"What's new?"
It's a common question when you haven't seen someone in awhile, but it also applies to what happened at Grand Canyon University in 2022.
Time and again, the GCU News crew covered events and programs that answered that question – hardly surprising considering the way the University is always moving forward. As the end of the year approaches, let's take another look at those stories.
The campus proved to be the perfect setting for a faith-based movie. True to the spirit of GCU, students and alumni got involved, and various University departments contributed. Then, in August, campus leaders came to Ethington Theatre for a pre-screening.
'Identity Crisis' movie casts campus in starring role
'Identity Crisis' crew: GCU gets two thumbs up
Send a microbial fuel cell into space? Yep, that's a new one for GCU. That's what a team of students – a group that calls itself STELLAR – accomplished last spring. But they've only just begun.
STELLAR makes final push as space launch nears
STELLAR charged up for next mission – on Earth
Homer Drew, father of GCU men's basketball coach Bryce Drew, came up with the idea, and GCU followed through with the Golden Lopes program. It offers citizens age 55 and older useful information about technology, finances and other key topics in classes taught by GCU faculty and students.
Phones weren't silenced in this Golden Lopes class
Golden Lopes confront inflation in free course
It was the best GCU press conference of the year ... and maybe ever. Emotions ran high as the University announced the new Fostering Futures scholarships, a first-of-its-kind partnership with the Arizona Department of Child Safety. Just like that, foster children have a chance to earn a college degree without paying a dime.
GCU unveils scholarships for Arizona foster children
Fostering Futures recipients meet the future
There's new leadership atop GCU academics. Dr. Randy Gibb, formerly the dean of the Colangelo College of Business, was named Provost, replacing Dr. Hank Radda, who retired. Dr. Jennifer Lech was named Vice Provost.
Gibb has another new mission: Provost of GCU
Versatile Lech promoted to Vice Provost of GCU
Radda to retire: Provost looks back on 12-year run
Another innovation was the Pre-Apprenticeship for Electricians program, a four-course, 16-credit offering that was started with the help of funding from Rosendin Electric. Universities don't typically teach the trades, but GCU isn't just any university. It looks for needs.
GCU unveils Pre-Apprenticeship for Electricians
Pre-Apprenticeship for Electricians convenes
GCU sends electricians charging into the field
Thanks to a $2.27 million grant from the Kern Family Foundation, GCU launched the Canyon Center for Character Education. The program is aimed at developing the character of pre-kindergarten to 12th grade students and supporting educators in that quest.
Kern grant launches Character Education center
'Trusty' trio to lead new character center
Character Center's retreat explores 'what it is to be good'
No Child Hungry and CityServe organizers figured it would take all morning for GCU volunteers to pack about 500,000 meals for people in Ukraine. It took about half as long as expected as volunteers put together an average of 100,000 meals every 30 minutes. But then, that typifies the type of work GCU has been doing with CityServe.
Boxing meals, and serving hope, for Ukraine
Students have a new place to work on their broadcast and podcast skills, the Lopes Media Lab. It opened this fall.
Start spreading the news: Media Lab is here
.
The campus food scene got into the "What's new?" spirit Dec. 1 when The Quad Kitchen became the first barbecue eatery on campus. Expected to follow close behind in early 2023 is the much anticipated Havoc House in GCU Arena.
