College of Theology

The Christian music community has taken notice of the Canyon Worship albums in a big way, and the 2021 version figures to draw even more attention. In the first of a weekly series, GCU Today provides an early glimpse of the student artists from GCU’s Worship Arts program and the songs they wrote. Today’s featured performer: Amanda Riffe.

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.

Bill Engvall found success on the comedy stage. His “Here’s Your Sign” album reigned at No. 1 on the Billboard Comedy Chart when it was released in 1996. He followed that with the wildly popular Blue Collar Comedy Tours with Jeff Foxworthy, Ron White and Larry the Cable Guy. He also had his own TV show, “The Bill Engvall Show,” on TBS, placed fourth in 2013 on “Dancing With the Stars” and just wrapped up a guest gig as Rev. Paul on Fox sitcom “Last Man Standing.” Now Engvall is adding another achievement to his list of successes: He’s graduating from GCU with his bachelor’s degree in Christian Studies.

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.    

There was no shortage of inspirational redemption stories at Wednesday’s Phoenix Rescue Mission Signing Event as three of four scholarship recipients signed their letter of intent to attend the University in the fall. The recipients, who have completed the nonprofit’s Recovery Program, include Amanda Jaramillo, Jacqueline Mix, Brian Farretta and GCU 2019 alum Jesse Dalla Riva. “These people have had some significant challenges and they’ve taken the first step now, they’ve gone through the Phoenix Rescue Mission Program, they’ve come out of it successfully and they’ve started their new life,” said GCU President Brian Mueller. “For us to be able to offer them this opportunity to take their life now to a whole new level is a blessing.”

There were innovations aplenty as GCU dealt with the pandemic. But none of the required alterations were more visible than the cutouts in GCU Arena, where the basketball environment still was plenty loud enough to be noticed by visiting coaches. Reprinted from the February issue of GCU Magazine.

The Spring Songwriters Showcase went off without a hitch Monday night. No surprise there — the Recording Studio is more than capable of presenting the livestream. But the list of performers did have some surprises, such as Yoo Jin “Gabby” Kim, who had to fully learn English when she came to GCU from South Korea three years ago, and freshman Briseyda Payan, who converted to Christianity only a year and a half ago.

Dr. Debbie Fulthorp, an Online Full-Time Faculty member of the College of Theology, has many interesting stories to tell. There’s her involvement in a project to add stories of notable women of influence within religion into Wikipedia. She joyfully shares how her phone call with a student encouraged the woman to renew her faith. And the real capper is the caper she experienced when she was traveling with her parents and got left behind at a rest stop in the days before cellphones.