Colleges

When the Dean of Bethany College in West Virginia resigned in the fall of 2014, all Associate Dean Levi Esses wanted was to become the new dean of students for his alma mater. Unfortunately, there was only one thing in his way: the fact that he didn’t have his doctoral degree. That experience is what drove Esses to pursue his doctoral degree, ultimately leading to his graduation this past April. “God had a plan Honestly, it all happened I think largely part to my doctoral degree, that I had it finished and my experience in higher education,” Esses said.

Dr. Gary Osmundsen and Dr. Rich Holland both teach philosophy, which they view as a subject that has practical implications across a variety of subjects that confront students. But they also teach about life through their own examples — Osmundsen has completed four marathons, including Boston twice, and Holland recently was interviewed on a national podcast regarding his book, “Good Arguments.” “Philosophy is really practical,” Osmundsen said. “Good critical thinking generalizes in all domains, not just sports.” Holland calls philosophy “the Christian’s best friend.”

It seemed like a half-baked idea: Build a bridge using … potatoes. But Sevilla West MESA Team students did just that at the first Engineering Shops Tour and Workshop in GCU’s Engineering Building. It was the first tour of its kind and the neat thing about it — it was student-conceived (by recent electrical engineering graduate Michael Erisman) and student-led.

The Collegiate DECA chapter in the Colangelo College of Business came through with another outstanding finish in the competition at the recent International Career Development Conference in Orlando, Fla. For the second time in three years, a GCU student — freshman Noah Schultz this time — took first place, and the chapter had three other top-10 finishers. Co-advisors Dr. Kelly Damron and Marnie Davis also were honored.

There was one more order of business in the celebration of Jesse Dalla Riva’s amazing transformation from drug addict to GCU graduate: His Phoenix Rescue Mission co-workers wanted to throw a surprise party for him. They pulled it off in grand style Thursday afternoon at a celebration attended by a large group from the University, led by President Brian Mueller. “This so much reinforces my faith and what I believe about the God who created this,” Mueller said.

By the time computer programming majors graduate from GCU, they’ll do so with a multitude of apps in their arsenal. They start building their first web applications the first semester they’re here and don’t stop until their yearlong senior capstone project. Not only that, but they learn not just the standard two computer languages, instead delving into three primary computer programming languages. Few colleges, if any, break computer programming into its own discipline, separate from computer science; GCU does. Said Computer Programming Faculty Lead Mark Reha, “Here we have a nugget right in the palm of our hand because there’s no programs that I’m aware of — bachelor programs — in the entire United States that has this focus.”

GCU’s recent nursing graduates posted an impressive 98.21% first-time pass rate for the first quarter of 2019 on a rigorous national examination nursing candidates must pass before receiving a license and working professionally in the field. Of the 112 GCU nursing students who took the standardized exam from January to March, 110 passed the test on their first go-round. “It’s really a testament to the quality of the program and the engagement of the students,” said Amy Leach, National Council Licensure Examination Success Manager.

Spring commencement set a record for the number of doctoral graduates (140), and there’s a reason for that: The reputation of the GCU program continues to grow. Talk to the newly minted doctors who just went through it, and you find out why.

After starting as a business major in her freshman year of college, having two sons diagnosed with autism inspired Ember Freitas to pursue a degree that would enable her to help others like them.

Photos by David Kadlubowski GCU News Bureau The Saturday afternoon ceremony of Grand Canyon University spring commencement featured 973 online graduates of the College of Education. For a replay of the ceremony, click here.