Growing up, Grand Canyon University alumna Aubrey Grasz’s family celebrated the holidays with a handmade paper chain made up of 25 links counting down to Christmas.
Each link held a small activity – getting hot chocolate, driving to look at lights or singing carols around the piano.
That family tradition, one of Grasz’s favorites, could have been a scene from a Hallmark movie, something she finds herself a part of this holiday season.
The grad is an extra in “A Grand Ole Opry Christmas,” starring Nikki DeLoach and Kristoffer Polaha and featuring original music by Brad Paisley. It premiered Nov. 29 and is part of the Hallmark Channel’s “Countdown to Christmas.”
In the movie, Gentry Wade (DeLoach), who gave up music after the death of her country star father, confronts her past when the Grand Ole Opry invites her to honor him.
Grasz, who earned a bachelor’s degree in communication and a master’s degree in communication with an education emphasis, both at GCU, said her years at the university were foundational.
The Honors College made the campus feel personal and close-knit, and serving as president of the college's Student Advisory Board and as a student worker in the Office of Communications and Public Relations gave her early leadership experience.
“That really allowed me to dip my toes in and get my first real-world experience,” she said. “It set me up for the career I have now, and I loved being at a Christian school and
surrounded by believers.”
Dean of the Honors College Dr. Breanna Naegeli remembers how Grasz always championed her peers and was committed to community.
“Aubrey was an exceptionally bright and deeply relational leader whose heart for service shaped the culture of the Honors College,” Naegeli said. “As president, she led with integrity and compassion – poised with maturity beyond her years. … She accomplished an extraordinary amount in a short period of time …”
After graduating with her bachelor's in spring 2020, Grasz moved to Washington, D.C., where a White House internship led to a full-time role in the Office of Presidential Correspondence.
She helped process and analyze thousands of letters to President Donald Trump and the First Family.
“It gave me a really unique perspective into the heartbeat of America,” she said. “People shared their gratitude, their concerns, their stories. It was amazing to see how personal those letters were.”
She then served in Sen. Deb Fischer’s office, studied in Israel and competed in pageants, earning the title of Miss Nebraska Volunteer.
As the inaugural titleholder in the Miss Volunteer America system, Grasz spent a year traveling the state and speaking in classrooms and veterans homes. She advanced her platform, “Saluting Those Who Serve,” which focuses on honoring veterans and military families.
Despite the demands of work, school and travel, she continued exploring creative outlets, something that always has been a core part of who she is. That led to one of her more unexpected opportunities, appearing as an extra in film and television projects.
She has been cast in several productions over the past few years, but “A Grand Ole Opry Christmas,” streaming now on the Hallmark Channel, stands out. Not only was it a Hallmark movie, but she said the long days on set were worth it to meet performers such as Paisley and Megan Moroney.
“I’ve watched Hallmark Christmas movies for years. Getting to see myself on screen and share that moment with friends and family was really special.”
Her most recent chapter brings her back to Washington, D.C., where she has begun a new role as director of communications for Family Policy Alliance, a national Christian ministry. The position allows her to combine her communications background with her desire to serve in faith-based, mission-driven work.
“I’m excited to be back in the nation’s capital,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity to grow, to connect with other ministries and leaders and to help amplify a message I really believe in.”
Even with a resume that stretches from the White House to pageant stages to the sets of Christmas movies, Grasz said what she cherishes the most is time with her family.
Every December, no matter where she is living, the paper chain tradition from her childhood comes to mind. She still treasures simple moments, such as looking at Christmas lights, attending Christmas Eve services and slowing down long enough to enjoy the season with loved ones.
“I just want to use the gifts God has given me to the fullest,” said Grasz, who said GCU gave her a strong foundation that supports her wherever she goes. “And the holidays remind me of what matters most – gratitude, family and faith.”
