One of the Welcome Week student favorites is Lope-A-Palooza, a beginning-of-the-year pep rally of sorts to get students excited for the new semester as they bond with Havocs leaders, the Spirit team and more. Lope-A-Palooza followed the GCU women's volleyball win against Montana, and students enjoyed a festival afterward, complete with rides and a dunk tank.
GCU cheerleaders rally the crowd during the women’s volleyball match against Montana on Aug. 30, 2024.
GCU women’s volleyball libero Mykenna Nelson (#1) celebrates with her teammate after their victory over Montana on Aug. 30, 2024.
The GCU women’s volleyball team huddles after the team's victory over Montana on Aug. 30, 2024.
Students show their Havocs spirit during Lope-A-Palooza at Global Credit Union Arena on Aug. 30, 2024.
Students show up in full costume to Lope-A-Palooza at Global Credit Union Arena on Aug. 30, 2024.
Students show their Havocs spirit during Lope-A-Palooza at Global Credit Union Arena on Aug. 30, 2024., Banner
A GCU Dance team member during Lope-A-Palooza at Global Credit Union Arena on Aug. 30, 2024.
GCU cheerleaders during Lope-A-Palooza at Global Credit Union Arena on Aug. 30, 2024.
Thunder makes his entrance during Lope-A-Palooza at Global Credit Union Arena on Aug. 30, 2024.
Students during Lope-A-Palooza at Global Credit Union Arena on Aug. 30, 2024.
Havocs leaders during Lope-A-Palooza at Global Credit Union Arena on Aug. 30, 2024.
Students illuminate the arena with their cell phones during Lope-A-Palooza at Global Credit Union Arena on Aug. 30, 2024.
Members of the Thundering Heard Pep Band dance during Lope-A-Palooza at Global Credit Union Arena on Aug. 30, 2024.
Kevin Bock leads the Thundering Heard Pep Band in the GCU fight song during Lope-A-Palooza at Global Credit Union Arena on Aug. 30, 2024.
GCU Dance team members during Lope-A-Palooza at Global Credit Union Arena on Aug. 30, 2024.
Students break out in a chant of “Brian Mueller” during Lope-A-Palooza at Global Credit Union Arena on Aug. 30, 2024.
University President Brian Mueller gives a Lopes Up to the student section as they break out in a chant of his name during Lope-A-Palooza at Global Credit Union Arena on Aug. 30, 2024.
Students during Lope-A-Palooza at Global Credit Union Arena on Aug. 30, 2024.
The GCU Samba Ensemble drum line performs during Lope-A-Palooza at Global Credit Union Arena on Aug. 30, 2024.
The GCU Samba Ensemble drum line performs during Lope-A-Palooza at Global Credit Union Arena on Aug. 30, 2024.
Students get energized with some free Stampede during Lope-A-Palooza at Global Credit Union Arena on Aug. 30, 2024.
A purple masked student during Lope-A-Palooza at Global Credit Union Arena on Aug. 30, 2024.
Havocs president Wilson Neitzel gets the crowd fired up during Lope-A-Palooza at Global Credit Union Arena on Aug. 30, 2024.
Students during Lope-A-Palooza at Global Credit Union Arena on Aug. 30, 2024.
Thunder poses with students during Lope-A-Palooza at Global Credit Union Arena on Aug. 30, 2024.
A student surfs his way to the top of the section in the Havocs Race during Lope-A-Palooza at Global Credit Union Arena on Aug. 30, 2024.
Students during Lope-A-Palooza at Global Credit Union Arena on Aug. 30, 2024.
GCU Dance team members during Lope-A-Palooza at Global Credit Union Arena on Aug. 30, 2024.
Thunder gets a kiss from a student after giving away a T-shirt during Lope-A-Palooza at Global Credit Union Arena on Aug. 30, 2024.
ASGCU student body vice president David Pritchard rings the bell on the strength challenge during the Lope-A-Palooza festival at Prescott Field on Aug. 30, 2024.
Students battle it out on the joust inflatable during the Lope-A-Palooza festival at Prescott Field on Aug. 30, 2024.
Students battle it out on the joust inflatable during the Lope-A-Palooza festival at Prescott Field on Aug. 30, 2024.
A student applauds as a member of the men’s basketball team gets dunked in the dunk tank during the Lope-A-Palooza festival at Prescott Field on Aug. 30, 2024.
A student tries to knock her opponent off her pedestal as they battle on the joust inflatable during the Lope-A-Palooza festival at Prescott Field on Aug. 30, 2024.
A student knocks the hat off her opponent on the joust inflatable during the Lope-A-Palooza festival at Prescott Field on Aug. 30, 2024.
A student dives to make a save at the soccer kick challenge inflatable during the Lope-A-Palooza festival at Prescott Field on Aug. 30, 2024.
Students try to get through an inflatable obstacle course during the Lope-A-Palooza festival at Prescott Field on Aug. 30, 2024.
A student lounges his way over an inflatable obstacle course during the Lope-A-Palooza festival at Prescott Field on Aug. 30, 2024.