Student Engagement

Photos by Theresa Smith and Lana Sweeten-Shults GCU News Bureau Hungry and stressed students sipped hot chocolate and munched on granola bars along the Promenade on Wednesday. They were eager to take advantage of Fuel for Finals, courtesy of the Grand Canyon University Welcome Programs and parents from the GCU Parent Council. “I was very satisfied with my granola bar,” said Joshua Onwordi.  “And I took one when I went to class as well, so I have eaten two granola bars today. I am fueled for finals.” The sophomore from Chandler took his first final on Tuesday and a second one on Wednesday. Along with providing snacks, drinks and encouragement, the semiannual event featured a prayer request board, prompting students to publicize their prayers, including asking God for successful final exam experiences.  The two-day event ended on Thursday at 2 p.m.  

More than 3,000 students turned out for the winter formal, Hanging of the Greens, featuring dining, dancing, crafting snow globes, savoring GCBC hot chocolate in four flavors, letter writing to home with postage paid by the Canyon Activities Board (CAB), and notes to the homeless for the Can you Spare a Story initiative. “It is beautiful how they didn’t just make it a dance,’’ said senior Stephanie Fairchild. “They incorporated the arts and crafts and Can You Spare a Story. That is heartwarming.’’

Why I write was the question. The array of answers demonstrated the need for the question: “To relieve my stress and reconnect with myself” was one reply, along with “To show others that they are not alone.’’ The GCU community offered hundreds of answers at the National Day of Writing Celebration near the Promenade. Faculty and students, including the campus chapter of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), Friends of the Pen, and the Professional Writing Workshop sponsored the event.

The leaders of the Associated Students of Grand Canyon University are taking “It’s On Us” Week beyond the important emphasis of preventing sexual assault. They aim to help StreetLightUSA build a school for victims of child sex trafficking, by planning a fundraiser designed to yield $10,000 in student donations that will be matched by the University. The fun part of the fundraiser is the Stampede button.

Story and photos by Theresa Smith GCU News Bureau The campus chemistry was gradually altered on Friday afternoon, from thousands of young people intent on making their way from class to class, to laughter, hugs and leisurely reunions of Grand Canyon University students with their moms, dads, brothers and sisters. Along the Promenade, joyful families picked up their burlap bags, donned their purple “GCU family’’ T-shirts and scattered all over campus. Families in Thunderground cheered for spares and strikes on the bowling alleys and picked up their cue sticks for billiards. Outdoor tables outside the Student Union and Lopes Way filled with hungry families fresh from touring classroom buildings and residence rooms. With 1,370 families and 4,870 family members, including students, it was the largest Family Weekend in the event’s five-year history. Amid the buzz of activity, the experience of one freshman was similar to many of her peers. Despite talking to her mother every day, she was homesick. “I have been missing my mom a lot,’’ said Jessica Mireles as she wrapped her arms around her mom, Mariela. “I am going home for Thanksgiving, and that’s still a month away, so it’s great to see her and the rest of […]

Photos by Gillian Rea GCU News Bureau The Thunder Bolt shopping spree winner, Dave Argo, and his startled wife, Susan, were among the happiest members of the extended Lopes clan on Family Weekend. The campus was transformed Saturday into a dynamic display of family love, including a chance for homesick Lopes students to reconnect with their parents and siblings. Laughter, hugs, leisurely lunches and Lopes spirit ruled Family Weekend, and no amount of rain could douse the feeling. Families connected on the bowling alleys and billiards tables in Thunderground, among other events.

GCU’s ROTC program has more students than ever and a new leader who is focused on getting the cadets more involved in University events. “ROTC is a development program that trains people to be adaptive leaders of character,” said Capt. Mia Odom, who started at GCU this fall. “There are a lot of opportunities within ROTC. It’s a place for people who want to learn and grow and become leaders and critical thinkers.”

GCU students use multiple modes of transportation to traverse campus, from new-age electric bikes to swift skateboards to colorful beach cruiser bikes to old-fashioned lace up roller skates — the Lopes know how to get around.

The roar of voices in hundreds of conversations permeated Thunderground on Wednesday afternoon, a testament to the success of the Out-of-State Social. Students from Maryland to Minnesota to Miami met and talked, creating new bonds. Over 400 students attended and stayed double the scheduled time, thanks to a willingness to meet each other amid an assortment of dynamic activities, including Uno card games, bowling, billiards, Foosball, ring game and Jenga.