EDITOR'S NOTE: The following story appeared in the August issue of GCU Magazine, available in the purple bins across campus or digitally.
After stand-up presentations, end-of-year projects and midnight deadlines to turn in assignments, it was time for a summertime reset.
And students definitely reset, traveling to Malaysia, the Holy Land and Washington, D.C., to name a few. They delved into internships, worked at camps and, of course, toured with their band.
Daria Shlapak
Embassy of Ukraine intern
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
✈ 9,100 miles from GCU
Junior Daria Shlapak added a new stamp in her passport for a 30-day internship at the Embassy of Ukraine in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia.
Passionate about diplomacy and global engagement, she worked alongside diplomats and public leaders, gaining hands-on experience in event planning, project management and economic affairs. She also organized events, including Vyshyvanka Day (Ukrainian Embroidery Day), analyzed media coverage, composed press releases and public speeches, and assisted with documentation and archive organization.
The work was especially meaningful to Shlapak, a Ukrainian native, who focused on promoting Ukrainian culture and products, and she learned a lot about trade cooperation in Malaysia.
“This experience was about more than the work,” Shlapak said. “Spending a month on my own in a new country taught me as much about myself as it did about diplomacy. I brought my love of project management and event planning into the role and learned a lot along the way.
“It gave me hands-on experience in an environment completely different from corporate life or university (life), especially from my work with (GCU) Multicultural Life.”
Judah Floyd
ASGCU president
Holy Land, Israel
✈ 7,500 miles from GCU
Alongside nine fellow Lopes, Associated Students of GCU President Judah Floyd embarked on a journey to the Holy Land, a region deeply sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims.
The group explored Shiloh, Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee and Jerusalem during a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East. Floyd said the group experienced breathtaking moments, such as the times they stood where Jesus taught. But those moments were set against the realities of the geopolitical climate.
Beyond the historic sites, Floyd and the group heard from Arab Muslims, Orthodox Jews and Christians about their experiences living in the Holy Land.
“I found that their stories offered a deeper understanding of the region and complexity of life in modern Israel,” Floyd said. “One of the experiences that impacted me most was witnessing the faithful stewardship of the many Christians who preserve the sacred churches and sites for pilgrims from around the world.
“Worshiping and praying together at the Church of Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem was especially meaningful, reminding me that our Christian faith is not just stories, it is rooted in real places, people and history.”
Jozy Kairu
Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis intern
Washington, D.C.
✈ 2,000 miles from GCU
After spending most of spring break applying for internships, Jozy Kairu spent her last summer as a college student in the country’s capital. For eight weeks, the government major served as a public relations intern at Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis.
She composed media briefs, monitored media, built media lists and staffed a film screening at the National Portrait Gallery.
Kairu sent in her application close to deadline. Within two days, the company requested an interview. And after a second round of interviews the following week, Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis offered her the position on the spot, even though the communications consulting firm said a decision would take a week. Kairu was one of eight selected applicants who won the only internship spot at the firm's Washington, D.C., office.
“I have long been intrigued by the intersection of public affairs, social impact, politics and the media,” Kairu said. “Working on the social impact and issue advocacy team has shown me just how tangible and powerful this work can be, as it translates into how the masses take in information and make decisions about the world around them.”
Alex Bartlette
Pine Cove Chimney Point family camp wrangler
Westminster, South Carolina
✈ 2,000 miles from GCU
Business management junior Alex Bartlette spent four summers working at a golf course in his hometown of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.
But before returning for the fifth time, he found himself in Westminster, South Carolina, working with horses and children at a monthlong Pine Cove Chimney Point family camp.
He hoped to work as a counselor, manning a cabin with youth, but then he stepped out of his comfort zone and became a horse wrangler, never having touched a horse before.
He taught campers how to train, maneuver and ride horses, all while sharing the word of God. Bartlette focused on the relationships people have with horses and how that can compare to relationships people have with God. Horses don’t always want to listen to the rider and are disobedient. People can be disobedient to God, too, wanting to focus on their own plans, he said.
In addition to riding horses, Bartlette and his team organized sports and activities to make the camp memorable.
“It was such a cool experience, and I would love to do it again,” Bartlette said of the camp, which championed optimism, grit, problem-solving, organization and excellence. “.... We are taking care of this camp for the King, doing this for the King, taking care of these campers for the King kind of deal. It was a really big mindset change for me.”
Jackson Cox
Canyon Avenue Band performer
Yelm, Washington
✈ 1,150 miles from GCU
When senior Jackson Cox heard audio engineering professor Andy Zulla was hosting GCU’s first “Thursday Night Live” (now called “Friday Night Live”) in 2025 to showcase students’ talents, he knew he had to make an appearance on that stage.
So the commercial music major formed a band, Canyon Avenue, with fellow GCU students and boldly performed four original indie rock songs.
The performance was not a one-time thing.
Canyon Avenue made an appearance at all “Friday Night Live” shows in 2025-26 and even took to the big Global Credit Union Arena stage at GCU’s Got Talent in March.
After gaining a following, the band continued the momentum into summertime, writing and practicing more original songs and scheduling Canyon Avenue’s first mini tour. It performed around Yelm, Washington, and made spontaneous appearances at venues on the drive to Washington. The band released a single, “What We Could've Been,” in June.
“This could not have been possible without the help from everyone at GCU who believes in us and the fan base we’ve been able to establish here,” Cox said. “The fact that this band I started in my dorm room has gone from playing small campus shows to now hitting the road is insane. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who’s supported us and continues to support our dream of making this our career.”
GCU staff writer Izabela Fogarasi can be reached at [email protected].
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Related summer content:
GCU News: Students experience 'breathtaking' mission trip to Kenya
GCU News: GCU medical mission team steps up for Hike for Humanity
