Phoenix, AZ (November 12, 2024) – Grand Canyon University has received a five-year, $2 million grant from the T.W. Lewis Foundation to establish the T.W. Lewis Center for Student Success at the Colangelo College of Business (CCOB).
The center will prepare CCOB students for employment opportunities through personal development. The grant will fund a full-time director, specialized curriculum, a speaker series featuring successful Christian leaders, and expand career connection programs for students, including online students and alumni. The center will also create and operate video and podcast productions that cover timely business trends.
“We are blessed to have the Lewis family join the Grand Canyon University community and support our students in their formative years,” said GCU President Brian Mueller. “Tom and Jan’s values reflect GCU’s mission to help our students find their purpose. The T.W. Lewis Center for Student Success will also be an asset for our students on their journey of discovery as they learn more about their role in their future careers.”
“We’ve always been impressed with Grand Canyon University’s high-quality academics, campus culture and passion to serve,” said Tom Lewis, founder, owner and CEO of the T.W. Lewis Company, which is best known for building over 5,000 homes in metro Phoenix from 1991 through 2016. “Developing successful people and successful leaders starts when you give students the ability to find their strengths. This program will help GCU students reach their potential and lead lives of success, purpose and happiness.”
Part of the gift will also fund a full-time career counselor in GCU’s Career Services Center. The university’s approach to workforce development is to create educational opportunities that meet the needs of students and industry leaders. The career services component of this partnership will help provide business students better pathways to employment.
“We believe we’ll see strong results from this new partnership with the T.W. Lewis Foundation because of our shared beliefs that go beyond the classroom,” said Business college Dean John Kaites. “Our students are known for their integrity, servant leadership and ability to work in a collaborative environment. That comes from teaching a Christian worldview.”
GCU alumnus, Hall of Fame inductee and CEO of Performance Food Group George Holm served as the first guest speaker of the T.W. Lewis Speaker Series at the Colangelo College of Business earlier this fall. Holm shared insight on leading a Fortune 100 company with character. More speakers are scheduled for the 2024-25 academic year.
The T.W. Lewis Foundation was formed in 2000 by Tom and Jan Lewis to provide leadership and financial support to dozens of nonprofits that help children and families in need. The foundation also supports Christian education, several local civic and cultural groups and national nonprofits that help to strengthen America.
About Grand Canyon University: Grand Canyon University was founded in 1949 and is Arizona’s premier private Christian university. GCU is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers over 349 academic programs, emphases and certificates for both traditional undergraduate students and working professionals. The University’s curriculum emphasizes interaction with classmates, both in-person and online, and individual attention from instructors while fusing academic rigor with Christian values to help students find their purpose and become skilled, caring professionals. For more information, visit gcu.edu.
