Slideshow

Photos by Slaven Gujic and Travis Neely GCU News Bureau More than 3,000 high school students, parents and educators participated over the weekend in the FIRST Robotics Competition 2017 Arizona Regional at Grand Canyon University Arena. Among them was Ronav Chauhan, 5, of Tempe, who wants to be an engineer, like his parents. He has battled cancer most of his life, and the visit to see robots and the student engineers who built them was a gift from  Make-A-Wish Foundation Arizona. The robotics contest featured student-built robots competing for fuel in a steam-power era. The robots assisted in preparing airships by collecting fuel (balls), which they put in boilers, which in turn “burned” the fuel to power the airships. Robots also delivered gears to pilots.     

Photos by Slaven Gujic and Travis Neely GCU News Bureau DeWayne Russell was one of the stars of the show, but the Havocs drew most of the attention Thursday night when the 2017 College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships came to Grand Canyon University Arena.  

Photos by Slaven Gujic GCU News Bureau  Grand Canyon University’s “West Side Story,” which opens Friday to a sold-out crowd at Ethington Theatre, is a powerful, entertaining story about star-crossed lovers trying to keep their love innocent and sweet amid rival gang warfare.      

Photos by Slaven Gujic GCU News Bureau Students from three Phoenix high schools — Carl Hayden, Glenview College Prep and Trevor G. Browne — on Tuesday received full-tuition scholarships to Grand Canyon University as part of Students Inspiring Students, a collaboration of the University, the GCU Scholarship Foundation, schools and business and philanthropic leaders.  

Photos by Ralph Freso GCU News Bureau Grand Canyon University dance students are performing this week in the Spring Student Spotlight Dance Concert. The second and final night of performances is at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.  

Photos by Ralph Freso and Slaven Gujic GCU News Bureau The seventh annual GCU Foundation Run to Fight Children’s Cancer was a mix of serious runners and participants who were just fine with walking the course, but everyone had one thing in common: They were united in the battle against the dreaded disease. The event included a 5K, a 10K and a Cancer Survivors Walk. And there was plenty of other things for kids, some of them cancer survivors, to do. They were led by the race starter, 6-year-old Jace Hyduchak.  

Photos by Brandon Sullivan GCU News Bureau The Grand Canyon University men’s basketball team extended its winning streak to six games with an 84-77 victory over Missouri-Kansas City on Saturday night at GCU Arena. Seniors DeWayne Russell and Darion Clark were honored on Senior Night.  

Photos by Brandon Sullivan GCU News Bureau Grand Canyon University alumni returned to campus Saturday for a day that included a brunch, a golf tournament, the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, the Kick-Off Party and a tailgate before the basketball game that evening. There even were go-kart races.  

Photos by Slaven Gujic GCU News Bureau  The tailgate, pregame fireworks, honoring military members including Luke Air Force base leaders Brook Leonard and Randall Kwiatkowski, plus free T-shirts and flags made the “God Bless America” theme to Thursday night’s men’s basketball game an honorable success. Then a raucous crowd – including Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton – watched the Lopes cruise to an 82-59 victory against Chicago State for the Lopes’ 20th win this season. GCU’s final regular season home game is Saturday night against UMKC.  

Photos by Slaven Gujic For employees and students it was a midweek, guilty pleasure on a bright, sunny Wednesday, the kind of perfect weather that might make visitors wish to relocate here. For GCU baseball players, it was a chance to play against major league players, stand on the same field with stars and compete with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The spring training exhibition game was part of the rotating annual Collegiate Baseball Series between the Diamondbacks and Arizona’s three NCAA Division I baseball programs. This matchup will happen again in 2020.