By Laurie Merrill
GCU News Bureau
Whether answering phones, serving meals, updating records, promoting Grand Canyon University to prospective freshmen or doing hundreds of other tasks, student workers are an essential part of GCU.
Student Worker Appreciation Week, which honors the more than 2,400 students who perform essential functions for more than 50 campus departments, begins Wednesday. The theme is "Our Student Workers Make an IMPACT,’’ and IMPACT stands for inspire, motivate, prepare, apply, connect and transform.
“They transform us by working alongside us and transform themselves by being student workers,” said Alexa Wennet, employee outreach supervisor.
This year also marks the start of a new show of appreciation, Wennet said — a $2,500 scholarship that will be awarded during the men's basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 17, against San Diego Christian College.
“At GCU, we have always emphasized that being a student comes first, so it is an amazing opportunity to reward one of our student workers for their dedication not just to their job, but to their academics as well,” said Katalina Inzunza Herrera, student employment assistant.
"Popcorn and Pop" events are scheduled for 10 a.m.-noon Wednesday and Thursday at 27th Avenue and 9 a.m.-noon Friday and Tuesday, Jan. 17 at the Student Union Promenade on the main campus. Thunder will pay a visit, and student workers will have a chance to sign a giant banner.
“It’s great to see how this event has grown and become a weeklong event celebrating the impact our student workers have made here,” Wennet said.
Appreciation Week continues on the Quad from 5:30-6:30 Tuesday, Jan. 17. Havocs will provide face painting for students in preparation the basketball game.
“We will be hanging with the Havocs,” Wennet said. “There will be time to celebrate everything we have done.”
Student workers also will compete in a poster contest, and the top entries will be featured on the court at halftime of the game. The audience will choose the winner, and the winning department will be awarded a pizza party, Wennet said.
“The poster contest has always been a huge success,” said Bianca Shaw, student employment administrator. “I love seeing all the enthusiasm and pride the student workers and their managers have.”
Contact Laurie Merrill at (602) 639-6511 or [email protected].
