College of Science, Engineering and Technology

About 200 Chief Science Officers from junior schools and high schools from across Arizona are attending a summer institute through Wednesday hosted by GCU. Lawmakers, representatives from several states and White House officials are also on hand to catch the excitement about the spread of science, technology, engineering and math education. Arizona’s CSO program, launched in 2015, is so successful that White House officials hope to see it expanded across the country.

STEM campers at GCU this summer are building their own guitars in a class called, “Amp up! Electric Guitars and STEM.” One of two STEM summer camps this week — the other is “Robots, Web Design and Gaming” — both camps allow students to explore in creative ways the many ways that STEM applies to daily life. The campers also had a tour of one of GCU’s gems, the new recording studio.

Photos by Laurie Merrill and Kathryn Scott GCU News Bureau Eight musical students are making their own instruments during Amp Up! Electric Guitars and STEM, one of this summer’s STEM camps held at GCU. On Wednesday, they got to tour the GCU recording studio with recording studio manager, Eric Johnson. “It’s fascinating looking at at all the science and engineering and math that goes into music,” said Amanda Hughens, GCU’s K-12 STEM outreach manager. “The thing I like best about STEM is that it’s ‘life done correctly.’ ”          

GCU has taken a starring role in Arizona’s Chief Science Officer program, an initiative so successful it has attracted the interest of Washington D.C. and Arizona lawmakers and White House officials. CSOs are elected by their classmates to play to a role that’s like the ambassador of STEM. They work with parents, school officials, lawmakers and industry members to bring a high level of science, technology, engineering and math programs to their school.

GCU has introduced cybersecurity degrees to teach students to be “hackers with halos,” graduates armed with tools necessary to join the fight against cybercriminals. It’s part of GCU’s initiative to roll out a rapidly multiplying list of online and ground STEM degrees as it continues its mission to produce well-trained, highly competitive graduates in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math.

For years, cadavers were located inside the Colangelo College of Business, and not always to the olfactory satisfaction of some of the denizens of that building. But last week 12 cadavers were moved to their new home in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology, where they joined six other cadavers. They were placed in two labs in Building 57, but two more will be constructed this summer.

When Juan Mendoza arrived on campus, he came with the original purpose of earning a degree to enter the health care system. In the process, however, he was able to develop faith in the Lord and began to recognize all the great things the Lord had done for him.

The opening of the Grand Canyon University Hotel and Grand Canyon University Championship Golf Course were big stories in 2015-16, but they were just part of the continued community revitalization. And the rapid growth on campus continued, too. GCU Today Magazine picked the top 10 stories of the academic year just completed.

The commencement ceremony stopped for a few seconds Saturday afternoon so that 73-year-old Diana Dilcher could be properly acknowledged for getting her degree in communications. But if the crowd that was applauding knew the whole story, they would have given her a standing ovation.

Photos by Darryl Webb GCU News Bureau Friday morning commencement at Grand Canyon University was for traditional students in the Colangelo College of Business, College of Education and College of Science, Engineering and Technology.