From the left, freshmen Jaenna Morgan, Nicole Shaheem and Naquia Varner add a line to a community story during National Day on Writing.

Story and photos by Laurie Merrill
GCU News Bureau

If Grand Canyon University’s National Day on Writing was a story, it would be filled with colorful characters, multiple plotlines and a happily-ever-after ending.

“It went beautifully — fantastic participation and creativity,” said Kimbel Westerson, English instructor for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. “We’re delighted.”

College of Humanities and Social Sciences faculty members Heather Brody (left) and Dr. Diane Goodman read a chalk poem written by two student writers.

That she used few words to describe the celebration of writing Thursday was a reflection of one of the fun exercises offered — writing an autobiography in six words.

In a second activity, passersby were encouraged to pick up a red, green, yellow or blue Sharpie and add a new line to one of several “extenda-stories” being written by the community on pads of paper on two tables.

A poetry reading was scheduled for later in the day.

Those in more of a hurry opted to scribble down their six-word (well, approximately six-word!) personal stories on pastel Post-It notes they then affixed to two large bulletin boards for public consumption.

Here are some examples:

• “I love sleep. I love food.”
• “Exploring my heart and world forever.”
• “No groceries — eggs for dinner again.”
• “Striving to be closer to God.”
• “Aspiring feminist and pizza lover.”
• “Confused, looking around without knowing why.”
• “Chocolate cereal for breakfast.”
• “Jesus, Coffee, Peru, Hat, Coffee, Jesus.”

  Six-word autobiographies were part of the writing challenge.

Brisa Castro, a freshman elementary education major, paused thoughtfully before jotting down her six words, then smiled serenely as she posted them on the board.

“Broken home. Found God. Made complete,” she had written in a message both profound and concise.

GCU Provost Dr. Hank Radda stopped by en route to another responsibility and joked that he wasn’t an English major. But he nonetheless wrote: “Math guy there is an answer.”

The first line of one extenda-story was, “They were lost,” followed by, “for five days in Disneyland”. The jumbo paper page was covered with multi-colored sentences by the time three freshmen — Naquia Varner and her friends Jaenna Morgan and Nicole Shaheem — showed up.

The science majors turned to science fiction in two lines they added, invoking both Yoda and Darth Vader.

Adding lines to community extenda-stories was part of the National Day on Writing fun.

Some of the community story subjects were silly, some were sweet, and some were both, such as this line written by sophomore English major Shyann Haines:

“Cold and forgotten on the ground, the Snickers bar shed one peanut-scented tear.”

Senior Tim Dombroski and junior Cymelle Edwards used chalk on concrete to create two poems. One, written on a sidewalk, was about a journey, and the other, written on a stairwell, was about a climb.

“I want to be a writer — I want to get my Masters of Fine Arts — and I’d like to be a professor one day,” said Edwards, who, like Dombroski, has had work published in StartleBloom, the GCU Literary Review.

Part of the chalk poem

Among English faculty who participated in the event were Dr. Diane Goodman, Heather Brody, Maria Zafonte, Dr. Tom Skeen, Brian Raftery, Dr. Jen Santos and Dr. Jim Helfers.

Westerson, who chaired the committee that organized GCU’s activities, said the National Day on Writing “is about celebrating how we use language and the written word to enrich our lives.”

Contact Laurie Merrill at (602) 639-6511 or laurie.merrill@gcu.edu.

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Photos by Darryl Webb
GCU News Bureau

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Members of Harambae perform their routine, a tribute to the gorilla that was killed at the Cincinnati Zoo earlier this year.

Story by Jeannette Cruz
Photos by Darryl Webb
GCU News Bureau

No one likes a long line, but Grand Canyon University’s annual Lip Sync talent show proved worth the wait again Wednesday night.

There was no shortage of laughter in the audience.

Hundreds of students waited to get into the Arena hours before the show at GCU Arena, where they would watch nine teams lip sync their favorite songs, celebrities and movie clips. The contestants were Toolbox, ID’s Please, Harambaes, Dream Team, D.R.E.A.M. Club, Terrible Stuntmen, Lope Rangers, Teardrops on Your Guitar and KidzBop Reloaded.

Senior Kia Baikie sat cross-legged next to a group of students eating their dinners in line.

“This is my third year here, and I am here to cheer on my peers,” she said. “GCU is huge on campus life and built around events like this — perfect to take a break from midterms, get crazy and have good fun with friends.”

Senior Darby Day said it’s one of the best events of the year. She and her 15 friends were lined up to hoping to get seats within reach of the stage.

“We love how fun it is,” Day said. “Everyone who is up on the stage gives it their all, and they don’t care what they look like. They’re having fun and that makes it fun for us.”

Members of Toolbox wore matching flannel shirts.

The line was a clear indicator of what would come that night. The doors opened and the momentum continued with flashing lights, a packed arena and a DJ. Finally, the lights dimmed, the crowd stopped and a countdown began … five … four … three … two … one. Showtime.

Toolbox, last year’s Lip Sync champion, was back for its third year and opened the evening with a quote from the movie “Zoolander” before showing off their electric dance moves. The all-boys team showcased their very own T-shirts, matching flannel shirts, jean shorts and backward hats. And, of course, they made sure they ignited the crowd, especially when they performed to “No Scrubs” by TLC.

Joshua Gallegos, a new member to the team, said the best parts about the experience were the late night practices and a chance to get out of his comfort zone: “We worked so many hours to get to this point, and it took a lot of self-confidence. At the end of the day, we can really say that we’ve created a brotherhood. We trust each other.”

ID’s Please performed a hilarious fitness skit with mats, foam rollers, exercise weights and bands as props.

ID’s Please used exercise equipment as a prop.

Harambae dedicated the stage to the 17-year-old male Western Lowland Gorilla (Harambe), who was shot and killed at a Cincinnati Zoo earlier this year. The 10-member crew, sporting all-black suits and sneakers, brought out a piano performance to Adele’s “Someone Like You,” and a Tarzan costume. But it was Harambe’s portrait and graveyard prop that immediately became the talk of the show. They brought the audience to their feet when they held Harambe’s portrait in the air and “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston came on. 

Keeping the show going was host and student leader Johnny Van Ommering, who had plenty of fun outfit changes, including a cheer uniform and a mermaid onesie.

D.R.E.A.M. Club, a dance and sorority majorette, came together for the second year to create a strong influence of diversity and female power through performance and dance.

After their performance, Courtney Clarke, founder of the team, emphasized just how hard the team practiced.

“Day and night,” she said to Van Ommering. “I mean, day and night.”

Teardrops on Your Guitar was a Taylor Swift spoof.

Teardrops on Your Guitar, a Taylor Swift impersonation, was playful and exciting. Lauren Iuliano, a member of the GCU dance team, played a desperate-for-love Swift with a backup dance crew. The performers made the audience scream when a student’s head was used as a podium prop as Iuliano mocked Swift’s Grammy speech, which shed light on her feud with Kanye West.

There was much laughter, dancing and definite talent. Then the teams were narrowed to the top three leaving Dream Team, Harambaes and Toolbox. In the end the Harambaes won the hearts of the crowd. The team was rewarded with the title of “Lip Syncing Champion” and a trophy.

Minutes after their on-stage celebration, Marko Susnjara said he was still in awe.

“This all started as a joke, and our whole goal was to get into the competition. Now we’re just blown away,” he said. “The whole team has been saying we don’t know what we’re going to do with our nights now because we’ve been practicing for the past two months. We’re just ecstatic and give our glory to God. We’ll be back in some shape or form.”

The thing about this event is that it engages community and encourages peer support, said Julia Bates, student activities coordinator.

“It’s easy to see why there’s so much hype around it,” she said. “Students love being a part of it.”

Contact Jeannette Cruz at (602) 639-6631 or jeannette.cruz@gcu.edu.

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“Candidates,” from left, Jill Stein, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Gary Johnson is off screen.

Story by Laurie Merrill
Photos by Darryl Webb
GCU News Bureau

The “candidates” hardly interrupted each other at all, exceeded their time limits only a little and stuck to the issues Friday. The mock presidential debate staged by Grand Canyon University’s Speech and Debate Team was nothing like the three real ones during this political season.

Sure, the Ethington Theatre event was filled with laugh-inducing one-liners poking fun at the candidates, and it was clear that role players enjoyed a few over-the-top caricatures.

But compared to the three debates between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, the debate was the height of decorum.

“This is very different from anything we’ve encountered,” said the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Dean, Dr. Sherman Elliott. “We wanted to showcase civil discourse.”

Student Zachary Kuykendall played Libertarian Gary Johnson, who won the GCU balloting.

GCU also added third-party candidates to the mix. The five participants were Green Party Candidate Jill Stein (Alaina Owen), Libertarian Gary Johnson (Zachary Kuykendall), Clinton (Jasmin Sharp), Trump (Thomas Rotering) and moderator Kara Sutton. (Click here for a slideshow of the debate.)

The nearly 250 students in attendance had a chance to cast ballots for their favorites at the end.

“We promise you, it won’t be rigged,” said Speech and Debate Team Director Barry Regan, a CHSS instructor.

The balloting results: Johnson 87, Trump 44, Clinton 10 and Stein 5.

Serious policy positions were interspersed with humor. In his opening remarks, Johnson declared, “I want to show the American people that you don’t have to choose the lesser of two evils.”

Some of Trump’s funnier lines were takeoffs of widely circulated quotes. For example, in separate responses, he said that “nobody loves Arizona more than I do,” and “nobody loves Muslims more than I do.”

Similarly, on the topic of immigration reform, Trump announced, “We are going to build a wall, and it’s going to be huge,” while on the topic of health care, he stated that his plan “is going to be huge.”

Thomas Rotering had fun imitating Trump’s hand gestures.

A bigger wall would only create a bigger  market for higher ladders, Clinton said. It’s important to keep open America’s door for Syrian refugees.

“We need to allow them in to have a model to follow when we all move to Canada after dictator Trump is elected,” she said.

In playing Clinton, the blonde-haired, business-like Sharp had clearly studied Clinton’s hand gestures and body language. She wore a red business suit and spoke very swiftly.

In one statement, she blurted out, “Being a woman, and being the first woman nominee, I support having Supreme Court justices that will be supportive of women’s rights.”

Rotering, playing the role of Trump, obviously enjoyed mimicking Trump’s hand gestures and some of his standard lines. Though it was only once, he interrupted Clinton to say, “That’s not true.”

Some of the best lines were voiced by Johnson and were clearly relished by the student playing the part, Kuykendall.

“I want to live in an America where a same-sex couple can protect their marijuana fields with AK-47s,” he said, drawing an enthusiastic response from the crowd.

In one of a volley of potshots at Clinton (he jabbed at Trump and Stein, too), Johnson said: “I missed the Hillary email about debate-specific questions.”

The stage was decorated appropriately by the “Of Thee I Sing” set designers.

Trump couldn’t resist jumping into the email fray, adding, “I think I missed the email, too, but I’ll just ask my friend (Russian President Vladimir) Putin. I’m sure he has a copy of it.”

Johnson taunted Trump when he said, “At least I still believe the polls — right, Donald?”

On education, Stein promised no tuition from preschool through college, but Clinton retorted that this was like waving “a magic wand.”

Trump added that “the policies of no child left behind have indeed left children behind,” after which Clinton lambasted Trump’s “fake online real estate college.”

Each had a silly reason why they were uniquely qualified to be president, but Clinton’s was perhaps the silliest: “I’m the only one who’s ever been in the White House.”

Contact Laurie Merrill at (602) 639-6511 or laurie.merrill@gcu.edu.

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By Mark Heller
GCU News Bureau

Being a student is hard. Being a teacher is often harder.

At Grand Canyon University, education is acquired, taught and shared using a Christian worldview of practices, values and ethics. But applying those principles within classrooms that revolve around STEM subjects, computers and technology can be complicated.

Lydia Fritz

Friday’s latest “Lunch and Learn” faculty speaker series explored these topics as part of the Integration of Faith, Learning and Work (IFLW) series, led by College of Theology Dean Dr. Jason Hiles.

The challenges of working with students by integrating Christian values, connecting with today’s college students and preparing them as 21st-century leaders is often difficult. And that’s without factoring in students’ dispositions, attention spans and whatever may be happening in their personal lives.

Lydia Fritz is teaching proof of these challenges. An assistant professor in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology, she works primarily with freshmen; some might not be ready for the rigors of college or might not seem willing to be challenged to use critical-thinking skills while learning about technologies.

She said both education and teaching Christian values shouldn’t be an “either/or” proposition, but these concepts can be intertwined during both good (and easy) times and during challenging or difficult circumstances.

Isac Artzi

“Remember, these are all teaching moments,” she told her colleagues. “Let your faith guide you.”

Fritz’s CSET colleague, Isac Artzi, shared elements of his classroom integration with fellow faculty. Namely, the intersection and interaction between humans and technology often creates limitations or constraints.

The key, Artzi said, is to turn those constraints into advantages or opportunities. He referenced an MIT software company that specifically hired people afflicted by autism because the brain disorder allows them to better fit with the demands and characteristics desired for software testing.

Integrations occur even before teacher-student interactions. Heidi Blocker, a curriculum design and development manager at GCU, said the University’s Statement of Integration and Faith is heavily emphasized when originating content and discussion questions that are embedded in every program’s curriculum.

Heidi Blocker

“There are embedded opportunities to have these conversations with students,” she said. “What are the connections (between Christian values and specific lessons) for these themes?”

As nearly every teacher can attest, it requires a lot of one’s body, mind and soul to excel at working with the next generation. But the reminder was simple: Practice what you teach.

“There can be gaps, and these gaps are important,” Hiles said of having faith guide your teaching. “If I can’t put (Christian teachings) into practice on my own, then, as a teacher, it can sound hypocritical or disingenuous.”

Mark Heller can be reached at (602) 639-7516 or mark.heller@gcu.edu

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Panelists in the Thrive Conference Wednesday included (from left) Holly Betenbough, Rick Betenbough, Dr. Kevin Leman and Dennis O’Reilly.

By Mark Heller
GCU News Bureau

Ears were perked and business cards were dealt out like cards as a few hundred entrepreneurs and family business owners gathered Wednesday at Grand Canyon University Arena for the Thrive Family Business Conference.

Hosted by Intentional Living Center president, author and radio personality Dr. Randy Carlson, Wednesday’s daylong presentation featured a half-dozen speakers, more than a dozen video presentations, guest panels and interactive Q-and-A sessions with successful family business entrepreneurs of faith.

The day’s focus revolved around helping the audience navigate the dozens of challenges (large and small) entrepreneurs and small businesses encounter. Both GCU President Brian Mueller and Colangelo College of Business namesake Jerry Colangelo shared their passions for entrepreneurship and how to navigate the realms of uncertainty in building an organization from the very beginning — whether in education, sports or otherwise.

“You learn much more from failure and losses than the wins,” Colangelo said. “Out of adversity comes opportunity.”

Dr. Randy Carlson (left) speaks with Jerry Colangelo, namesake of the Colangelo College of Business.

The day concluded with an entertaining and informative panel of four guests: Rick and Holly Betenbough, a husband-and-wife team who’ve built a successful housing development business in west Texas; Dr. Kevin Leman, a psychologist, author and creator of the Leman Academy of Excellence, tuition-free, K-7 charter schools throughout the Tucson area; and his son-in-law, Dennis O’Reilly, the head of school for the academy.

With five daughters — one of whom is in charge of more than 20 traditional schools around Tucson — dynamics between parents and children and business and family is a daily dynamic with the Leman family tree. And sometimes its success is easier said than done.

“It’s the school of ‘excellence,’ not perfection,” Leman said. “Your business needs to be a fun place where people and (employees) feel part of your mission.”

Many in attendance shared similar missions and goals. The information overload and thought-provoking concepts were too numerous to keep track of in an eight-hour time frame, but plenty in attendance found plenty of information worthy of reflection.

“I’m not a big sports person, but I knew the Colangelo name,” said Wendy Avant, who recently left the corporate world after 20 years to begin her own home business in Tucson. “He was fantastic.”

The 45-minute panel concluded the day’s events with discussions on everything from tithing, successor and estate planning, communication with family between business and personal, work-life priorities and “opportunity” vs. passion.

“Provisions is a terrible reason to do anything,” Rick Betenbough said. “Passion-less work is a disaster.”

For several in attendance, both Colangelo’s and Mueller’s speeches resonated with attendees. This was partially because of the “entrepreneurial spirit” they both emphasized as being part of GCU’s values, and partially because of the illustrious careers and leadership of both Mueller and Colangelo.

“I wanted to be in charge and decide things on my own terms through God,” said James Sizemore, who also left the corporate world after a decade to start his own business in Phoenix. “You learn so much from these speakers. Everyone’s journey is different, but there will always be a lot of similarities among us.”

Mark Heller can be reached at (602) 639-7516 or mark.heller@gcu.edu

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By Mark Heller
GCU News Bureau

There is no substitute for real-world experience, and Grand Canyon University students have several opportunities to hand out (and lengthen) resumés and improve interview skills during the next month.

Following the recent Counseling and Practicum Fair in partnership with the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Career Impact Center is collaborating with the College of Science, Engineering and Technology to offer another event for GCU students.

The IT Career Consortium is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, outside Building 57 and will feature companies from the information technology and computer science industries. Students will be able to discuss both job and internship opportunities with the recruiters at the event.

GCU Career Impact Center Executive Director Jacqueline Smith advises students to take advantage of the opportunity to interact with employers.

“Dress professionally, bring resumés, have confidence and be well-spoken,” she said. “You’ll be one step closer toward landing a job.

“That’s what it’s all about: networking, networking and more networking.”

Smith called next week’s career fair a “first step” in creating a pipeline between GCU students/graduates and Valley companies looking to hire for computer, technology, math and science positions.

“There are many positions within the CSET and STEM fields thathaven’t been created yet,” Smith said. “Our students are prepared for these roles because they are creative, passionate, inquisitive, able to think critically and make a great first impression.”

She encouraged other GCU colleges to contact the Career Impact Center to help set up career fairs and promote job/internship opportunities. She also encouraged students to seek out the Career Impact Center for job and internship resources, including many available on-campus positions, where a “safe to fail” environment is fostered vs. the often harsh real world.

“We provide resumé reviews and mock interviews, but (job fairs) are more impactful,” Smith said. “We don’t want to wait until students are ready to graduate before introducing them to employers. We want those relationships and great resources available to anyone who’s motivated, professional and ambitious.”

The Career Impact Center has quite a few events lined up for the remainder of the semester and academic year, including:

• GCU Wants to Hire You is a job fair in collaboration with the GCU Human Resources department for future graduates and recent alumni interested in working for the University. This event will take place from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Career Impact Center office, located inside Saguaro Hall (Building 46).
• More than 150 organizations will be on the Promenade for the annual Career Week Job/Internship Fair from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. March 2.

Individual companies also will be on campus throughout November looking to hire full-time, part-time and internship positions, including:

• Nov. 1-2: Enterprise
• Nov. 7: Edward Jones
• Nov. 8: Hubbard Family Swim School
• Nov. 9: U.S. Bureau of Prisons
• Nov. 14: Dish Network
• Nov. 15-16: USAA
• Nov. 28: Northwestern Mutual
• Nov. 29: CenturyLink
• Nov. 30: Drury Hotels

For more information about events and job fairs, refer to the Career Impact Center website.

Mark Heller can be reached at (602) 639-7516 or mark.heller@gcu.edu

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Disney animator Darrin Butters addresses students at Ethington Theatre about the studio’s soon-to-be-released movie, ”Moana.”

By Laurie Merrill
GCU News Bureau

The story of Moana, the protagonist and namesake of the newest Walt Disney animated film, is similar to that of Grand Canyon University students, at least one level.

“It’s a story of finding your purpose and your identity,” Disney Animation Studios animator Darrin Butters said Thursday, echoing one of GCU’s themes during a presentation to students at Ethington Theatre.

GCU’s Digital Film program had invited Butters to speak about “Moana,” a 3D computer-animated, musical-fantasy, comedy-adventure film scheduled for release Nov. 23.

Audience members oohed and ahhed when Butters named a few of the beloved classics from the same studio, including “Aladdin,” “The Little Mermaid,” “The Lion King,” “Frozen” and “Zootopia.”

The newest Disney movie, “Moana,” is about a fierce teenager on a daring journey.

Their enthusiasm erupted into claps and cheers when Butters showed a slide of film co-songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda, best known as the creator and star of Broadway musicals “Hamilton” and “In the Heights” and the winner of a Pulitzer Prize, two Grammys, an Emmy, a MacArthur “Genius” Award and three Tony awards.

Butters also showed the delighted crowd several stunning sneak-peek clips, noting that the particular snippets might not appear exactly the same in the final version. The previews introduced main character Moana, the fearless, high-spirited, headstrong 16-year-old daughter of Chief Tui of Motunui Island.

The obstacles and foes Moana faces are the visually stunning stuff of 3D-computer animation. Among the characters are Pua, the incredibly adorable pet pig; Maui, the tattooed, muscle-bound demigod; and the ocean itself.

Not unlike students entering GCU,  Moana sets sail on a voyage of growth and self-discovery. Only her Disney journey involves Hei Hei the stowaway rooster and the added pressure of trying to save the world as she knows it.

The College of Fine Arts and Production regularly invites speakers such as Butters for the benefit of students striving to enter similar careers.

“Anytime you bring an industry for which we train to campus, it’s a win-win for students,” said Claude Pensis, the COFAP dean. “They not only get to see him talk about what he does for a living, they get to see what he does for a living and to interact with him.”

Contact Laurie Merrill at (602) 639-6511 or laurie.merrill@gcu.edu.

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Photos by Slaven Gujic
GCU News Bureau

Grand Canyon University’s fall HSET (Health Sciences, Engineering and Technology) Day, held Thursday, is an event that lets the University shine a light on its STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs, one of its most innovating, exciting and rapidly growing.

More than 2,600 high school students from across Arizona were invited to hear from speakers working in STEM field, attend interactive presentations and live demonstrations, tour GCU’s human anatomy, nursing and DNA labs, and participate in hands-on activities and networking.

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“Our Town” designers prepping for the play, from left, assistant stage manager Jennifer Lang, stage manager Jennifer Estrada and hair and makeup designer Madison Kesterson.

Story and photos by Laurie Merrill
GCU News Bureau

For stage manager Jennifer Estrada, the message of Ethington Theatre’s “Our Town” is both poignant and personal.

“The show talks a lot about living life to the fullest and how every minute could be your last,” Estrada said. “I’m a senior graduating in December, so it’s even more sentimental for me.”

Our Town, which follows the loves and lives of Emily and George of Grover’s Corners, N.H., from 1899 to 1913, is an intimate experience that packs a powerful reminder: Pay attention to the wonderful things in life — before it is too late.

“As a parent, it’s hard to get through without weeping,” said director Michael Kary, College of Fine Arts and Production instructor. “Coming from this side, all that time is gone, but now I have kids and I want to hug them and open their eyes and let them know that I love them because I never know when my final comment will come.”

The 1938 play by American playwright Thornton Wilder is the second Pulitzer Prize winner in a row that COFAP has produced, following the musical political satire, “Of Thee I Sing.”

Assistant stage manager Jennifer Lang (left) and stage manager Jennifer Estrada paint the stage a week before opening night.

Our Town is unusual in that students hold key leadership positions, a criterion for entering the prestigious Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in February. GCU’s 2015 production of “Scapin” was selected as an entrant last season.

Our Town’s student designer team includes Laynie Nelson, set design and costume; Armani Randolph, lighting, and Madison Kesterson, hair and makeup.

It’s a play without scenery, props, walls or a curtain, and that’s on purpose. “It’s super innovative,” Kary said. “It was revolutionary for American theater.”

The challenge was designing it so it doesn’t merely look blank, Kary said. Despite the lack of physical elements, the play is set in a small town, up a mountaintop, inside a soda shop, and even in the world of the dead, which Kary describes as a “purgatory-like place where we get to hear what the dead are thinking about the living.”

Assistant stage designer Jennifer Lang, a freshman, said the actors act out the props and furniture.

“It’s fun to work on a show where everything is pantomimed,” she said. “So much depends on the actors.”

Kesterson was faced with making characters look older without benefit of age makeup or adding gray to the hair. She said hairstyles and facial hair will signify maturation. “It’s different because it’s a period show,” Kesterson said.

In today’s society, it has become the norm for many people to stare at screens, whether on  a smart phone, computer or TV. Our Town reminds the viewer to put down the screens and look up to see what’s right in front of us.

More Information:

Principal cast members include:

Stage manager/narrator: Brenna Warren
The narrator is the guide through Grover’s Corners and speaks directly to the audience.

George Gibbs: Hayden Domenico
 The boy next door who matures from irresponsible teen to father, husband and farmer.

Emily Webb Gibbs: Sarah Schalick
We follow her from her girlhood through her wedding, life and death.

Performances

This week: 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Nov. 18-19,  2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20

Next week: 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Nov. 25-26,  2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27

Tickets are available here. Students get tickets free with ID.

Contact Laurie Merrill at (602) 639-6511 or laurie.merrill@gcu.edu.

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By Laurie Merrill
GCU News Bureau

Grand Canyon University’s third Ministry Forum topic, “Does God Call Women into Ministry?”, might seem like a rhetorical question considering the College of Theology panelists:

• Dr. Valerie De La Torre, doctor of ministry, instructor
• Margaret Koontz, master of divinity, instructor
• Michele Pasley, master of arts in theology, instructor
• Adrian Strong, master of divinity, adjunct faculty member

Anna Faith Smith

Add in the moderator of the Monday session, Anna Faith Smith, master of divinity and COT associate dean, and there appears to be a clear argument for a “yes” answer.

But the classroom audience was split four ways on the poll question, “Into what role does God call women to serve?” The choices were: To any office of the church or ministry, to missionary service, to a support role if the pastor or leader is male and to a ministry to women and/or children.

“Interesting,” Smith said. “We have a spectrum. … We welcome people who are serving God no matter where they are on the spectrum.”

For an hour, the panelists discussed the role of women based on five topic questions Smith posed.

Dr. Valerie De La Torre

The first was, “God has used women in ministry and leadership from Old Testament times to the present, notably Deborah, Ruth, Esther, Priscilla, Lydia, Timothy’s mother and grandmother, Paul’s coworker Phoebe (Romans 14) and the women who labored alongside him in Phillippi, and countless missionaries over time.”

Even in the Old Testament, women had positions of leadership, said De La Torre. She said that women and men started out as complementary, but the roles became distorted until Jesus restored the order.

Margaret Koontz

The women, Koontz said, “serve as positive role models. … I too grew up in a church in which the women did what was needed, when it was needed. There was a sense of obedience. ‘The harvest is plenty but the workers are few.’’’

“I see God calling women to do what needed to be done … fulfilling what God has called them to do,” Pasley said.

“When I did learn about these women, I knew God was calling me to learn, that God was calling me to teach,” Strong said.

Michelle Pasley

Another topic was, “Based on I Corinthians 14, women should be silent in the church?”

Strong’s response to this was, “Absolutely not. We all have gifts.”

Adrian Strong

“Does that mean women shouldn’t sing? That women shouldn’t stand up to make announcements?” Koontz said.

The panelists also discussed interpreting scripture using contexts and definitions that can change with time. Koontz, for example, said we should avoid our desire to “rip a verse bleeding from its contexts.”

After the hour was up, Faith posed the same poll questions to the student audience. The result? Nearly the same.

Contact Laurie Merrill at (602) 639-6511 or laurie.merrill@gcu.edu.

The post Female theologians discuss women’s place in ministry appeared first on GCU Today.

Photos by Darryl Webb
GCU News Bureau

Ethington Theatre’s production of “Our Town” runs this weekend and next, closing 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27. But don’t let Thanksgiving weekend stop you from enjoying GCU’s wonderful presentation of Thornton Wilder’s 1938 Pulitzer-Prize winning drama.

The show has has a perfect message for any time of year and shows us a slice of Americana while giving us a powerful message. It reminds us that times and ways of life may change, but what truly matters is just as true now as then.

For tickets, click here. Students get tickets free with ID. For a story about the show, click here.

The post Slideshow: Ethington Theatre’s ‘Our Town’ appeared first on GCU Today.

From left, Tim Dahlstrom, justice courts director of operations; Jeff Fine, court administrator; Dr. Sherman Elliott, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences; and Kevin Walling, CHSS instructor.

Story and photos by Laurie Merrill
GCU News Bureau

Maricopa County Justice Courts officials gave Grand Canyon University an award for hosting its Staff Training Conference in July as part of a “mutually beneficial and collaborative relationship.”

“We are hoping to assist each other and can continue to engage with the students — who are our future workers,” Jeff Fine, court administrator, said Tuesday after bestowing the trophy.

An award of thanks

The award names GCU President Brian Mueller, College of Humanities and Social Sciences Dean Dr. Sherman Elliott and CHSS instructor Kevin Walling.

“This is an advantageous relationship not just for everyone in Maricopa County, but also for society in general,” Elliott said.

The win-win relationship benefits students because it makes GCU one of the primary institutions that the Arizona court systems look to when hiring personnel, Elliott said.

Nearly two dozen GCU students had the opportunity to hobnob with more than 250 attorneys and court staff during the MCJC annual conference July 19-21.

Elliott praised Walling for cementing the arrangement.

“It provides our students an opportunity to meet with court personnel, including administrators, judges, probation officers, etc. and learn from their expertise,” Walling said. “Students are currently working as interns and have also been placed into jobs with the local court system.”

The justice courts hear civil, traffic, loan defaults, eviction, protective order and HOA cases, among others, and officiate at weddings, Fine said. Fine, former Justice of the Peace, said he heard about 24,000 cases in just one year.

Contact Laurie Merrill at (602) 639-6511 or laurie.merrill@gcu.edu.

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Dr. Tim Larkin (left) invites anyone who wants to join him at the Thursday afternoon drum circle.

Story by Mark Heller
Photos by Darryl Webb
GCU News Bureau

We all march to the beat of a different drum, so Dr. Tim Larkin brings several each week to help form a band of “anyone.”

Passersby frequently join the drum circle.

The rhythms you’ve likely heard on Grand Canyon University’s campus from 2-4 p.m. every Thursday come from the shady bench between the College of Humanities and Social Sciences building and Prescott Field. Most weeks during the school year, the CHSS associate professor hauls out his cart full of bongos, congas, maracas, sticks, mallets and more that he keeps in his office.

He sets up a drum circle, part of GCU’s Sociology Club, to play as he waves over any curious onlookers to grab a seat and find the beat. Most weeks bring in 25-30 passersby – students, staff, faculty, anyone – willing to join the jam.

Expert or rookie, musically inclined or not, it makes no difference.

“The goal is to fit in somewhere,” Larkin said. “Someone gets a base beat going, and then people fit in around it. That’s the community aspect we need.”

No experience is needed to bang a drum for a few minutes.

This is Larkin’s seventh year teaching at GCU and third year of doing these drum circles, born from his younger days of attending concerts. He bought a set of congas from a nearby church and purchased another set of maroon-colored congas from a friend in Chicago who was a stage manager for the Blue Man Group.

A recent jam session included students from every corner of campus and the country. A few spent nearly an hour playing a variety of hand drums.

Larkin estimated that somewhere between one-third and half of all participants never played a drum before – he’ll show you how – but Randhir Deo has. The CSET instructor played in a rhythm-and-blues band in college. He stayed only a few minutes but found it worth the stop.

“It’s energizing, even if only for a couple minutes,” he said.

It’s also an ice-breaker, which is why Larkin believes in creating connections and community through congas.

“People who’ve never met each other – or when four girls who were very shy – stop by and start playing, then they start meeting and talking to each other,” Larkin said. “That’s outreach.”

Contact Mark Heller at (602) 639-7516 or mark.heller@gcu.edu

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The GCU Speech and Debate Team, led by Barry Regan (far left), was honored at a recent basketball game. (Photo by Darryl Webb)

By Laurie Merrill
GCU News Bureau

Barry Regan, director of Grand Canyon University’s Speech and Debate Team, has been honored for his exemplary efforts in leading one of GCU’s top teams.

Regan, a College of Humanities and Social Sciences instructor, received the 2016 Pacific Southwest Collegiate Forensics Association (PSCFA) Wyman-Howe Coach of the Year Award, voted on by a panel of coaches in the group.

“I was extremely humbled,” Regan said. “I really appreciate the backing my colleagues here at GCU have provided me, and without that love and support I certainly would not have won the award.”

He received the award at the recent PSCFA Fall Championship Tournament Orange Coast College, in Costa Mesa, Calif., where the team finished second out of 15 four-year universities.

Matthew Calderwood became the first GCU freshman to win the parliamentary debate open division.

Senior Tatum Kaiser and sophomore Thomas Gleason won the gold medal in the novice division. Other top finishers included seniors Thomas Rotering and Zachary Kuykendall, junior Taylor Alandzes and sophomores Jasmin Sharp and Kara Sutton.

On the speech side, Gleason took second in persuasive speaking, and Kaiser was third and sophomore TaylorRae Humbert was fourth in open prose interpretation.

Speech showcase

During a recent Speech and Debate showcase at GCU, six team members presented brief speeches on social issues.

Kaiser, Humbert, Gleason, freshmen Grace Laidlaw and Danny Williamson and sophomore Keliann Nash performed their pieces before a packed audience in the Colangelo College of Business lecture hall.

The team’s next competition is Jan. 6-8 in the Mile High Invitational at the University of Utah.

Contact Laurie Merrill at (602) 639-6511 or laurie.merrill@gcu.edu.

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Photos by Darryl Webb
GCU News Bureau

Grand Canyon University’s College of Fine Arts and Production on Monday proudly presented the fifth annual Handel’s Messiah, featuring the Canyon Symphony Orchestra, Canyon Choral Society and Canyon Festival Chorus.

Handel’s massive oratorio celebrates the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The acclaimed and popular “Hallelujah” chorus works as a centerpiece to this unique spiritual concert.

The post Slideshow: 2016 Handel’s Messiah appeared first on GCU Today.

It’s a laugh a minute at improv study halls with GCU’s resident improv troupe, the Cantalopes.

Story and photos by Laurie Merrill
GCU News Bureau

Kayana Sweeney grabbed a ball of invisible energy and rolled it between her hands as she explained the rules of the game, “Zoom, Schwartz, Profigliano.”

“This game is about speed,” she said, then went on to define the terms “milk the cow,” “cat in a microwave” and “action legs” as well as the simpler “zoom,” “Schwartz” and “Profligiano,” all phrases that players must use to avoid losing.

Sweeney was speaking to about 30 Grand Canyon University students who were standing in a large circle in the free improv study hall she leads on Monday nights in Building 43-Room 201 on Colter Avenue.

When the game commenced, there was a rush of shouting, pointing, jumping, twirling and laughing as participants’ speed and coordination were tested with hilarious results.

“Zoom!” one shouted and pointed across the circle.

“Profligliano,’’ another  yelled, pointing to a person standing to their left or right.

“Cat in a microwave!” shrieked that person, indicating that three participants had to act out a scenario — of a cat in a microwave — before the count of 10.

The idea is to quite literally think quickly on one’s feet and make a rapid-fire decision.

“We always have so much fun,” Sweeney said. “We always attract a lot of people.”

Kayana Sweeney, Cantalopes improv captain

The game is one of many played during the Monday study halls. The sessions are open to all students, but many of the regulars are members of the College of Fine Arts and Production’s resident improvisation troupe, the Cantalopes.

Sweeney is the improv captain, and Brenna Warren, another actor, is the lieutenant.

The Cantalopes perform twice a month. At last week’s show, nearly 200 people attended. The next is scheduled for 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13, at the Thunderground.

“Our attendance is going through the roof,” Sweeney said, but at the same time she and other Cantalope members are putting out the word that they want to attract more attendees from different colleges.

“I am a senior this year and would like to make sure that improv is still a major presence on this campus after I leave,” she added.

For the next exercise, Sweeney acted the role of a host who interviewed a series of “guests” — improv students who invented their “relationships” with one another on the spot.

She advised them to come in with a purpose and a point of view and to pay special attention to their partners so as to swiftly adapt, be on the same page and be even more entertaining.

In one scenario, Hayden Domenico and Becca Owen acted out the roles of newlyweds who decided to marry the minute they met.

Domenico’s character had decided, “I need ring by spring,” and when he met Owen’s character, “the universe handed me my wife,” he said.

In another, Warren and Amber Warner announced, “We are married to the same man.”

“Richard was a big fan of dating sites, but not of making decisions,” said Warren’s character.

The two ‘‘wives’’ began quarreling, with Warner’s character snapping, “You’re going to have to accept the fact that I am the main wife.”

Some situations stretched credibility, but Sweeney said that’s what makes them funny.

“I love taking the super abnormal relationships and treating them as normal,” she said.

Students said the class helps not only their acting skills, but also their listening skills.

“There’s so much listening that has to go into this,” Ben Tietz said. “Every single scene, you have to share. You can’t make it alone. But together you can make it great.”

“It’s so interesting to think about relationships and internalize them,” said Abby McIntyre. “I think about improv as a portrayal of real life.”

“Improv helps me to think on my toes and not be afraid to not know what to do next,” Warner said.

Warren said that improv has enhanced her creativity, given her confidence and removed stage fright.

“Going into a show with rehearsed lines now seems like nothing,” Warren said.

For Sweeney, improv is an enormous passion, and the Cantalopes are one of her most treasured GCU experiences.

“Improv has helped my acting,” Sweeney said. “I’m able to roll with directions and to go with things in the moment.”

Contact Laurie Merrill at (602) 639-6511 or laurie.merrill@gcu.edu.

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Scot Madison Quiggle performs “Life Has to Be.”

Story and photos by Mark Heller
GCU News Bureau

This time, it was personal.

Inspired from sorrow, pain, angst and confusion — as the best songs and works of art often are — several of the 12 musical pieces performed for Wednesday night’s fall semester edition of the Worship Arts Songwriter Showcase at Grand Canyon University were somberly sourced and performed with raw emotion.

Katie Brown (right) did “On My Knees” and “Abide with Me.”

And from these came faith and hope.

More than 60 songs were auditioned this semester and narrowed to a dozen. A couple hundred people squeezed into the Grand Canyon Beverage Company to hear this stellar exhibition of songwriting, vocals, accompanying keyboards, guitars, percussion and even a miniature cello.

These 12 songs will be compiled with the dozen from the Spring 2016 showcase (24 total songs) and narrowed again for a 12-track CD compilation.

From Graham Harper’s opener “The Wilderness,” a nod to the anxiety of leaving Northern California for Arizona’s desert, to Katie Brown’s emotional and anthemic conclusions, “On My Knees” and “Abide with Me,” the 90-minute show told tales of the the writer’s own mental and emotional struggles:

• “Plans,” a song Casey Moreno wrote when he had “no idea what was going on in my life; nervous and lacked direction.”
• “Source of Living” was written when Milyssa Dela Cruz was recovering from a difficult knee surgery.
• Scot Madison Quiggle’s “Life Has to Be,” for those in the “almost not-ready stage of life most of us have felt.”
• Lade Kolawole wrote “Never Gonna Give Up” when “life went absolutely wrong.”
• Brown’s “Abide with Me” as a “place of helplessness where nothing is good.”

Megan Borges (left) sang “If it Breaks Your Heart.”

It was honest candor in songwriting with enough expressions of faith and belief that with God in our presence, everything just might turn out all right. Or, as Dela Cruz sang, “Right here in Your presence, my life is resurrected.”

Grand Canyon University assistant professor and Center for Worship Arts manager Dr. John Frederick found parallels of suffering and rejoicing between both the Bible and the GCBC stage. Channeling that energy, emotion and angst in displays such as Wednesday night is part of the creative process: struggle and salvation.

“There’s pain and suffering but hope, too, and articulating it in a human way is how robust and perceptive these students are,” Frederick said. “I’m glad we have a community where you can create, collaborate and be rewarded for thinking outside the box.”

Angel Morris recently watched a documentary about Pompeii called “The Last Day,” about the Mount Vesuvius volcano that destroyed the city in 79 A.D. She drew inspiration from the idea that “we build kingdoms and our lives, and when bad things happen we’re not prepared without some help from God. She found her parallel “lost universe” within her song, “Atlantis:”

Courtney Welker performs “Prodigal’s Lullaby.”

If I was a city I’d be Atlantis

’cause I’m sinking under the waves

You are our savior, you walked on water

No ocean is as deep as your grace

Morris and Brown fittingly closed the program with impressive displays of songwriting, vocal range and stamina. Negativity may influence creativity, but the talent, collaboration and creativity on display Wednesday can be influential in its own right.

“We want to send them out and be excellent and positive influences in others’ lives,” Frederick said. “It’s perfect that all the (musical) styles are not just to emulate each other, but learn to think and create. Musicians and artists see the world differently, and that should be embraced.”

Fall 2016 Worship Arts Songwriter Showcase

Graham Harper: “Need Your Love” and “Wilderness”

Casey Moreno and Jessie Sams: “Plans”

Courtney Welker: “Prodigal’s Lullaby”

Reagan Capaci: “You Right”

Milyssa Dela Cruz: “Source of Living”

Megan Borges: “If It Breaks Your Heart”

Scot Madison Quiggle: “Life Has to Be”

Lade Kolawole: “Never Gonna Give Up”

Angel Morris: “Atlantis”

Katie Brown: “On My Knees” and “Abide with Me”

Contact Mark Heller at (602) 639-7516 or mark.heller@gcu.edu

The post From pain comes gain in Worship Arts Showcase appeared first on GCU Today.

A plaque commemorating the first Honors College graduates will be displayed in Building 33. (Photo by Darryl Webb)

By Jeannette Cruz
GCU News Bureau

Grand Canyon University leaders, faculty and students gathered Saturday for the Honors College Launch, a celebration of the growing program and the academic excellence of its students.

The Honors College presented President Brian Mueller with an award for impact and innovation.

“This is a big night for us,” President Brian Mueller told the student body, faculty and staff. “When I think about the nine colleges that we have now and the 220 academic programs, it’s overwhelming how we have been blessed and what God has done. But the most overwhelming thing for me is the students that have come here.”

Mueller recalled how the idea for an Honors College, which has nearly 1,200 students, double its size from when the program began in 2013, grew out of the “unbelievable talent and brainpower” of students who were arriving on campus. He also acknowledged that while students play an impact in their surrounding community, the mission is to prepare the next generation of worldwide leaders.

“If you’re going into business, or finance, engineering, computer science, or biology, your goals are all the same – to identify real problems in the world that create poverty and create partnerships, programs and real measurable results that eradicate poverty,” Mueller told the hundreds of students. “What people are going to find out is that as a result of what you’re doing here, the Christian worldview makes a difference.”

Dr. Antoinette Farmer, dean and vice president of institutional effectiveness. (Photo by Darryl Webb)

Dr. Antoinette Farmer, dean and vice president of institutional effectiveness, introduced its new advisory board and team. Brittany Holen, a recent graduate and former GCU women’s golfer, spoke warmly about her experience as a member of the Honors College.

“Throughout my time as a student, I had the honor and privilege of meeting many of the Honors students. And for those who haven’t met them, I tell you, they really do have a spark that sets them apart, and I have no doubt that they are on their way to accomplishing great feats,” she said.

At the end of the ceremony, Assistant Dean Breanna Naegeli presented the members of the inaugural class with a plaque (to be placed inside Building 33) recognizing the 44 graduates who started and finished in the Honors College program. Mueller was also presented with an award to recognize his impact and innovation in helping start the college.

Brittany Holen , a recent graduate, shared her perspective about the Honors College. (Photo by Darryl Webb)

“If it weren’t for these 50 students who blindly walked into an Honors experience of courses that were freshly developed, with faculty that were hired for this program and new extracurricular programming, the Honors College would not be what it is today,” Naegeli said. “Any student who walks into our office now knows who these individuals are.”

So why wait until now to formally introduce the Honors College?

“Since we’re now large and have students graduating and entering the world and the workforce, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate where we’ve come and where we’re going,” Naegeli said.

After the festivities, Honors College students Vincent Delcato and Dylan Murphy expressed their appreciation.

Delcato said the recognition was a great commemoration of all that he and his peers had accomplished. For Murphy, the moment was a reminder of walking into his first Honors class.

“There’s this photograph of us all meeting for the first time at a networking event, and I don’t think that we ever expected the program to grow to 1,200 students and then get awarded for it,” he said before joining his peers for another photograph in front of the silver plaque — this time to mark the end of their journey.

‘Power couples’ talk at Honors Dean Speaker Series 

Karl and Carla Gentles, managing partners of the Goode Wright Gentles Agency, were invited to share their perspective on healthy relationships and careers.

The promise of relationship advice also drew students to the “Gamma Mu’s Power Couples” Dean Speaker Series event in Antelope Gym, in which the the Honors College hosted two couples who revealed their journey to a successful career and marriage.

The hourlong event was moderated by Zachariah Mikutowicz, Honors College program manager, who led the conversation with questions prepared by students. The panel shared the stories of how they met, how their career aspirations dictated the kind of person they were looking to marry and how they negotiated their relationship with their career schedules.

Karl and Carla Gentles, managing partners of the Goode Wright Gentles Agency, a public relations, event production and brand strategy agency, said students need to evaluate whom they select as a romantic partner. In some cases, if we are paying attention, God sends us people who fit with our business mode and lifestyle, Karl said.

The couple met at a business reception in 2008. Karl had just left the firm he worked for to pursue his own agency, and Carla was an experienced event planner.

“I knew that as an event planner I liked to create experiences for other people, and so I knew I needed someone that was OK with living life out loud because of my personality and my chosen field,” Carla said.

Commander Kevin Robinson, a 35-year veteran of the Phoenix Police Department, and Michele Hayard, interim dean of the Mayo Medical School at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, shared the story of how they met and how they appreciate their differences.

Karl said, “Carla was charismatic and she was outgoing – two necessary traits in public relations – and I knew that she could hold her own in any situation.”

When Commander Kevin Robinson, a 35-year veteran of the Phoenix Police Department, and Michele Hayard, interim dean of the Mayo Medical School at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, were asked how they met, it was immediately clear that the story would be a good one.

Exchanging laughs, Hayard said, “He tells it best.”

Robinson explained how Hayard walked into his life at a time when he had reached the conclusion that he would never marry. Then, when he learned what she did for a living, he thought he stood no chance.

“I thought – a doctor is going to want to put up with a goofy cop for five, maybe six minutes,” Robinson said.

Meanwhile, Hayard, a single mother of three at the time, found that in between her hectic life and work schedule, Robinson was exactly what she needed.

“I always say that I am the gas and he is the brakes,” she said.

Robinson said he appreciated the numerous trips to medical conferences with Hayard.

“I get to tag along with her, and everyone always asks me what kind of medicine I practice,” he said, adding, “I’m still trying to convince Michelle to let me borrow a stethoscope just so I can say I’m a surgeon or something.”

As Robinson approaches his retirement from Phoenix PD and Hayard continues her research in the treatment of breast cancer, Robinson is proud to admit one thing: “This sophisticated physician and this goofy cop? We blend.”

Contact Jeannette Cruz at jeannette.cruz@gcu.edu or (602) 639-6631.

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By Karen Fernau
GCU News Bureau

When Esperanza Sesteaga, Vanessa Green and Yamilka Borquez graduate Friday afternoon from Grand Canyon University, they’ll receive hard-earned diplomas, hugs from family and newfound respect from students at their high school.

They also figure to be the start of something special.

Esperanza Sesteaga

The three are the first from San Miguel High in Tucson, a 360-student Catholic school for the economically disadvantaged, to earn degrees from GCU. Besides that, they are the first members of their families to graduate from college.

And the trio predicts that others from San Miguel soon will follow.

“I’ve shared my experiences with other students, and I know that many will, like me, go to GCU,” said Sesteaga, an education major who completed her student teaching in English at her alma mater.

Borquez, a psychology major, agreed. “I want to be an example, to lead others from San Miguel to GCU.”

For Green, Sesteaga and Borquez, GCU was a natural extension of their high school. San Miguel is part of The Cristo Rey Network, a collection of high schools that integrate four years of college preparatory work with work experience. It’s the only Arizona school in the network, which includes 32 schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia and educates nearly 11,000 students a year.

Vanessa Green

Jeff Glosser, director of academic alliances, said GCU is a logical fit for Cristo Rey grads nationwide.

“These students are all trying to better their lives, change the course of their families,” he said. “I think GCU fits their mission.”

For Green, GCU also offered the same helpful environment of a Cristo Rey school.

“Like at San Miguel, teachers at GCU talk with students. They know your name. They knew if I was struggling and encouraged me to come in and talk with them,” said Green, a counseling major now working in a Washington substance-abuse hospital. She plans on attending graduate school to get a degree in marriage and family counseling.

Yamilka Borquez

GCU’s nurturing, religious environment also appealed to Sesteaga, who earned her diploma in elementary and high school education in 3 1/2 years.

“GCU has so many of the same values as Cristo Rey. I could see myself going to GCU because it felt so right,” she said. “Cristo Rey taught me to be responsible for my education, so I met with professors, attended tutoring when I needed it, and went to summer school to graduate early.”

All three selected GCU over other Arizona universities after a tour of the Phoenix campus.

Borquez, who plans on attending graduate school for a degree in social work, is encouraging the Cristo Rey students to visit GCU.

“I felt a connection right away. It had such a good, Christian vibe. I tell them that if you feel the same connection, go for it,” she said. “I now feel like GCU is my home.”

Contact Karen Fernau at (602) 639-8344 or karen.fernau@gcu.edu.

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