College of Nursing & Health Care Professions

When the state closed its test-taking sites for the National Council Licensure Examination during the COVID-19 lockdowns, GCU’s nursing students were worried. They were worried, too, that once those sites opened back up that they might not be as prepared as they could have been to take the test, which they must pass to begin working in the field. Still, GCU’s nursing students in the first quarter of 2021 scored a 100% first-time pass rate on the exam, thanks to the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions faculty who found answers when COVID presented roadblock after roadblock. Said Dean Dr. Lisa Smith, “We’re going to do everything we can to support our students until they cap.”

There was no shortage of enthusiasm recently when the Honors College staged its first mission trip since the beginning of the pandemic. Eighteen students, accompanied by Honors College Program Manager Anna “Anya” Cofrancesco, traveled to Baja, Mexico for a medical mission trip. “It was honestly one of the best experiences I’ve ever had,” said one of the students, Cheyenne Archuleta. “I really enjoyed getting to help people and really immerse myself into a new culture. It was a really great way to end my senior year.”

The virtual Commencement ceremony for online students Saturday was actually eight prerecorded ceremonies — one for each college, with a promise of more ceremonies this fall for graduates who would like the in-person experience. But the acknowledgment of their accomplishments amid the pandemic couldn’t wait. “What you have accomplished is remarkable, and we are celebrating it today,” GCU President Brian Mueller said.

Lists are interesting. They spark conversation. And there was plenty to talk about in the 2020-21 academic year at GCU, which made it a year to remember — not because of the pandemic, but because of the way it kept moving forward despite the challenges of COVID-19. Here are the top 10 stories of the year, reprinted from the April issue of GCU Magazine, with extra photos depicting the most memorable moments.

GCU’s Point of Dispensing vaccination site will end full-time operations for the public on Monday, exactly three months after it opened. It passed 50,000 vaccinations in just 38 days and didn’t need even that long to reach 100,000. And unlike other sites, which charge several thousand dollars per day, GCU did it for free by using students, faculty and staff volunteers. Reprinted from the April issue of GCU Magazine.

The graduation of the class of 2020 was more than a year in the making, but the pandemic-interrupted celebration became a reunion of friends who hadn’t seen each other for months. “Seeing a lot of people brings up a lot of memories of school and friend groups and different years and different people along the way,” said graduate Ethan Collins.

Countless seniors during the global pandemic shelved their caps and gowns as commencement ceremonies across the country were canceled. So parents were thrilled to hear GCU would open its Spring 2021 ceremonies to family members. Said one parent, Breanne Ramirez, the tears flowed when she heard that Commencement for her daughter Patty would in person. “I was very emotional, excited beyond belief that we were able to attend.”

Photos by Ralph Freso GCU News Bureau The final ceremony of Spring Commencement brought back to campus spring 2020 graduates whose ceremonies had to be canceled last year because of the pandemic. The student speaker was Samuel Yonan, the 2019-20 president of the Associated Students of Grand Canyon University.  

Photos by David Kadlubowski GCU News Bureau The Tuesday morning ceremony for Spring Commencement at Grand Canyon University featured graduates of the College of Nursing and Health Professions; College of Science, Engineering and Technology; and College of Theology. Elaina Marchegger of the College of Theology was the student speaker.    

Taylor White, a trip leader for GCU’s Outdoor Recreation Program and aspiring athletic trainer, always was looking for the next adventure. He lived life big and bold. He lived life to the fullest. But that adventurous spirit was extinguished when White was struck by an SUV and killed while on a nighttime jog with a friend on April 8, 2018, just three weeks before he was to marry fellow GCU student Sarah Tedeschi. Three years later, to the day, the Phoenix Police Department announced that two suspects were arrested in the hit-and-run case — suspects that Taylor’s parents, Angela and Nate, have chosen to forgive while also seeking justice for their son. “We have to (forgive), for the good of ourselves,” said Nate, “because we cannot hold that.”