Colleges

Hundreds of people across campus clustered outside of GCU Arena on Monday to watch the partial eclipse of the sun. The viewing party, hosted by the newly formed Astronomy Club, was a big hit even though Phoenix got only 60 percent coverage. People watched in wonder through telescopes and protective glasses. Witnessing the total eclipse was “surreal and a little scary,” said Stephanie Paluch, a COE faculty member.

Whether parents are mournful at the thought of no longer living with their GCU freshman or cheered because they can finally convert the bedroom into a study, the milestone of a child going away to a college or university is significant for all involved. At a Parent Hospitality Corner on Monday, some family members discussed what they were feeling and how they were responding.

All of Chapel live-streamed, including the music … more Ministry Forums for students … a newly designed One Foundation for faculty. There will be plenty of spiritual life opportunities on campus this fall, including an in-depth look at the Reformation on its 500th anniversary.

The cheers of volunteers welcoming early arrivals could be heard across campus Friday morning as students, faculty and staff moved students into residence halls. Those arriving Friday will, in turn, welcome the bulk of the students during Welcome Week, which kicks off Monday. GCU Today has the story.

Ivan Nechunaev, a former All-American swimmer, reached another milestone when he became the first GCU graduate to be accepted into The Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania. But what he plans to do with that prestigious degree is even more significant.

GCU’s Speech and Debate team will hit the tournament season running this year with 11 returnees and a new director, Michael Dvorak, who has coached GCU speech competitors for two years. Dvorak, a College of Humanities and Social Sciences faculty member, brings 10 years of expertise and a history of winning to GCU’s four-year-old team.

Welcome Week 2017 promises to be another busy and festive time for students as they return to campus. But it’s extremely important, too. “The week says to all, ‘You belong here,’” said Charity Norman, manager of GCU’s Student and Family Program.

Richard Busby, a professor in the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions, has worked in the medical field for 40 years and has traveled to 28 countries to aid those with limited access to medical care and to serve struggling communities. He shared stories about his recent experience in Kathmandu, Nepal, and his passionate view on integrating faith into the classroom.

Here’s a family that has taken devotion to Grand Canyon University to a new level: Not only does Renee Taillon work and study at GCU, so do her three children — twins Christian and Jared and daughter Kirie. “We really do bleed purple in our family,” Renee said.

It has been only three months since Andrea Northup got her Business Management degree, but she already is working for Habitat for Humanity and also is launching an interesting and extremely humane entrepreneurial venture. How she got to GCU and then turned this into all that is quite a story.