Of the 31,104 students graduating in the 2024-2025 academic year, 5,669 of them took classes on the Phoenix campus and donned their caps and gowns at five commencement ceremonies April 23-25 for traditional students. Here is a glimpse of some of the happenings:
Critical Mass
As graduates and their families and friends entered Global Credit Union Arena on Wednesday morning for the first of the five commencement ceremonies, Critical Mass provided the harmonies to enhance the crowd's joyous mood. The 14-member ensemble performs at every commencement ceremony. The group, directed by Dr. Juan Hernandez, assistant dean of music for the College of Arts and Media, promotes GCU’s Christian mission and the music department’s vision. Critical Mass keeps the tone before each commencement ceremony upbeat, and of course, they also perform the national anthem, which generally lasts slightly more than one minute.
LOPES Academy
Wednesday afternoon’s ceremony was made even more special as 12 students from the LOPES Academy, a two-year, nondegree program for neurodivergent individuals, were honored for completing the program.
“We thank you for sharing your gifts with us. Continue to keep your eyes fixed on the Lord, for surely he has his eyes on you,” Dr. Sherman Elliott, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, told the students, who wore purple caps and gowns to distinguish them from graduates donning black caps and gowns.
The honorees were Quinton Walker, Emma Beth Bjorkman, Jackson Lara, Isaiah Ramirez Fierro, Abby Strickland, Aidan Dupuis, Spencer Michael Gregg, Cassidy Dorn, Kristina Lange, Kaydence Wright, Aiden J. Do and Luke David Williams, who signaled “Lopes Up” with his armed raised as he crossed the stage.
Voicing his excitement
In addition to handling the public address duties for men’s basketball games, Dr. Paul Danuser handled several of the commencement announcements.
Shortly after Critical Mass sings its medley of uplifting songs, Danuser reminds the audience, including those standing outside, that ceremonies will start in 10 minutes and to enter the arena soon if they want a good seat.
Toward the end of Wednesday morning’s ceremony, Danuser revived his basketball cords by announcing, “THE OLYMPIAN! TRINITY SAN ANTONIO!” in honor of the GCU women’s basketball guard who played for Puerto Rico in the 2024 Summer Olympics and earned her degree in applied marketing and advertising from the Colangelo College of Business.
Early flight
Fortunately for Chad Houck, the Colangelo College of Business held a commencement ceremony on Thursday afternoon. That enabled him and son Dillon to fly from Boise, Idaho, to attend daughter Emily’s graduation and return to Boise after the ceremony because of a Friday commitment.
Chad Houck said he left his home at 3 a.m. so he could catch a 5 a.m. flight to see his daughter, an entrepreneurial studies major, participate in ceremonies. The Houcks visited the college before heading to Global Credit Union Arena. “Keeping up with these two (children) is a challenge,” Chad Houck said with a smile. Emily’s mother, Amy, arrived earlier in the week and stayed until Saturday.
Florence Nightingale Pledge
During freshmen orientation, parents place a pin on the front of their child’s clothing to represent the moment of a bond with the GCU community.
During Friday’s final commencement ceremony, College of Nursing and Health Care Professions graduates received another pin to welcome nursing graduates into the profession. It's a tradition that has existed since the 1860s, when Florence Nightingale was honored with a Red Cross of St. George pin for her efforts in treating injured men during war. Nightingale later presented a medal of excellence to her trainees.
As GCU nursing graduates approached the stage, a faculty member placed a purple ribbon around their necks displaying their nursing pin, which represented their medal of excellence.
GCU News Senior Writer Mark Gonzales can be reached at Mark.Gonzales@gcu.edu
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