College of Science, Engineering and Technology

There were significant messages amid the tears of joy as spring commencement began Friday morning at Grand Canyon University. Speakers emphasized the importance of change, both in how you bring it about and how you deal with its inevitable challenges. “When we find our purpose, will we have the courage to pursue it?” student speaker Brittany Holen asked her fellow graduates.

  Three cheers (at least) for the Havocs! You can read all about them and other student groups in the May edition of GCU Today Magazine, which has been distributed around campus and is available online here. It features an inside look at the stunning growth of clubs and student groups on campus the last few years — starting with the national recognition of the Havocs and what makes them special. (Hint: Their spirit extends beyond games.) But there’s much more, including the impact of the Canyon Kids program, the top 10 GCU stories of 2015-16, Grandy Glaze’s gratitude for his one year on the GCU basketball team, what it’s like to be a student intern for Sen. John McCain, and the importance of the new cybersecurity curriculum.

The FIRST Robotics Competition, which goes through Saturday at GCU Arena, is as much fun for the fans as it is for the participants. Robots have to cross medieval-style defensive barriers that are selected by audience members.

The second annual Senior Dinner Wednesday drew a crowd of 450 students, faculty and guests, formally dressed in dazzling gowns and sharp suits, to celebrate the hard work and contributions of the 2016 graduating class. The event recognized those outstanding students and staff who have shown commitment and excellence inside and outside of the classroom.

BUS-330 isn’t just a 300-level class in the Colangelo College of Business; it’s one of only two such classes in the country. The subject is Pegasystems software, increasingly being used by big companies for business-process and customer-relationship management. Only one other American university offers it.

GCU has surpassed the 100,000 mark in alumni, and the accomplishments of that special group continue to resonate around the world. Here’s the story of what some of them have done and why people who hire them consistently put their resumes in the “yes” pile.

Hundreds of future forensic scientists from high schools across Arizona participated in one of GCU’s most popular events: 2016 Forensic Science Day. There was no end of science disguised as fun, whether it was analyzing blood spatters, examining fingerprints or attempting to crack a murderous crime scene. The event gave GCU an opportunity to showcase its popular Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) degree programs, which attract a growing number of scholars every year.

Photos by Darryl Webb GCU News Bureau The Grand Canyon University campus was filled with high school students from across Arizona on Tuesday morning as they participated in Forensic Science Day. Students took delight in trying to figure out crime scenes and learned about the intricacies of forensics.  

GCU’s STEM Scholars program, which gives local high school students a chance to learn more about this rapidly expanding field and also earn up to a year of tuition-free college credit, was honored Monday night by the Peoria Education Foundation with its Community Partner Award. Sarah Boeder, senior vice president of campus operations, was on hand to receive the award.

High school students who participate Tuesday in Forensic Science Day 2016 will have a chance to analyze fingerprints and handwriting, observe blood-spatter reconstruction, tour GCU’s DNA and cadaver labs, learn about the University’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics programs and more during one of the most popular events of the year.