Colleges

Photos by Elizabeth Tinajero GCU News Bureau Graduates of the Colleges of Education, Fine Arts and Production, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Theology were honored Saturday morning at GCU Arena.   

Students expressed gratitude for GCU’s willingness to stage an in-person Commencement ceremony Saturday. They were further impressed by President Brian Mueller’s announcement that the University wants to hire them if they need a job. “I think it just demonstrates the heart that he has and GCU has for their students,” Elementary Education graduate Jade Lander said.

Christmas traditions will look different for many people this year, and the same can be said for the members of the College of Fine Arts and Production’s Second Series group. The student-led ensemble will put on an audio drama rendition of “It’s a Wonderful Life” from 7 to 10 p.m. today on its website.

Nearly 5,000 ground students decided to stay home this semester and study online because of the pandemic. But like the faculty members who also chose to work from home, they were able to use the LoudCloud learning management system and video conferencing/messaging apps such as Zoom and Loom to make it an effective learning environment.

If you have a goal, then work to reach it. That is what Peggy Shively did when she decided to go back to college after more than 40 years away from the classroom, and on Saturday — with her 72nd birthday coming up — she will graduate from GCU with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano Performance.

She’s a so-called Dreamer who as an immigrant child who had to watch her father endure violence. But Karla Islas didn’t just dream. She found a way to attend GCU and then used a trait that got her this far — persistence — to land a fellowship that could help her get into law school. Her story is a lesson in determination.

GCU’s Technology faculty plugged into the fall with two virtual events. The first, “Hacking a Cybersecurity Career Path,” was part of the Provost Speaker Series and connected students with chief information security officers from PetSmart, Choice Hotels International, CSAA Insurance Group and WebPT. Also, Rob Loy, Director of Non-Degree Technology Programs, and Associate Professor Glenda Dilts presented “Teaching an Agile Mindset” at the recent Agile Arizona conference, speaking about the work GCU has done to embed Agile tools and concepts into its programs.

Chalk up another GCU event that worked out just fine even though the pandemic forced it to be virtual. The Songwriters Showcase, normally staged before a packed crowd on Canyon 49 Grill’s outdoor patio, was livestreamed Monday night and featured some of the songs that no doubt will find their way onto the next Canyon Worship album.

That old saying, “It seemed like a good idea at the time,” certainly applies to Santa Calls. GCU graduate Eli Miller’s way of hooking up children with Santa by phone was such a good idea, it won the Canyon Challenge entrepreneurial competition last year, and then it was an even better concept when the pandemic made visiting a mall Santa problematic. Now he’s working to gain a toehold in the marketplace.

Dancers in the College of Fine Arts and Productions return to the stage tonight through Sunday at the “Rooted” Winter Dance Concert. The outdoor production, also available on livestream, will explore a multitude of emotions. “They (the audience) are going to be taken on a ride for sure, highs and lows,” Dance Director Susannah Keita said. “I’d say that this is a concert that takes on the discomfort, the sense of confusion sometimes, the desire to find your roots and an escapist approach.”