EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was originally published in the November issue of GCU Magazine, available in the purple bins across campus or digitally. A few edits were made to update the story.
Santa Claus is coming to town, and so is the blizzard that is the Christmas shopping season. Skip the Black Friday lines and head to campus instead for gifts you’re not likely to find in other stores.
“We are so excited to have all students and families start shopping and take the school pride back home,” Lopes Shop Operations Manager Garrett Miller said.
Lope Shop
The best gifts cater to that special someone, like the GCU Mom cotton zip-up sweater – we know moms love to show off their school pride – and gray quarter zip with a GCU Dad logo ($49.99 each).
Deck the halls with GCU Christmas ornaments ($9.99 to $24.99), grab a few purple or lavender plaid flannel pants from Boxercraft for the family Christmas photo ($29.99), or invest in a cute toy plush that’s all the rage, including Thunder, an axolotl, bears dressed in the school colors and mini chick or llama plushes ($12.99 to $24.99) to make the little ones excited for the most wonderful time of the year.
A good time to shop at the Lope Shop is the Five Days of Christmas sale Nov. 17-21, as well as online on Black Friday – or as it's known on campus, Purple Friday – and Cyber Monday.
It's 25% off apparel for Black Friday, and it's free standard shipping for orders $25 or more for Cyber Monday. Also on Cyber Monday, the campus retailer will offer a special online BOGO deal. Buy a special hoodie from The Duck Co., and the matching T-shirt is free.
Information: lopeshops.gcu.edu
GCBC
Caffeine is always a good gift idea for college students. Even better? Buying it in bulk at Grand Canyon Beverage Co., which offers its popular Stampede energy drink, GCBC’s signature beverage, in four packs ($10.35).
Ethington Theatre
The show must go on at Ethington Theatre, so consider giving the gift of the performing arts. “Romeo and Juliet” runs from Feb. 6-8 and Feb. 13-15, and “Bright Star” is March 6-8 and March 13-15.
Tickets are free for students. Otherwise, individual show tickets are $25 for adults ($22 discounted for alumni, military, seniors and employees) and $15 for children. Also, the dance program will perform “Uncharted” Dec. 5-6, while the spring dance concert, “Beneath the Surface,” will hit the stage April 26. Tickets: $20 for adults ($17 discounted for alumni, military, seniors and employees) and $10 for children.
Information: gcutickets.evenue.net
GCU Esports
Sure, you can buy someone an individual PC video game. But why not buy them the opportunity to be a part of the esports community instead?
GCU Esports Arena touts more than 70 PCs, multiple PlayStations and Xboxes, and 30 Nintendo Switches, and it offers a variety of gaming hour bundles. The console section of the arena is free for GCU students, but the gaming PC section is $10 for four hours, $35 for 20 hours, $60 for 40 hours and $125 for 100 hours.
Esports also offers a membership package ($150) that includes unlimited gaming hours, a custom jersey, a shirt and sweatpants.
Information: gcuesports.com
Friends of GCU
Ginormous hats, electric bikes and sweet treats for anyone? GCU alumni have you covered.
NOGGIN BOSS: It started with an appearance on “Shark Tank.” Now GCU Canyon Ventures-based Noggin Boss has entered into deals with the NFL, NCAA, UFC and PGA Tour – and inked a deal with the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. Alumnus Gabe Cooper’s giant hats ($99.99 to $159.99) have become a game day staple. If you don’t see a design you like, customize a hat special to you.
Information: nogginboss.com
LECTRIC EBIKES: Electric transportation has become a must-have item for college students trying to traverse expansive campuses, like GCU. Alumnus Levi Conlow saw the need and co-founded this multimillion dollar electric bike company. Models range from $799 to $1,999.99.
Information: lectricebikes.com
CHEWK'S COOKIES: Shopping is exhausting. Unwind with a sweet treat from Chewk’s Cookies. Or, if you need to bring something to a holiday party, these chewy desserts by alumnus Hunter Breshears promise joy with their chunky goodness.
They’re $3.75 each and come in flavors like chocolate chip, red velvet, M&M or snickerdoodle, though the real winner has to be the viral trend crookie, a croissant-cookie hybrid for $6.50. If you want to share with family and friends, the classics box of four cookies is $14, sampler box of six is $20 and the party box of 12 is $38.
Information: chewkscookies.com, or pick up from Breshears at 1215 E. Missouri Ave, Phoenix.
Campus Recreation
Consider gifting yourself or a fellow student or employee with a Campus Recreation trip ($25 to $600) that ranges from one to three days. It’s the perfect way to connect with the community and get out and explore the beauty of the state.
Information: myrec.gcu.edu
