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GCU News Bureau Photos by Jedidiah Woods Faith Weese not only received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from GCU, but she also has been an employee at the University for more than 30 years. And Rich Oesterle, Director of Campus Development and Facilities, has been at GCU for 14 years, starting his career here as an assistant coach for women’s soccer. Both were honored Wednesday at a retirement ceremony.

GCU’s Varsity Overwatch Team never expected to topple one of the top-seeded teams in their esports Tespa league, but that’s exactly what the team did, beating No. 2-ranked University of California at Irvine. Now the team, which ESPN calls the underdogs of the Overwatch games in the midst of a “Cinderella run,” is in Houston playing in the most high-profile tournament ever for GCU esports, the ESPN Collegiate Esports Championship.

It was innovation on parade at the Engineering Building on Thursday, where dozens of computer science, computer programming and mechanical, electrical and biomedical students on about 35 teams presented their yearlong projects as part of the Engineering and Technology Capstone Showcase.

Washington High School senior Juan Ballez has watched his father struggle with mobility in his hand and, for years, wished there was a way he could help. Now, on the cusp of graduating, he thinks he knows a way — by becoming a biomedical engineer. His dream of helping people, like his father, came closer to fruition Tuesday at GCU, when he found out he was one of 43 students in the neighborhood surrounding GCU to receive the Students Inspiring Students scholarship. “It feels like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders,” said Juan after receiving the scholarship, which covers four years of tuition and books. “… I was determined. I was like, I can’t have my parents pay for it (college). I don’t want that burden on them.”

Students volunteering with GCU’s Homeless Ministry ventured out recently to St. Vincent de Paul to serve the homeless, giving haircuts and donated clothes and washing individuals’ feet. “These people are our friends, and we are so grateful to have the chance to love and serve them in the name of Jesus,” said communications student Anders Carlson, who helps lead GCU’s Homeless Ministry team.

One concentration camp survivor told Avshi Weinstein that music, for him, became a torturer. After the war, he could no longer listen to or enjoy music. Many other survivors, who were musicians at the camps, would never touch their instruments again. But Weinstein, a third generation violin maker and restorer, and his father, Amnon, have been reclaiming that musical heritage with the Violins of Hope project. The Weinsteins have collected and restored more than 70 Holocaust violins and have given the stories of the musicians who played them a voice. Avshi Weinstein was at GCU this weekend with several of the violins, before GCU Theatre’s presentation of Holocaust drama “Who Will Carry the Word?” He spoke about the project — it includes two months of events — and shared some of those Holocaust stories.

Allison Fassinger wanted to help people, but she wasn’t exactly sure how — until the GCU alumna took a trip to Kenya. It’s where she now lives and works, helping Kenya’s children at Naomi’s Village.

It’s a legacy as big as the state of Texas: Kelly Taylor and five other members of her family have been online students at GCU since 2011. “I think the support system with GCU makes working on a degree much easier,” said Tammy Jones, one family member, who encouraged her mother, then 75 years old, and daughter to also become Lopes.

It’s been a big year so far, but there’s more to come in 2018-19. The spring semester will kick off with the grand opening of the new 150,000-plus-square foot Colangelo College of Business Building on Jan. 9 and will barrel forward through April and May with signature events such as the Canyon Challenge, Mr. GCU, the Theatre Department’s presentation of Holocaust drama “Who Will Carry the Word,” Serve the City in February, the Roadshow Tour at GCU Arena, basketball and much more. Check out some highlights from GCU Today’s 2019 Winter-Spring Calendar.