for hoopsters who want to fly. It’s the first summer as home to Grand Canyon University’s eight basketball camps.
Earlier this month, when 160 kids entered the CAC to see 10 full basketball courts in the new, 136,000-square-foot facility, their jaws dropped. Parents were impressed, too.
“This building is amazing,” said Fabian Spencer, of Ahwatukee. “When we walked into this building, we said you don’t see this too often, maybe in California.”

The 160 athletes, ages 6-14, warmed up with jumping jacks and running drills, right after GCU assistant basketball coach Chris Crevelone provided inspiration: “Get better today. Get better tomorrow. Then you will reach your goals.”

There is very little known about the mysterious “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” that has formed and continued to grow every year, but two GCU alum’s and their fellow expedition boat crew are determined to show the world what is really going on in the ocean. COFAP Graduates Joshua Munoz (class of 2015) and Corbin Marshall (Class of 2016) have both found homes in Hawaii since graduating, and will be embarking on a journey with several scientist, French-born long-distance swimmer Ben Lecomte and several others on what they are calling “The Vortex Swim” starting Tomorrow and continuing until September. Lecomte will be swimming for eight hours a day for 100 days to make up a total of 300 nautical miles, all while his crew collects data, tracks plastic movement and studies the effects of the plastic on surrounding ocean life. Munoz and Marshall will be aboard documenting the whole expedition via photography and videography, all while also taking shifts manning the helm and assisting with data collecting. Links to follow the journey of Munoz, Marshall and the rest of the crew throughout the process will be located within the story.

GCU’s first academic year in its return to nonprofit status was filled with so many important stories, picking just 10 was a challenging exercise for the GCU Today staff. Here’s how we voted, with links to the many stories that are worth revisiting.

Most counselors and therapists want to be able to “do good” by their clients, but what does “doing good” really mean? That was the main topic of discussion at Thursday’s continuing education ethics workshop hosted by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Speakers from GCU and NAU offered professionals working in the field of counseling and social services a free way of receiving their CEUs (Continuing Education Units) that they are required to renew every two years.

GCE Regional Director of Operations Luke Hansen didn’t know how he and his wife could afford to send their children to Christian school. But then when he got his bill for tuition for his oldest son, Lincoln, he was surprised to see a big chunk of the cost taken care of by his peers, who had diverted some of their tax dollars to Hansen’s son through the employee-giving program, Donate to Elevate. GCU and GCE employees so far have pledged $2.95 million for the 2019 pledge year through the initiative. That tops the goal for the year of $2.8 million, and the pledge year hasn’t ended. Employees can still participate this year by signing up for Donate to Elevate by the end of September, before the next giving season kicks off in October.

Eighteen GCU-connected nonprofits filled the lobby at Building 71 on Wednesday for the third Serve with Purpose Employee Volunteer Fair. Representatives of various organization, from the YMCA to Feed My Starving Children and Treasures 4 Teachers, to name a few, visited with GCU and GCE employees about their mission in the community — and signed up a few volunteers for their organizations, too.

GCU students and staff will fan out across the globe again this summer on mission trips, but several already have taken place. One of them was this spring, when 14 students went to the Dominican Republic to conduct Bible studies, serve special needs children and reach out to people on the streets and in prison. Students who hardly knew each other before the trip ended up growing close by the end of the week. Colton Davis, one of the trip leaders, said it showed him “how to actually love people the way that we’re supposed to love as believers.”

After three years of hard work and hundreds of hours of service, Grand Canyon University’s first Students Inspiring Students graduates walked across the commencement stage Thursday afternoon to receive their diplomas. Yenni Sanchez Perez received her Bachelor’s degree in Government with an Emphasis in Legal Studies, and Sean Oliver received his Bachelor’s degree in Justice Studies. “This is why we began the scholarship,” said Dr. Joe Veres, Vice President of Student Success. “This is probably the most rewarding commencement ceremony that I’ve been a part of.”

The new Learning Lounge at the Milwaukee Brewers’ training complex opened Monday, which was cause for celebration in Maryvale. It’s an easy walk for many students from local schools, in particular Borman Elementary next door. “This is really an incredible opportunity for us,” said Borman’s new principal, Sierra McAllister.