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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.

GCU News Bureau Here’s the 2018-19 winter/spring calendar, which spans from January to May 2019. The calendar’s most recent update was January 18, 2019. Go to the calendar on news.gcu.edu for a more updated calendar. January Jan. 3: Men’s basketball vs. Utah Valley, 6 p.m., GCU Arena. www.gculopes.com. Jan. 3: Women’s basketball at Utah Valley, Orem, Utah. www.gculopes.com. Jan. 3: Men’s volleyball takes on Long Beach State, 9 p.m., Santa Barbara, Calif. Part of the UCSB ASICS Invitational www.gculopes.com. Jan. 4: Men’s volleyball at UC Santa Barbara, 6:30 p.m., Santa Barbara, Calif. Part of the UCSB ASICS Invitational. www.gculopes.com. Jan. 5: Men’s basketball vs. Seattle, 6 p.m., GCU Arena. www.gculopes.com. Jan. 5: Women’s basketball at Seattle, Seattle, Wash. www.gculopes.com. Jan. 5: Men’s volleyball takes on Cal State Northridge, 4 p.m., Santa Barbara, Calif. Part of the UCSB ASICS Invitational. www.gculopes.com. Jan. 5: Express move-in, 8-10 a.m. Jan. 5: Orientation Check-In and Expo, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Antelope Gym Patio. Jan. 5: New Lope Lunch, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Baseball Stadium. Jan. 5: New Student and Family Orientation, 1-4:30 p.m., Antelope Gym. Jan. 5: Spring 2019 New Lopes Tailgate, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Antelope Gym Patio. Jan. 5: Men’s swimming and diving at California Baptist/Wyoming, […]

According to Ebenezer Scrooge, “Every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding and buried with a stake of holly through his heart.” Harsh. Don’t count on anyone being boiled in his own pudding on the spirited GCU campus, where employees embraced the joy of the season in their Christmas decorations, from themes on the fourth floor of the 27th Avenue office building that ranged from a Phoenix Zoo ZooLights-inspired aisle of cubicles to a “12 Days of Christmas” aisle, to the College of Science, Engineering and Technology’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and Santa’s Science Lab hallways.

By Debbie Accomazzo For GCU News Bureau “When Grand Canyon University steps up to make a difference, things happen!” Phoenix Rescue Mission Community Relationships Officer Pamela Morrison said, and now is our time to join the PRM mission in easing the burden of families in need of hope, healing and transformation. Last year, almost 18,000 people in Maricopa County were homeless — 40 percent of them in families. During a season that brings joy to so many of us here at GCU, our aim is to help spread that sense of merriment to children and families whose desires closely mirror ours … a sense of stability, the hope for prosperity and the gratification of peace in one’s heart. For the second year, GCU will support the Phoenix Rescue Mission Christmas Winter Wonderland Event from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at the Community Solutions Center, 1801 S. 35th Ave. On this special day, the community is invited onto the PRM campus to rejoice in the season. Those who would otherwise go without celebrating Christmas due to financial strain will be greeted with a carnival-like environment where they can just have fun together. You can be part of creating […]