Slideshow

An estimated 2,000 runners and walkers participated in Saturday’s spring edition of the Run to Fight Children’s Cancer on the GCU campus, raising funds for Children’s Cancer Network. “The race was fantastic, handled gracefully and with expertise,” one participant wrote on Facebook. The day included 5K and 10K races, a Cancer Survivors’ Walk and many other family-friendly activities.

Photos by Jak Keyser, Jerry Bauer and Tim Winzeler The Tempe Educators upset the Peoria Pride, 24-23, in last Wednesday night’s interoffice exhibition game at halftime of the men’s basketball game in GCU Arena. Some of our impressions of a surprisingly intense matchup, which began with Peoria applying a full-court pressure defense: ● Best shirts: Tempe. Its players wore black with only the white block letters “TEMPE” on the front, as if they were representing the city itself. Nothing said “bring it” like that. ● Best fans: Peoria. The purple P’s seen throughout the Arena were a terrific way to show support, like something you’d see at an NBA game. ● Best sign: Peoria. “Hey Tempe, Your Game Needs an Education” was clever.

Toga-clad students, including the nursing delegation from Chanchung, China, packed North Gym to capacity last night for the annual Mr. GCU pageant. Nothing could prepare our Chinese visitors for what they were about to see, but they jumped into the festivities with glee. “Mr. GCU is very inspiring,” said Pastor Tim Griffin, GCU Dean of Students. “But kinda creepy at times.” It wouldn’t be an ASGCU event without a heavy dose of lip-syncing, cross-dressing and man flesh. These are some of the best and brightest young men on campus and those in attendance will never be able to look at them the same way again.

GCU celebrated the topping out of the new four story College of Arts and Sciences building Tuesday morning under a beautiful sunny sky. “It’s been fun to watch the progress,” said CAS Dean Mark Wooden. “When they first started on it, I was impressed by the footprint. Now, I am amazed by its shadow.”

The Ethington Dance Ensemble, under the guidance of GCU’s director of dance, Susannah Keita, has come a long way since its start a year ago. This production showcases that evolution, tackling several different styles of dance and combining them — sometimes even within one piece — smoothly and effortlessly. Thanks to the talented choreographers added to Keita’s staff this year and a program that is now 50 students strong, Thursday’s opening-night audience was shown a wide range of techniques and variations inspired by famous dancers and choreographers throughout history.

It all began with Mark Glazier and his seven-foot Santa Thunder. The Tempe enrollment manager sent us a photo of the custom-made Antlered One in a Santa suit, standing sentry at his desk, and wondered if we would post it on GCU Today. We did last week, inviting others to send photos of their Christmas-themed work stations. The good news: We heard from several people. The bad news: The cell-phone shots weren’t so hot. So on Wednesday afternoon, we took a field trip to Tempe and Peoria to see for ourselves what the season hath wrought.

A GCU holiday tradition became more expansive than ever Sunday afternoon with the move of Canyon Cares Christmas to the Quad and Arena. The University’s three campuses collected toys for 750 underprivileged children, and a team of 150 enthusiastic, green-shirted volunteers — students, faculty and staff — helped dispense them to neighborhood families. “This is one of those great opportunities we have to express our love and support for our community,” said Dean of Students Pastor Tim Griffin as he surveyed the hustle and bustle outside the Arena. “It’s a wonderful time of year to do that, a chance to capture the moment. This is Grand Canyon at its best.”

LAS VEGAS — If Jared Bearden has his way, the electric atmosphere inside GCU Arena for the Nov. 5 men’s basketball exhibition game against Arizona State University will be the rule and not the exception. Bearden, a junior, is the president of the Canyon Crazies student fan group, and he says he’s just getting warmed up. “This can go way beyond being a club,” Bearden said Friday at a tailgate party before GCU’s game against the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. “This can be what we stand for. It should be more than just games.

GCU Arena will be filled with the sights and sounds of the holidays on Saturday night as Pandora’s Unforgettable Holiday Moments on Ice brings a unique kind of show to campus. The big question: How can an arena with a permanent basketball court become an ice rink for skaters to perform those triple lutzes and double axels? The answer: careful planning and preparation, as well as some really cool equipment.

The parable of the workers in the vineyard from Matthew 20 was the focus of Jamie Rasmussen, senior pastor of Scottsdale Bible Church, at this morning’s Chapel. Rasmussen said God gives equal blessing in seven areas: eternal life, forgiveness of sin, victory over temptation, constant presence, peace and joy, purpose and meaning, and comfort in suffering. Four other areas, he said, are indiscriminate in blessing: wealth, health, talents and abilities, and comfortable circumstances.