Lope-A-Palooza

By Ralph Freso

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.

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GCU Magazine

ViewCurrent November 2025

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