Grand Canyon University

The mission? Meet movers and shakers who can assist with the deeper mission: aiding impoverished Peruvian coffee farmers. For GCU students Noah Wolfe, Aly Halbakken and Tim McGill, the Clinton Global Initiative University proved to be a mission accomplished.

It’s on Us conversations can be difficult, if not heart-wrenching. Yet GCU students are willing to discuss issues surrounding the prevention of sexual harassment and sexual assault. Along with the emphasis on being an active bystander, the Associated Students of GCU have raised over $3,000 for StreetLightUSA, an organization committed to helping young girls at risk for or victims of child sex trafficking.

Why I write was the question. The array of answers demonstrated the need for the question: “To relieve my stress and reconnect with myself” was one reply, along with “To show others that they are not alone.’’ The GCU community offered hundreds of answers at the National Day of Writing Celebration near the Promenade. Faculty and students, including the campus chapter of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), Friends of the Pen, and the Professional Writing Workshop sponsored the event.

Photos by Theresa Smith GCU News Bureau The National Day on Writing was celebrated Monday on the Grand Canyon University campus by faculty and students, including the campus chapter of the National Council of Teachers of English, Friends of the Pen, and GCU’s Professional Writing Workshop. Participants wrote six-word biographies on sticky notes, took turns adding twists to a short story and used chalk on the pavement to explain why they write.

The leaders of the Associated Students of Grand Canyon University are taking “It’s On Us” Week beyond the important emphasis of preventing sexual assault. They aim to help StreetLightUSA build a school for victims of child sex trafficking, by planning a fundraiser designed to yield $10,000 in student donations that will be matched by the University. The fun part of the fundraiser is the Stampede button.

Eighty GCU students are in the class room already, gaining valuable experience by teaching lessons in math, science, social studies and art at nearby Westwood Elementary for students from preschool through Grade 3.

A trio of Grand Canyon University students are accelerating their dream of eliminating the middle man for impoverished Peruvian coffee farmers. They will take their ideas to the Clinton Global Initiative University, a conference this weekend at the University of Chicago. “I think it is awesome to be able to see future world leaders, entrepreneurs and changers in one central location,’’ said Noah Wolfe, who has combined with Tim McGill and Aly Halbakken to form a nonprofit, Novella.

The largest Family Weekend in GCU history runs Friday through Sunday and is chock full of activities. Here is a partial list: Chapel, performances of Macbeth, competitive and casual golf at the GCU Golf Course, Parent Hospitality in Thunder Alley, a showing of “Incredibles2” on the Grove Lawn, performances by students from the College of Fine Arts and Production, performances by Spirit teams, competitive games or matches by the softball, men’s soccer, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s swimming teams, a Thunder Bolt shopping spree, family sand volleyball and a family service project.

The GCU Speech and Debate team finished in second-place on Sunday at the Aztec Invitational tournament at San Diego State University. Seniors Tommee Gleason, Xanthia Clow, and Keliann Nash won their respective events for speech competition, while the rest of the speech team placed in the top 6 in 13 out of 18 events. In Debate, seniors Grace Laidlaw and Matthew Calderwood won the varsity division and Ben Kuykendall and Joseph Madere finished second in the novice division

A record 846 students camped out in 168 tents in preparation for Midnight Madness and for the opportunity to create a unique college experience. “I wanted to be part of the crowd,” said freshman Trent Bowman. “I wanted to be part of the community.”