College of Education

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.

Dr. Joanna Simpson, GCU director of academic programs in the College of Education, and Lindy Gaudiano, coordinator of academic programs, presented a session on “College of Education Faculty Perceptions on the Influence of Centralized Curriculum on Instruction and Academic Freedom” at the 13th International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry at the University of Illinois. They also got to participate in a campus tradition of rubbing the nose of an Abraham Lincoln statue. (Gaudiano is pictured in the second photo and Simpson is pictured in the third photo.)

Hundreds of College of Education students attended commencement Saturday afternoon to accept degrees that for them mean far more than a paycheck. Their degrees let them make the world a better place one child at a time. “It’s up to us to put in their minds positive thoughts. I want to be part of that,” said Leleatha Mitchell. “Each one, teach one.”

Photos by Slaven Gujic GCU News Bureau Online students in the Colangelo College of Business, College of Education, College of Fine Arts and Production, and College of Theology received their diplomas Saturday in two separate ceremonies at Grand Canyon University Arena.   

More than 5,000 graduates and their 30,000 guests will be on the Grand Canyon University campus this week for spring commencement. There will be six ceremonies — two each, at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., on Thursday through Saturday.

This year’s Canyon Challenge, scheduled for Thursday afternoon at GCU Arena, features five mission-driven finalists competing for the $15,000 in prize money. Storage Together, which won an international competition in Barcelona last fall, is among the competitors.

This weekend’s NCAA Division I men’s basketball Final Four will be played at University of Phoenix Stadium, but the festivities begin at Grand Canyon University Arena on Thursday night with the 29th annual Slam Dunk and 3-point Championships. GCU also will be represented in other ways — by the Thundering Heard Pep Band and by dozens of students who will be volunteering at the various festivities.

After her near death experience on St. Patrick’s Day 2016, Nichola Drake has recovered thanks to round-the-clock care by her father and daily rehabilitation sessions with College of Education instructor Ted Telepak, director of Rehab Without Walls. Thursday, Drake spoke with Telepak’s COE students, who benefited from learning about her journey.

Jim Mostofo, a College of Education professor, is bringing his expertise back to the K-12 environment by team teaching an Alhambra High School math class with GCU alumna Mayra Diaz. Their Algebra 1-2 students benefit from the co-planning and co-teaching by the instructors, and the experience also has given Mostofo new ideas for instructing future teachers in University classes.