Honors College

Kirk Cameron’s Fall Commencement keynote address underlines the importance of perseverance. The former “Growing Pains” star and now prominent Christian actor addressed GCU’s most recent group of graduates with congratulations and a powerful message of overcoming fear, fulfilling their mission and finishing the race. “This was really exciting,” Cameron said. “I was a little nervous, I’ve never done it before … I knew with all these Christian families, it was just really a special blessing to be part of this day that they’ll remember for their whole life.”

Women can be leaders too, if they set their mind to it. That is why Miss Arizona and Honors College Alumna Jacqueline Thomas’ LLC and blog Lady Leaders partnered with GCU’s Honors college to host the Empowering Female Leaders Panel. Thomas brought several strong GCU women in leadership positions, such as the College of Nursing and Health Care professions Dean Dr. Lisa Smith, Executive Vice President of GCU Sarah Boeder and Vice President of Faculty Operations Kelly Palese, to help empower young women on campus to unlock their leadership potential. “Lady Leaders is committed to providing tangible resources, tools and mentors for women,” Thomas said. “Now that I have been blessed with this network and resources, I want to be able to give it back. That’s the soul purpose for these lady leader panels.”

There was no shortage of Lope pride circulating around Phoenix on Saturday as the Honors College participated in its third annual service day. More than 150 Honors students helped multiple nonprofit organizations, including 110 at third annual Phoenix Famtastical Festival. “I’m very surprised how many people came out today,” Honors student Kendall Smith said. “… I love that vibe that GCU Honors gives off.”

Six medical professionals spoke to Grand Canyon University students Wednesday night about what it takes to get into their field. They emphasized that it’s not just a matter of mastering a specific medical skill — they want to see applicants who are well-rounded.

Freshmen in STEM fields who wanted to learn how to suture got their opportunity this week during Living and Learning Communities Week. A dozen students who aspire to be in health care practiced stitching up cuts on pigs’ feet because it is the closest to human skin.

The One Foundation Lunch and Learns, which began Friday, offer a perfect opportunity for faculty members to learn more about teaching from a Christian perspective. “It sustains a conversation that is necessary,” said Dr. Jason Hiles, Dean of the College of Theology. Five more one-hour sessions are scheduled during the academic year, and the first 100 people to sign up get a free lunch.

Honors College sophomore Esmeralda Gomez earned a prestigious internship at TGen this summer and for eight weeks joined students from around the country, including Ivy League schools, in researching possible cures and treatments for a rare form of ovarian cancer. “It was just really cool. There was just never any competition between us — it was all about growth,” she said.

The Honors College, which started as a student community of 59 in 2013, has grown to become GCU’s ninth college and this fall welcomed more than 1,000 freshmen, bringing its total to more than 2,250 with no signs of slowing down. “As the culture shifts year after year, as we get these new waves of exceptional leaders coming in, each year can look like a completely different story,” Associate Dean Breanna Naegeli said.

Move-In gets the year started off right for incoming GCU students, but it has the same effect on the volunteers who help them. Whether they’re helping for the first time or are seniors and have done it every year, they treasure the excitement. “It’s my third year, and it’s always the same energy,” said one.

Welcome Week at GCU is many things besides the wild scene at Move-In. Incoming students get acclimated to the campus in a variety of ways through activities that go well into the evening, and this year they’ll get to try out an interesting new one — Silent Disco.