Grand Canyon University

There were graduates from four different colleges at the Thursday evening ceremony of Fall Commencement, but their stories have several things in common — starting with perseverance. But it’s also gratifying to hear about the support of their families and the admiration of their children.

For Jamaica native and now North Carolina resident Garfield Hyman, getting his bachelor’s degree in Applied Management always has been about making his journey worthwhile. He said his GCU instructors helped him on his online journey: “I found support, making the experience a really good one.”

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.”

You want to hear about determination? Take a listen to the Colangelo College of Business graduate who has battled head and neck cancer for 10 years. Or the one who had multiple strokes and had to learn how to walk and talk again. Or the woman who didn’t think she could have children and adopted three — but then got pregnant after she started the online program.

Photos by David Kadlubowski GCU News Bureau The 9 a.m. Commencement ceremony Thursday featured online students from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.      

Some of them found their way after some wayward times in their younger days. Some are in the later years of life and still accomplishing great things. And some had to overcome incredible present-day challenges. But the online graduates at GCU all seem to have one thing in common: They’re grateful. Over the next three editions of GCU Today, we’ll let them tell their stories in their own words. First up: the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, whose grads got their diplomas this morning.

It was an emotional day when GCU alumna Samantha Bedore started her first day of a residency in physical therapy at HonorHealth in Scottsdale. She had walked through those same doors to see her grandfather, who was dying. Now she was there to help others. “I just hope I can give people the care that my grandpa received,” said Bedore, an Army veteran who shares more than one trauma that led to her purpose.

GCU News Bureau The crowd stood, sang along, clapped and raised hands in praise of God on Monday morning as the worship team from Love International filled the Arena with its powerful sound at Musical Worship Chapel. “There is power in the name of Jesus,” they sang over and over, and you truly could feel it. There was no speaker, but this spoke volumes.

Student’s choreography is taking the stage within Thunderground to showcase their talent and hard work for their peers to see. The Fall Student Spotlight Concert is a student choreographed and performed show and will showcase a number of different styles of dance. “It definitely gives students a vehicle to experiment with what they’re interested in and grow their choreography skills with the help of the faculty,” Senior Jessica Symmes said. The concert will take place on October 15 and 16.

The first annual Colangelo Servant Leadership Awards, which were handed out this morning at Canyon 49 Grill, were another chance to celebrate what both Jerry Colangelo and GCU are doing in the community. “I love what’s happening at the school, so I find myself saying yes to whatever they want me to help them with,” said iHeart Media Phoenix President Linda Little, one of the award-winners.