March 2016 GCU alumni news. View in browser.
MARCH 2016









GCU alumna and staffer Marissa Rutherford was determined to make a difference for kids battling cancer this Valentine's Day. Rutherford and her three young daughters came up with a charitable donation campaign called Cupids for Kids! Students across the valley made valentines and sold them to raise funds benefiting the Run to Fight Children's Cancer.

Tempe staffer puts heart into cancer fundraiser by Jeannette Cruz
GCU News Bureau
Simple, handmade valentines can go a long way toward generating joy, especially among young cancer patients who are hospitalized and may miss out on exchanging cards with their friends and classmates.

GCU enrollment counselor Marissa Rutherford and her daughters, from left, Ava, 7, Jordan, 6, and Callie, 9, created Cupids for Kids!, which generated 600 handmade valentines to be delivered on Valentine’s Day to hospitalized children with cancer.
That’s what crossed Marissa Rutherford’s mind as she and her young daughters started talking about ways to raise money to help children fighting cancer.
Rutherford, an enrollment counselor in the Tempe office of Grand Canyon University, came up with Cupids for Kids!, which will benefit the sixth annual GCU Foundation Run to Fight Children’s Cancer. Scheduled for Saturday, March 12, on the Phoenix campus, the run raises money to support Arizona-based Children’s Cancer Network and Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
“We were sitting around the table brainstorming holidays between January and March, and Valentine’s Day was the only holiday in between before Run to Fight,” said Rutherford, a member of the run’s planning committee. “At first we thought about selling roses and chocolates, and then we decided that if we bought all our materials, we could make our own cards.”

The Rutherford girls, along with their classmates at Pomeroy Elementary in Chandler, created the valentines, which will be available for a suggested donation of $5 each at Tuesday night’s men’s basketball game in GCU Arena.
After learning that other children their ages are battling cancer, Rutherford’s daughters had a bigger idea – they would ask their classmates at Pomeroy Elementary in Chandler to help. The students got busy cutting, decorating and designing their cards with markers, hearts, rainbows, glitter and sweet messages to make each unique and special. Soon, Cupids for Kids! triggered a school-wide domino effect with 600 students sharing their love on paper.
“What started off as this little nugget of an idea led to an adventure,” Rutherford said. “My house is filled with cards from top to bottom, and the students are excitedly waiting for updates to see how much money they helped raise to get kids feeling better.”
The valentines will be sold for a suggested donation of $5 each before Tuesday’s men’s basketball game, a 7 p.m. start against Benedictine University of Mesa in GCU Arena. There, Cupids for Kids! will have a table, and the cards, which are blank on the inside, may be personalized by their donors.
An estimated 600 cards will be delivered on Sunday, Valentine’s Day, to patients and their families. The goal is to raise $3,000 and to surround the children with love and support from GCU, Rutherford said.
“Valentine’s Day is a tradition that we all grew up having, but for a child in the hospital it might be the only card they get or maybe the only card they have ever gotten from another child their age because they’ve been stuck in the hospital for so long,” she said.
Since the inaugural run in 2011, Run to Fight Children’s Cancer has raised nearly $400,000 to raise awareness of pediatric cancer, the leading cause of death by disease among children ages 14 and younger. The funds support research into promising diagnostic tools and cancer treatments and services for children and their families.
“Being in the hospital is difficult for anyone but especially for children,” said Betsy Rosebrugh, manager of Child Life at PCH. “They fear the unknown, they are isolated from their peers and generally do not feel well. Cards and other donations from the community can relieve some of those feelings and even elicit a smile or two.”
Contact Jeannette Cruz at jeannette.cruz@gcu.edu or (602) 639-6631.
---------------------
Professionalism in the workplace is essential for job success and advancement. GCU's Career Services department wants to make you aware of the rules of professionalism for the workplace, both written and unwritten. Check out a few simple tips on how to apply professionalism to every work environment.

What to know about professionalism at work by Rick Vacek by Lily Schwartz
GCU Career Services
Recent graduates moving into the workplace have to learn many rules and guidelines about professionalism, both written and unwritten. Professionalism is defined as the skill, good judgment and polite attitudes and behaviors that can be expected from an individual in a given job. Maintaining these professional actions are crucial to being an exemplary employee and starting out strong in the workforce.
While every work environment is different, here are a few basic guidelines to remember that can apply to any setting:
Being on time every day is key. If you’re not early, you’re late!
Get dressed up each day. Research shows that individuals who dress professionally display higher levels of professionalism and a sense of influence. If a uniform is required, pay close attention to the guidelines set forth by your employer.
Limit (if not eliminate) use of personal technology, such as cellphones; it is typically an expected practice in the workplace and will help you keep focused.
Keep all forms of communication professional. Depending on the work environment, you might be expected to interact with others in a variety of ways, such as in person, over the phone, through email or IM (instant messenger), and letters. Regardless of the form of communication, be aware of tone, organization, grammar, proper etiquette, etc. For example, sending a joke in your email easily can come across as sarcasm if the reader is uncertain of your implications. Consider how your message might be perceived by the recipient before speaking or writing.
Keep your actions and words positive. Not only will it encourage your coworkers, it will help you maintain optimism in your position.
Career Services is always happy to answer any specific questions you may have about professionalism. We also offer assistance with researching career options, building your resumé and conducting mock interviews. Call us at 602-639-6606 or stop by our office in Saguaro Hall to set up an appointment with a Career Advisor. Check out our website www.gcu.edu/careerservices to utilize any of our online tools, which are free to you for a lifetime.
---------------------
The Grand Canyon University Alumni Hall of Fame has welcomed in its 2016 class of inductees! Six of GCU's most distinguished graduates accepted their induction with compelling speeches that gave testimony to the spirit of GCU and its ability to carry out its mission for students, alumni and the community.

Hall of Fame inductees epitomize GCU’s spirit by Rick Vacek

From left, the 2016 Alumni Hall of Fame inductees: Dr. Nicholas Markette, Dr. Brian Bucina, Andy Unkefer, Dr. Jim Rice, Max Fose and John Davis. (Photos by Keith Alstrin) by Rick Vacek
GCU News Bureau
At most college reunions, the phrase “My, how you’ve changed!” can be heard repeatedly as old friends renew acquaintances.
But Grand Canyon University is not just any university. Here, the phrase has an entirely different meaning.

Dr. Nicholas Markette
When six new members were inducted Saturday into GCU’s Alumni Hall of Fame, the physical changes on the main campus frequently were referenced. The view out the window from the gathering spot, the fourth floor of the Student Union, toward The Grove, the massive new complex of freshman residence halls, is just one example why.
But there’s more to it than that. And the one thing the inductees emphasized is that, while the look of the University certainly has changed, its values have not. If anything, they said, they are even more impressed with how it is carrying out its mission for its students and the community.
Take it from two of the new Hall of Famers, one an employee and the other a member of the board of directors.

Dr. Jim Rice
Dr. Nicholas Markette, the inductee from the College of Doctoral Studies, supervises 24 dissertation chairs and also has been a teacher in the Colangelo College of Business since 2008. He said he tells his students about all the construction projects, “If you don’t like it, just wait a week and it will change,” but the one constant in his work has been far more important.
“I don’t have to hide my faith here,” he said. “And I bring it to my classroom. It just is who I am. You can’t separate from it, and here I have that freedom. I teach organizational ethics, and how do you get into ethics without incorporating the truth? This university gives you that opportunity to do it and bring value to students. It’s just a great place to be.”
In addition to sharing his faith, Markette has a joyous approach to teaching that was reflected in the sense of humor he displayed during his induction speech when he said, “I don’t think I’ve seen so many purple ties in one place before” and joked that after looking at the accomplishments of the 2015 Hall of Fame inductees, he thought that “you had to be big enough to stop a locomotive.” His strength is his spirit.

John Davis
“I always go into my classroom thinking, ‘What would I want if I was a master’s student tonight?’ or ‘What would I want if I were a doctoral student tonight and I’ve been working all day and I’m wondering if my kids have eaten dinner? I’ve got all these plates spinning — what would I want?'” he said.
“I would want to have fun. The premise I bring into the classroom is, there are people in other countries who would kill to be able to pursue their master’s or their doctorate, so let’s have fun, let’s enjoy this and embrace God’s gift, because that’s what it is. Not enjoying it would almost be somewhere between a sin and a tragedy.”
Dr. Jim Rice, the College of Education inductee, has gotten to see the inner workings of the University’s growth through his membership in the board of directors. He was asked if the special spirit is evident in those meetings.
“It is,” he said. “You have a visionary (President Brian Mueller) who’s the leader. You have people likeDr. Stan Meyer (chief operating officer), Dan Bachus (chief financial officer) and Dr. Hank Radda(University provost) on the leadership team. You’ve got people like Jerry Colangelo involved. You’re in awe.

Max Fose
“When you’re in the boardroom and you’re given a spreadsheet with the financial condition of the University and see how healthy it is and how we’re attracting more kids to this University, you know it’s something special.”
The special feeling was felt by the other four inductees as well Saturday.
John Davis, the athletics inductee for his stellar golf career at GCU, said he felt it by being on campus again even though it has changed so dramatically from when he was here regularly around the turn of the century. “There’s something about just walking from the parking garage to here,” he said. “I had that feeling today.”
Max Fose, representing the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, said he is “awestruck” by the growth but appreciates even more what the University did for him. “They challenged me to be a better person, a better man, and that’s still with me today,” he said.

Dr. Brian Bucina
Dr. Brian Bucina, the College of Science, Engineering and Technology inductee, said he wouldn’t have believed in 1998 that GCU could look like this today, but “the one thing I believed in 1998 is that we would have had the success our graduates have had.”
Andy Unkefer, representing the Colangelo College of Business, pointed out that, even with all the new bricks and mortar, the foundation of the University hasn’t changed.
“It really hasn’t,” he said. “We used to have really fantastic Chapels. Our teachers prayed in class with us. Nursing students were in demand. The baseball team was very good. And a former pro basketball player who coaches the team once played for the Suns.”
All of those features are still in place, of course, right down to Dan Majerle following in the hoop footsteps of Paul Westphal. But people still can’t get over the growth.

Andy Unkefer
Asked if he had any inkling of what was he was signing up with when he transitioned in 2008 from master’s graduate to instructor, Markette said, “I don’t know that I saw this vision, but I knew something good was coming. I just sensed it in my heart. I think it just points to this: If God is the focus, the rest just naturally falls where it needs to fall.”
My, how it has changed, and yet so much has stayed the same.
Contact Rick Vacek at (602) 639-8203 or rick.vacek@gcu.edu.
---------------------

GCU Homecoming - Alumni by the Decades
Grand Canyon University has realized greatness because of its students, both past and present. As part of celebrating Homecoming and reaching 100,000 alumni, we caught up with graduates from each of the past seven decades to hear their compelling stories of student life during their time on campus. Take a jog down memory lane and see what GCU and its students were like throughout the decades.


MAR
19 Baseball
at University of Houston
6:30 pm APR
8 Softball
at Seattle University
6:30 pm
MAR
19 Beach Volleyballat CSU Bakersfield
APR
2 Men’s Track and Field
Don Kirby Tailwind Invitational at
University of New Mexico - All Day
APR
16 Baseball
at Seattle University
2 pm APR
10 Men’s Tennisat UMKC



Construction on the campus of GCU is nothing new to students, faculty and staff. Reflecting our fast-growing enrollment, alumni and community involvement, there are 12 projects currently scheduled to be completed in 2016. Watch some of the progress and get updates on the continuing GCU campus expansion.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rFddIFVQsr8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Campus expansion will reach even more students by Rick Vacek

The new administration building is located at the busiest intersection on campus.
Story by Rick Vacek
Photos by Darryl Webb
GCU News Bureau
As if a new engineering building and a state-of-the-art recording studio weren’t enough …
As if four new residence halls for freshmen, creating a new community called The Grove, weren’t enough …
As if expanded and revolutionized food options, in a corridor christened Lopes Way, weren’t enough …
Construction schedule
Tentative completion times for the 12 projects underway on GCU’s campus and at its 27th Avenue office complex:
MARCH: Hotel pool
APRIL: Administration building, soccer stadium
MAY: Intramural field, sand volleyball and basketball courts between Canyon and Cypress halls
SUMMER: Hotel lobby and restaurant
AUGUST: Second engineering building, phase 1; phase 2 to be completed shortly after. Also, Agave, Encanto and Roadrunner apartments, and the parking garage at 29th Avenue and Camelback Road
NOVEMBER: 27th Avenue office building and parking garage
… There are even more construction projects — 12, to be exact — scheduled to be completed this year at Grand Canyon University. (Click here for a slideshow.) And according to Dean of StudentsPastor Tim Griffin, the impact of the most important change, a new administration building right in the middle of everything at the intersection of the Promenade and Lopes Way, will be even more positive than all the changes in 2015.
“It doesn’t have the transformational feel that Lopes Way did, but in terms of the DNA of how student life happens on this campus as a result of student leadership, I actually think it may be more transformational,” he said. “We really think it’s going to exponentially expand our impact.”
The location of Griffin’s office in the four-story structure will be appropriately accessible. The door will be in the northeast corner, with the Student Union and Thunder Alley just a few steps away.
Right next to it on the first floor, also with outside entrances, will be the offices of the Canyon Activities Board, Spiritual Life, Life Leaders and Associated Students of GCU. Both Griffin and Jeremy Mack, director of the Office of Student Engagement, emphasized how important the one-stop shopping aspect will be.

An artist’s rendering shows the new administration building. with the soccer stadium to the west.
“Sometimes students are in the moment, so they just want to stop by real quick,” Mack said. “If they have to deviate from that path because of going to class or going to get something to eat, sometimes they lose that thought.
“That’ll be really nice to be right there. They just swing through on their way to class or on their way to lunch or whatever it is and get their questions answered.”
Student Engagement and Spiritual Life will fill the first floor of the building, while Career Services, Residence Life and the newly created Housing department will take up the second floor. Athletics will occupy the third floor, and the executive team and a number of other departments will be on the top floor.
While the building is scheduled to be completed by the end of March, the various offices aren’t expected to be in place until after the school year ends. Two other quick notes about it: (1) In case you’ve walked by and have wondered why the roof is slanted, there’s a simple reason — better drainage. And (2) construction crews were able to preserve the large iconic palm trees along the Promenade despite their close proximity to the building.

The L-shaped engineering building is under construction near the front of campus, with the soccer stadium in the background.
Right next to the administration building is the soccer stadium, which is getting the finishing touches on the roof and seating. It also is scheduled to be finished by the end of March, in plenty of time for the men’s and women’s soccer teams to get accustomed to it before the first games in August.
To the south, at the front of campus near Camelback Road, will be the second major engineering building to be erected in the past year. It will open in two phases — classrooms in August, labs shortly after.
The rest of the building activity is on the east side of campus and at 27th Avenue and Camelback Road.

The new engineering building is shown in this artist’s rendering.
More housing for more students
GCU’s residential community will get nearly 2,000 more beds, bringing the campus total to 11,000, with the addition of three apartment buildings scheduled to open for the 2016-17 school year. Returning students will get first crack at the apartments, which feature the privacy of single-person bedrooms.
All three six-story buildings will be in the same style as Papago I and II, which opened in 2014 to rave reviews from students. Agave is on 30th Avenue north of GCU’s offices on Colter Avenue, Encanto is just south of Papago II and Roadrunner is where the Tell Science building used to be.
To accommodate the continued expansion of campus life, the Housing department, directed by Janay Poole, was spun off from Residence Life. Here’s a factoid that demonstrates why that move was necessary: The number of resident advisers will be up to almost 300 in August, about 100 more than just two years earlier.
Residence Life, like Student Engagement and Spiritual Life, will benefit greatly from being in the new administration building in terms of location and accessibility. “Having a space where students can interact with staff has always been the standard,” said Matt Hopkins, Residence Life director.
Work also has begun on the new parking garage at 29th Avenue and Camelback Road, which will be the same size as The Grove Garage on the northwest corner of campus. It will have space for 2,400 cars and, like the new apartments, is scheduled to be open for the start of the next school year.

The Roadrunner apartment building is just south of Prescott Hall, which is in the background.
The number of recreational areas on campus continues to grow as well. New intramural fields at 30th and Colter avenues opened this month, and another artificial-turf field and sand volleyball and basketball courts next to Cypress and Canyon halls are expected to open this spring (click here to read GCU Today’s story about the booming intramural program).
There also is plenty of activity at the GCU office and hotel complex on Camelback between 27th Avenue and Interstate 17.
An office building and parking garage, both four stories, are expected to be ready by November. That will enable the University to centralize operations by bringing employees from the Peoria and Tempe offices to work in west Phoenix.
The nearby Grand Canyon University Hotel also has two significant additions opening in the next few months. The new swimming pool is on course to be ready in March, and the new lobby and restaurant, which will go on the 27th Avenue side of the building, are expected to be complete by summer.
Rich Oesterle, director of campus development, said the campus and 27th Avenue complex will fill 7.6 million square feet after these 12 projects are done. And while there’s no doubt that more are on the horizon, the main part of campus is getting closer to becoming a finished product. The transformation is in good shape.
Contact Rick Vacek at 602-639-8203 or rick.vacek@gcu.edu.
---------------------
What would your classroom, office or department be like if everyone worked as if the Lord was their employer? Through GCU's Integration of Faith, Learning and Work "Lunch and Learn" series, faculty and staff shared what it means to honor God in the workplace.

Honoring God in the workplace is on our office to-do list by Janie Magruder
GCU News Bureau
What would your classroom, office or department be like if everyone worked as if the Lord was their employer? Would your colleagues get along better, would the workday be more joyful and productive, and at the end of the day would you leave the building with less grousing on your lips?
The exploration of that concept was front and center at Friday’s Integration of Faith, Learning and Work “Lunch and Learn,” the fourth in a series this academic year. Nearly 90 Grand Canyon University faculty members and others packed Howerton Hall on campus to hear words of wisdom on the topic, “Work That Honors God.”
Interestingly, the guest speaker, Tamara Wisely, a professor in the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions, and program moderator, Dr. Jason Hiles, dean of the College of Theology, independently chose the same Bible verses to frame their remarks:
“O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

Tamara Wisely
“Doing good is easy for most,” Wisely said. “Doing what’s right comes from the heart, and if you use God’s blueprint, the Bible, you can understand what God’s word says about doing His work.”
Doing the right thing, readily forgiving others and walking humbly can be especially challenging in a busy, competitive workplace, she acknowledged. But it is possible if praying, often and about everything, and being true to your values and intentional about your personal and professional growth are on your front burner.
If we are serious about honoring God, whether on or off the time clock, we will work on our personal or professional growth by knowing ourselves and our purpose, passion and commitment, Wisely said. We will work hard to recognize what, how and when to change about ourselves and evaluate our experiences on a daily basis, she noted.
If we are committed to honoring God with high character, Wisely said, we will choose to be positive and honest, take ownership of situations and embrace bad experiences by asking, “What can I learn?”
Honoring God with servant leadership is achieved by, among other things, putting the needs of others first, developing new leaders, leading by example and living the “Seven Pillars of Servant Leadership” as espoused by James W. Sipe and Don M. Frick.
In all of this, prayer is key, said Wisely, who recommended praying before all meetings and classes. “Many times I’ll hear people say, and this depends on their walk … ‘Why do we even pray? If God knows it all and is all present, why do we pray?’” The answer, according to 20th-century evangelist Oswald Chambers, is that prayer changes us so that we can change things, even in the workplace, she said.
An ideal prayer: “Lord, let my words be Your words, let my actions be Your actions and change my heart to align with Your will.”
Wisely called on her audience to “step out and step up” in order to do God’s work. In response to a comment that stepping out is outside the comfort zone of some students, she said all that many need is an example and an invitation.
“They are so hungry to step out, but they need to know how and what that looks like and they need to know you are doing it, too,” she said.

Dr. Jason Hiles
Hiles used Exodus 31:1-8 to point out that God has called us to be committed to excellence, to do things well in our workplaces.
“Work that honors God entails excellence, but not only excellence in work, but excellence in workers,” he said. “That relates to what we do, the condition of our hearts as we work and how we go about our work.”
In Micah 6:6-7, he noted, God’s people are trying to be transactional with God about how they can draw nearer to Him:
“With what shall I come before the Lord and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
Micah “clears the air” with verse 8 — do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God, Hiles said.
Of course, acting justly means not working in prostitution, human trafficking and drug smuggling, but all types of work can be done in unrighteous ways, even televangelists who rip off their viewers, he said. Christians do their jobs by demonstrating concern for each other, challenging systemic injustice and creating opportunities for the oppressed and underprivileged, Hiles said.
Loving mercy requires a heart check, he said, to ensure we truly do love others as we love ourselves, that we put their interests ahead of our own and that we serve them, rather than “lord” our authority or position over them. While we often create pecking orders in our offices, Jesus embraced the anti-pecking order, dining with sinners and tax collectors rather than the Pharisees, Hiles said.
From Hosea 6:6, “… ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Those whose hearts are close to God, Hiles said, tend to consider the needs of others over their own, but those far from God focus on themselves, he said.
Closing his presentation, Hiles quoted from 1 Peter 5:5 on walking humbly with God: “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”
The next Lunch and Learn, with Moronke Oke and a panel from the Colangelo College of Business, is Friday, Feb. 19. Faculty RSVPs for lunch are required (click here).
Contact Janie Magruder at (602) 639-8018 or janie.magruder@gcu.edu.
---------------------
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Phoenix Section recently named GCU President Brian Mueller the 2015 "Non-Member of the Year." Mueller was honored for "outstanding leadership in providing affordable education and STEM programs, developing future American force and revitalizing west Phoenix both socially and economically."

Engineers honor Mueller for STEM leadership by Laurie Merrill
Story by Laurie Merrill
Photos by Darryl Webb
GCU News Bureau
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Phoenix Section on Saturday named GCU President Brian Mueller the 2015 “Non-Member” of the year.
Mueller, who has made it a priority to expand STEM programs and enrollment at GCU to build a highly trained workforce, was honored for “for outstanding leadership in providing affordable education and STEM programs, developing future American force and revitalizing west Phoenix both socially and economically.”
The University also was given a plaque for corporate sponsorship of the organization.

From left to right, CSET students Tim Prescott, Michael Teberg, Tayler Shurley and Josh Tipton are among those involved in GCU’s first Engineering Club.
Some of Saturday’s spotlight shone on four College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET) students in attendance and their role in starting GCU’s first Engineering Club.
GCU Provost Dr. Hank Radda, who accepted the award on Mueller’s behalf, spoke about how GCU’s engineering program is blossoming.
The University opened its first engineering school this fall with more than 250 students in three areas, and the program continues outstanding growth, he said. A new engineering building opened in August, and a second one is under construction.
To help anticipate the needs of the workforce and develop top-notch programs, GCU faculty and leaders meet regularly with more than 40 industry advisers.
Radda also noted the three freshmen and one sophomore in the audience who represent part of why STEM is so important at GCU, Radda said. They are among charter members of GCU’s first Engineering Club and might help form GCU’s first IEEE student chapter.
All four students said they transferred to GCU specifically to take advantage of the University’s thriving STEM programs.
Tayler Shurley, a freshman mechanical engineering major and Engineering Club president, said she hopes to work in the aeronautics and and/or military defense industries.
“I’ve always liked math and science and building things,” Shurley said.

GCU’s Dr. Hank Radda accepts an award on behalf of President Brian Mueller for leadership in STEM advancement.
Michael Teberg, also a freshman engineering major and the Engineering Club treasurer, said he chose his major because of his aptitude in math.
Josh Tipton, a freshman electrical engineering major and club member, said he attended six Maricopa County community schools before settling on GCU as the place for him to pursue his passion for engineering.
Sophomore IT major Tim Prescott wants to develop a new electronic health system for doctors because today’s systems are too difficult and time-consuming.
“I want to make it easier to practice medicine,” Prescott said.
Prescott also said he was impressed with how much IEEE does to help the community. For example, it supports Akshaya Patra, a charity that feeds 1.4 million children in India by providing healthy lunches at more than 10,000 government schools.
“Someone said IEEE is a well-kept secret,” Prescott said. “I think there should be more publicity about what they are doing.”
Contact Laurie Merrill at (602) 639-6511 or laurie.merrill@gcu.edu.
---------------------




Women's Soccer
Women's Soccer gets its leader
Read More
WOMEN'S SOCCER
ROSTER
SCHEDULE
STATISTICS
ARCHIVED STORIES
ADDITIONAL LINKS
ARCHIVED STATISTICS
WOMEN'S SOCCER HISTORY
PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETE
GCU SOCCER ACADEMY

Women's Soccer
Charles Hampton
Women's Soccer gets its Leader
PHOENIX – Grand Canyon University has named Derek Leader as head coach of the women's soccer program, Vice President of Athletics Mike Vaught announced on Wednesday.
Leader has over 20 years of coaching experience, including four years as an NCAA Division I head coach and 12 years at the IMG Soccer Academy.
"I'm thrilled for the opportunity to coach at Grand Canyon University," Leader said. "It is a school with the potential to be a national contender. I can't wait to get my family here and to start working on the field with the GCU team. I'd like to thank President Mueller and Vice President of Athletics Mike Vaught for making me a part of the GCU family. I'm also excited to work alongside men's head coach Schellas Hyndman and his staff. We will work to make GCU not only a power in the WAC, but also on the national stage."
Leader joins the Lopes from Georgia State where he spent the last three seasons. Under his direction, Leader improved the Panthers' RPI from 235 in 2013 to 95 in 2015. The Panthers were ranked in the top-10 in the Southern Region, one of only two non-SEC teams on the list. Leader also coached the first two NSCAA All-South Region players in program history. In just their second year in the Sun Belt Conference, the Panthers finished as runner-up to No. 22 ranked South Alabama in the 2015 Sun Belt Conference Championship.
As assistant director at the IMG Soccer Academy in Bradenton, Fla., Leader made his mark in the soccer community where he also served as women's soccer head coach from 1996-2008. He was inducted into the IMG Soccer Academy Hall of Fame in 2010.
Leader coached the 2005 MLS Rookie of the Year, Michael Parkhurst, and the 2013 NWSL Rookie of the Year, Erika Tymrak among many other future professional soccer players, during his time with IMG. During his tenure in Bradenton, he also coached local semi-pro teams, serving as an assistant coach for the Bradenton Academics PDL men's team from 2001-04 and as head coach for the Bradenton Athletics W-League women's team from 2004-08.
Prior to taking the head coach position at Georgia State, Leader was the associate head coach at SMU for four years. Leader assisted head coach, and current GCU men's assistant, Brent Erwin to four-straight Conference USA Tournament appearances, including two double-digit win totals in his last two seasons with the Mustangs.
Leader is a graduate of Akron in 1995 and is a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and the United States Soccer Coaches Organization. He also holds several coaching licenses that include a United States Soccer Federation National "A" License, an NSCAA Premier License and an International Coaching Diploma from the Victoria Coaching Institute in British Columbia, Canada.
Leader is a native of Stow, Ohio, and his wife, Kim, hails from Millen, Ga. The couple has a daughter named Jacqueline.
DEREK LEADER: WHAT'S BEING SAID
Robbie Church, Duke women's soccer head coach
"I think this is a home run hire for Grand Canyon with Derek Leader. Derek is one of the best soccer minds in the college game and he did a phenomenal job of building the Georgia State program up. Not only is he very, very good on the field, but he genuinely cares for his student-athletes. He makes sure they do the right thing in the classroom and that they do the right thing in the community. I think everyone at Grand Canyon will really enjoy Derek and I think he will become part of the community as the program continues to grow under his leadership."
Schellas Hyndman, GCU men's soccer head coach
"We are going to be very pleased having Derek Leader as our women's soccer coach. I have known him through reputation and people that I respect greatly in the game think a lot of him because he is extremely hard-working and he is a grinder. He has a can-do mentality and is very knowledgeable about soccer and is very committed to his team and university. He has been very involved with the IMG Academy in Florida, so he has been around some great coaches from national teams and that have given him the foundation to be a great soccer coach. He will be a great hire for us here at GCU."
Tom Durkin, Former Director of Coaching & Player Development at IMG Academy
"I am really pleased that GCU decided to hire Derek as head coach because he has worked at almost every level of U.S. Soccer on the women's side. He has certainly put in his time in the trenches and I think this is his time. Derek is going to do a wonderful job with the opportunity presented at Grand Canyon."
---------------------
Student Athletes
GCU hosts student-athlete Life After College Conference
Read More
ACADEMICS
ABOUT US
L.O.P.E.S. FOR LIFE
SLS PROGRAM
GRADESFIRST
RESOURCES
ADDITIONAL LINKS
STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SAAC)
STUDENT-ATHLETE HANDBOOK (PDF)
CONTACT US

Academics
Steven Gonzalez
GCU hosts WAC SAAC - Life After College Conference
PHOENIX – The Grand Canyon athletic department hosted an important conference for the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and its student-athletes. L.O.P.E.S. for Life coordinator Jenna Pearson and women's golfer Brittany Holen initiated the first ever WAC SAAC - Life After College Conference to help WAC student-athletes prepare for life after their sports careers are over.
"It was great to bring students in from every school in the WAC," Pearson said. "It is so important to think about life after college is over because less than one percent of athletes turn pro. You have to have that 'bigger picture' mentality and I am glad we were able to encourage that this weekend."
GCU's Holen, who serves as the events coordinator for the WAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), presented the WAC with the idea of a conference to help provide guidance for its athletes to create a plan for life after sports.
"I am so grateful to be a part of a special weekend and we got a lot of great feedback from our fellow student-athletes," Holen said. "I am hoping this weekend can be used as a launching pad to help other campuses help their student-athletes. All of the hard work that was put into this past weekend was very exciting and very rewarding."
A number of activities were set up by the GCU office of student-athlete development that placed the students in real-life situations that they will face when working at a job. GCU lined up guests speakers to talk to the student-athletes about resume writing, interview skills, how to network effectively and all of the activities led up to mock interviews. GCU reserved conference rooms and the Lopes were able to place WAC athletes in a formal interview where they practice the tools and traits they learned throughout their weekend in Phoenix.

Just like how players look at game film to see where they can improve, GCU did the same thing during the mock interviews as they set up cameras while the students were being interviewed so the professionals can tell them how to refine their interview skills the next time around. Megan McDonald, Media Relations and WAC Digital Networking Relations Intern, edited all of the film so that Jodi Holen, Associate Director of Biogen Idec, could come in on the last day and offer feedback to the student-athletes on each of their interviews.
"We spend a ton of hours in the weight room and on the field but it is crucial to think about life after college while you are still a student," Holen said. "It is imperative that we are prepared for that transition once we graduate and this weekend was preparing us and making sure we are equipped once that time comes."
GCU was also able to host an etiquette dinner at the new GCU golf course that provided an opportunity for the athletes to sit down with employers from different professions and work on their social networking. The business professionals at the dinner were able to pass down advice to the athletes to help better their lives once they graduate from college.
"I am hoping that the student-athletes will walk away from this conference with an action plan once they graduate," Pearson said. "We provided them with the tools and now I hope the students will use them."
---------------------
Make-A-Wish
Lopes Baseball helps Make-A-Wish Arizona send young fan to Disneyland
Read More
BASEBALL
ROSTER
SCHEDULE
STATISTICS
ARCHIVED STORIES
ADDITIONAL LINKS
ARCHIVED STATISTICS
GAME NOTES
HISTORY
WAC MEDIA GUIDE
CAMPS
PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETE


Baseball | 1/28/2016 5:28:00 PM | Josh Hauser
Lopes help Make-A-Wish Arizona send Landon to Disney World
PLAYERS MENTIONED


PHOENIX - The Grand Canyon baseball team adopted Landon, a 10-year old from Anthem, Ariz. battling multiple health issues, as an honorary teammate in December. A month later, Landon and the team were reunited at Brazell Stadium, as GCU Baseball helped Make-A-Wish Arizona present Landon with a trip to Walt Disney World.
Landon and the GCU baseball team were brought together by Team IMPACT, a national organization based in Boston that looks to improve the quality of life for children that are facing life-threatening illnesses. The Lopes simulated a live game with a struggling pitcher walking the bases loaded, threatening to give up the go-ahead run to the opponent. But then GCU head coach Andy Stankiewicz made the call to the bullpen.
"Fans it looks like Coach Stankiewicz is going out to the mound to make a pitching change," Arizona Diamondbacks public address announcer Chuck Drago said over the Brazell Stadium speakers. "Now pitching for the Lopes, a left-hander from Anthem, Arizona, no. 9, Landon Priest."
With two outs in the top of the ninth, Landon took his warmup pitches, looking to send Grand Canyon home victorious. After a pair of strikes, Landon coaxed a swing and a miss to end the game.
"Fans he has done it," Drago said. "Landon has struck him out and won the game for the Lopes."
The Lopes in the dugout stormed the field and celebrated with the game-winning left hander.
"Today was a great moment for [the team], and, more importantly, Landon," senior outfielder Brandon Smith said. "I got the chills just hearing the P.A. announcer from the Diamondbacks as well. Overall, it was just an awesome experience."
Once the madness around the mound quieted down, there was more good news for the youngster.
"Along with being our Most Valuable Player, Make-A-Wish Arizona would like to present you and your mom with a trip to Walt Disney World," Drago said.
Junior catcher Josh Meyer hoisted Landon up on to his shoulders as the team continued to celebrate.
"Everything that is happening with Landon today is really a God-send," Antonio Sanchez, Landon's wish granter from Make-A-Wish Arizona, said. "GCU was great. Nothing but helpful throughout this entire process. He finds out that he's going to Disney World with his cousins and his families next week."
Landon wasn't the only one enthralled by the surprise trip.
"It was really awesome, it's hard to describe in words," Landon's mom, Krystal Schripsema, said. "To see people do this for my son, it's humbling for people to step up and take part in his life and make him feel important. It's awesome."
--------------------
Baseball Alumni
Baseball welcomes back former players in annual alumni game
Read More
BASEBALL
ROSTER
SCHEDULE
STATISTICS
ARCHIVED STORIES
ADDITIONAL LINKS
ARCHIVED STATISTICS
GAME NOTES
HISTORY
WAC MEDIA GUIDE
CAMPS
PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETE

Baseball
Josh Hauser
Baseball welcomes back former players in annual alumni game
PLAYERS MENTIONED








The Grand Canyon baseball program took another step towards opening up the 2016 season with the holding of its Alumni Game on Saturday afternoon at Brazell Stadium. The annual event features an exhibition game between the current Grand Canyon baseball team and a host of GCU Baseball alumni, ranging from last year's graduates all the way back to players from the 1970s.
Although the event served as a good dress rehearsal for head coach Andy Stankiewicz's 2016 club, the intent of the event is to bring back baseball alumni from years past for a time of entertainment and reconnecting.
"This day is about the alumni more than anything else. It's about those guys on the other side," Stankiewicz said from the 2016 squad's dugout. "Let them have their day and let them come together and visit with one another, build relationships and have a good time. The alumni game is always fun and its always a good time. It's great to see the guys again."
Recent GCU alumni in uniform were David Walker, Chad De La Guerra and Michael Pomeroy. Pomeroy flashed the leather at first base on several occasions for the alumni, bringing back the memories of his days as a National Gold Glove Award winner at first base during his time at Grand Canyon. Walker was manning the outfield for the alumni squad and had an enjoyable time in the alumni dugout just one year removed from being a member of the Lopes.
"It's pretty fun. It's definitely a fun time," Walker said. "It's good to be out here with other guys as well, meet some new people."

Dr. Dave Brazell chats with former GCU Baseball
players at the Alumni Game on Feb. 13.In addition to the former players in attendance, the founder of GCU Baseball and the namesake of the ballpark, Dr. Dave Brazell, returned as well. Brazell got a huge ovation from the fans in attendance.
Sophomore Jake Repavich, who was recently named to the All-WAC Preseason Team, took the hill for the current GCU squad and was sharp from the getgo, including three strikeouts in the first inning. Offensively, this year's Lopes got off to a hot start with Paul Panaccione, Krysthian Leal and Garrison Schwartz opening the game with three straight hits. A handful of new faces were able to get in on the action for GCU as well including Tyler Wyatt andPreston Pavlica who both put some power on display from the plate.
"We do want to compete and put some nice at bats together," Stankiewicz said. "Our guys have done a nice job competing out there. We got some innings for some of our younger guys too."
After a brief 1-1 tie in the early stages of the game, the younger bodies prevailed. This was a welcomed sight for Walker, who was pleased to see the 2016 team pull away early.
"I think they did a lot better than we did last year," Walker said. "Last year it was like a 4-3 game, a little too close. This year the young guys put us away pretty quick."
Grand Canyon opens the 2016 campaign with a four-game set vs. Gonzaga at Brazell Stadium beginning on Friday. Stankiewicz was pleased with the preparation of the team with opening day less than a week away.
"It's good just to kind of get a dress rehearsal for us," Stankiewicz said. "We got in some batting practice, infield/outfield, getting guys to understand the sequence of events leading into a game. It's good in that respect."
First pitch for Friday's season opener is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on Cox 7 Arizona on the television side, and KXXT 1010 AM on the radio.
---------------------
"For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations." (Isaiah 61:11, NIV)

Grand Canyon University
3300 West Camelback Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85017, United States.
---------------------
GCU alumna and staffer Marissa Rutherford was determined to make a difference for kids battling cancer this Valentine's Day. Rutherford and her three young daughters came up with a charitable donation campaign called Cupids for Kids! Students across the valley made valentines and sold them to raise funds benefiting the Run to Fight Children's Cancer.
Tempe staffer puts heart into cancer fundraiser by Jeannette Cruz
GCU News Bureau
Simple, handmade valentines can go a long way toward generating joy, especially among young cancer patients who are hospitalized and may miss out on exchanging cards with their friends and classmates.

GCU enrollment counselor Marissa Rutherford and her daughters, from left, Ava, 7, Jordan, 6, and Callie, 9, created Cupids for Kids!, which generated 600 handmade valentines to be delivered on Valentine’s Day to hospitalized children with cancer.
That’s what crossed Marissa Rutherford’s mind as she and her young daughters started talking about ways to raise money to help children fighting cancer.
Rutherford, an enrollment counselor in the Tempe office of Grand Canyon University, came up with Cupids for Kids!, which will benefit the sixth annual GCU Foundation Run to Fight Children’s Cancer. Scheduled for Saturday, March 12, on the Phoenix campus, the run raises money to support Arizona-based Children’s Cancer Network and Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
“We were sitting around the table brainstorming holidays between January and March, and Valentine’s Day was the only holiday in between before Run to Fight,” said Rutherford, a member of the run’s planning committee. “At first we thought about selling roses and chocolates, and then we decided that if we bought all our materials, we could make our own cards.”

The Rutherford girls, along with their classmates at Pomeroy Elementary in Chandler, created the valentines, which will be available for a suggested donation of $5 each at Tuesday night’s men’s basketball game in GCU Arena.
After learning that other children their ages are battling cancer, Rutherford’s daughters had a bigger idea – they would ask their classmates at Pomeroy Elementary in Chandler to help. The students got busy cutting, decorating and designing their cards with markers, hearts, rainbows, glitter and sweet messages to make each unique and special. Soon, Cupids for Kids! triggered a school-wide domino effect with 600 students sharing their love on paper.
“What started off as this little nugget of an idea led to an adventure,” Rutherford said. “My house is filled with cards from top to bottom, and the students are excitedly waiting for updates to see how much money they helped raise to get kids feeling better.”
The valentines will be sold for a suggested donation of $5 each before Tuesday’s men’s basketball game, a 7 p.m. start against Benedictine University of Mesa in GCU Arena. There, Cupids for Kids! will have a table, and the cards, which are blank on the inside, may be personalized by their donors.
An estimated 600 cards will be delivered on Sunday, Valentine’s Day, to patients and their families. The goal is to raise $3,000 and to surround the children with love and support from GCU, Rutherford said.
“Valentine’s Day is a tradition that we all grew up having, but for a child in the hospital it might be the only card they get or maybe the only card they have ever gotten from another child their age because they’ve been stuck in the hospital for so long,” she said.
Since the inaugural run in 2011, Run to Fight Children’s Cancer has raised nearly $400,000 to raise awareness of pediatric cancer, the leading cause of death by disease among children ages 14 and younger. The funds support research into promising diagnostic tools and cancer treatments and services for children and their families.
“Being in the hospital is difficult for anyone but especially for children,” said Betsy Rosebrugh, manager of Child Life at PCH. “They fear the unknown, they are isolated from their peers and generally do not feel well. Cards and other donations from the community can relieve some of those feelings and even elicit a smile or two.”
Contact Jeannette Cruz at jeannette.cruz@gcu.edu or (602) 639-6631.
---------------------
Professionalism in the workplace is essential for job success and advancement. GCU's Career Services department wants to make you aware of the rules of professionalism for the workplace, both written and unwritten. Check out a few simple tips on how to apply professionalism to every work environment.
What to know about professionalism at work by Rick Vacek by Lily Schwartz
GCU Career Services
Recent graduates moving into the workplace have to learn many rules and guidelines about professionalism, both written and unwritten. Professionalism is defined as the skill, good judgment and polite attitudes and behaviors that can be expected from an individual in a given job. Maintaining these professional actions are crucial to being an exemplary employee and starting out strong in the workforce.
While every work environment is different, here are a few basic guidelines to remember that can apply to any setting:
Being on time every day is key. If you’re not early, you’re late!
Get dressed up each day. Research shows that individuals who dress professionally display higher levels of professionalism and a sense of influence. If a uniform is required, pay close attention to the guidelines set forth by your employer.
Limit (if not eliminate) use of personal technology, such as cellphones; it is typically an expected practice in the workplace and will help you keep focused.
Keep all forms of communication professional. Depending on the work environment, you might be expected to interact with others in a variety of ways, such as in person, over the phone, through email or IM (instant messenger), and letters. Regardless of the form of communication, be aware of tone, organization, grammar, proper etiquette, etc. For example, sending a joke in your email easily can come across as sarcasm if the reader is uncertain of your implications. Consider how your message might be perceived by the recipient before speaking or writing.
Keep your actions and words positive. Not only will it encourage your coworkers, it will help you maintain optimism in your position.
Career Services is always happy to answer any specific questions you may have about professionalism. We also offer assistance with researching career options, building your resumé and conducting mock interviews. Call us at 602-639-6606 or stop by our office in Saguaro Hall to set up an appointment with a Career Advisor. Check out our website www.gcu.edu/careerservices to utilize any of our online tools, which are free to you for a lifetime.
---------------------
The Grand Canyon University Alumni Hall of Fame has welcomed in its 2016 class of inductees! Six of GCU's most distinguished graduates accepted their induction with compelling speeches that gave testimony to the spirit of GCU and its ability to carry out its mission for students, alumni and the community.
Hall of Fame inductees epitomize GCU’s spirit by Rick Vacek

From left, the 2016 Alumni Hall of Fame inductees: Dr. Nicholas Markette, Dr. Brian Bucina, Andy Unkefer, Dr. Jim Rice, Max Fose and John Davis. (Photos by Keith Alstrin) by Rick Vacek
GCU News Bureau
At most college reunions, the phrase “My, how you’ve changed!” can be heard repeatedly as old friends renew acquaintances.
But Grand Canyon University is not just any university. Here, the phrase has an entirely different meaning.

Dr. Nicholas Markette
When six new members were inducted Saturday into GCU’s Alumni Hall of Fame, the physical changes on the main campus frequently were referenced. The view out the window from the gathering spot, the fourth floor of the Student Union, toward The Grove, the massive new complex of freshman residence halls, is just one example why.
But there’s more to it than that. And the one thing the inductees emphasized is that, while the look of the University certainly has changed, its values have not. If anything, they said, they are even more impressed with how it is carrying out its mission for its students and the community.
Take it from two of the new Hall of Famers, one an employee and the other a member of the board of directors.

Dr. Jim Rice
Dr. Nicholas Markette, the inductee from the College of Doctoral Studies, supervises 24 dissertation chairs and also has been a teacher in the Colangelo College of Business since 2008. He said he tells his students about all the construction projects, “If you don’t like it, just wait a week and it will change,” but the one constant in his work has been far more important.
“I don’t have to hide my faith here,” he said. “And I bring it to my classroom. It just is who I am. You can’t separate from it, and here I have that freedom. I teach organizational ethics, and how do you get into ethics without incorporating the truth? This university gives you that opportunity to do it and bring value to students. It’s just a great place to be.”
In addition to sharing his faith, Markette has a joyous approach to teaching that was reflected in the sense of humor he displayed during his induction speech when he said, “I don’t think I’ve seen so many purple ties in one place before” and joked that after looking at the accomplishments of the 2015 Hall of Fame inductees, he thought that “you had to be big enough to stop a locomotive.” His strength is his spirit.

John Davis
“I always go into my classroom thinking, ‘What would I want if I was a master’s student tonight?’ or ‘What would I want if I were a doctoral student tonight and I’ve been working all day and I’m wondering if my kids have eaten dinner? I’ve got all these plates spinning — what would I want?'” he said.
“I would want to have fun. The premise I bring into the classroom is, there are people in other countries who would kill to be able to pursue their master’s or their doctorate, so let’s have fun, let’s enjoy this and embrace God’s gift, because that’s what it is. Not enjoying it would almost be somewhere between a sin and a tragedy.”
Dr. Jim Rice, the College of Education inductee, has gotten to see the inner workings of the University’s growth through his membership in the board of directors. He was asked if the special spirit is evident in those meetings.
“It is,” he said. “You have a visionary (President Brian Mueller) who’s the leader. You have people likeDr. Stan Meyer (chief operating officer), Dan Bachus (chief financial officer) and Dr. Hank Radda(University provost) on the leadership team. You’ve got people like Jerry Colangelo involved. You’re in awe.

Max Fose
“When you’re in the boardroom and you’re given a spreadsheet with the financial condition of the University and see how healthy it is and how we’re attracting more kids to this University, you know it’s something special.”
The special feeling was felt by the other four inductees as well Saturday.
John Davis, the athletics inductee for his stellar golf career at GCU, said he felt it by being on campus again even though it has changed so dramatically from when he was here regularly around the turn of the century. “There’s something about just walking from the parking garage to here,” he said. “I had that feeling today.”
Max Fose, representing the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, said he is “awestruck” by the growth but appreciates even more what the University did for him. “They challenged me to be a better person, a better man, and that’s still with me today,” he said.

Dr. Brian Bucina
Dr. Brian Bucina, the College of Science, Engineering and Technology inductee, said he wouldn’t have believed in 1998 that GCU could look like this today, but “the one thing I believed in 1998 is that we would have had the success our graduates have had.”
Andy Unkefer, representing the Colangelo College of Business, pointed out that, even with all the new bricks and mortar, the foundation of the University hasn’t changed.
“It really hasn’t,” he said. “We used to have really fantastic Chapels. Our teachers prayed in class with us. Nursing students were in demand. The baseball team was very good. And a former pro basketball player who coaches the team once played for the Suns.”
All of those features are still in place, of course, right down to Dan Majerle following in the hoop footsteps of Paul Westphal. But people still can’t get over the growth.

Andy Unkefer
Asked if he had any inkling of what was he was signing up with when he transitioned in 2008 from master’s graduate to instructor, Markette said, “I don’t know that I saw this vision, but I knew something good was coming. I just sensed it in my heart. I think it just points to this: If God is the focus, the rest just naturally falls where it needs to fall.”
My, how it has changed, and yet so much has stayed the same.
Contact Rick Vacek at (602) 639-8203 or rick.vacek@gcu.edu.
---------------------
GCU Homecoming - Alumni by the Decades
Grand Canyon University has realized greatness because of its students, both past and present. As part of celebrating Homecoming and reaching 100,000 alumni, we caught up with graduates from each of the past seven decades to hear their compelling stories of student life during their time on campus. Take a jog down memory lane and see what GCU and its students were like throughout the decades.
MAR
19 Baseball
at University of Houston
6:30 pm APR
8 Softball
at Seattle University
6:30 pm
MAR
19 Beach Volleyballat CSU Bakersfield
APR
2 Men’s Track and Field
Don Kirby Tailwind Invitational at
University of New Mexico - All Day
APR
16 Baseball
at Seattle University
2 pm APR
10 Men’s Tennisat UMKC
Construction on the campus of GCU is nothing new to students, faculty and staff. Reflecting our fast-growing enrollment, alumni and community involvement, there are 12 projects currently scheduled to be completed in 2016. Watch some of the progress and get updates on the continuing GCU campus expansion.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rFddIFVQsr8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Campus expansion will reach even more students by Rick Vacek

The new administration building is located at the busiest intersection on campus.
Story by Rick Vacek
Photos by Darryl Webb
GCU News Bureau
As if a new engineering building and a state-of-the-art recording studio weren’t enough …
As if four new residence halls for freshmen, creating a new community called The Grove, weren’t enough …
As if expanded and revolutionized food options, in a corridor christened Lopes Way, weren’t enough …
Construction schedule
Tentative completion times for the 12 projects underway on GCU’s campus and at its 27th Avenue office complex:
MARCH: Hotel pool
APRIL: Administration building, soccer stadium
MAY: Intramural field, sand volleyball and basketball courts between Canyon and Cypress halls
SUMMER: Hotel lobby and restaurant
AUGUST: Second engineering building, phase 1; phase 2 to be completed shortly after. Also, Agave, Encanto and Roadrunner apartments, and the parking garage at 29th Avenue and Camelback Road
NOVEMBER: 27th Avenue office building and parking garage
… There are even more construction projects — 12, to be exact — scheduled to be completed this year at Grand Canyon University. (Click here for a slideshow.) And according to Dean of StudentsPastor Tim Griffin, the impact of the most important change, a new administration building right in the middle of everything at the intersection of the Promenade and Lopes Way, will be even more positive than all the changes in 2015.
“It doesn’t have the transformational feel that Lopes Way did, but in terms of the DNA of how student life happens on this campus as a result of student leadership, I actually think it may be more transformational,” he said. “We really think it’s going to exponentially expand our impact.”
The location of Griffin’s office in the four-story structure will be appropriately accessible. The door will be in the northeast corner, with the Student Union and Thunder Alley just a few steps away.
Right next to it on the first floor, also with outside entrances, will be the offices of the Canyon Activities Board, Spiritual Life, Life Leaders and Associated Students of GCU. Both Griffin and Jeremy Mack, director of the Office of Student Engagement, emphasized how important the one-stop shopping aspect will be.

An artist’s rendering shows the new administration building. with the soccer stadium to the west.
“Sometimes students are in the moment, so they just want to stop by real quick,” Mack said. “If they have to deviate from that path because of going to class or going to get something to eat, sometimes they lose that thought.
“That’ll be really nice to be right there. They just swing through on their way to class or on their way to lunch or whatever it is and get their questions answered.”
Student Engagement and Spiritual Life will fill the first floor of the building, while Career Services, Residence Life and the newly created Housing department will take up the second floor. Athletics will occupy the third floor, and the executive team and a number of other departments will be on the top floor.
While the building is scheduled to be completed by the end of March, the various offices aren’t expected to be in place until after the school year ends. Two other quick notes about it: (1) In case you’ve walked by and have wondered why the roof is slanted, there’s a simple reason — better drainage. And (2) construction crews were able to preserve the large iconic palm trees along the Promenade despite their close proximity to the building.

The L-shaped engineering building is under construction near the front of campus, with the soccer stadium in the background.
Right next to the administration building is the soccer stadium, which is getting the finishing touches on the roof and seating. It also is scheduled to be finished by the end of March, in plenty of time for the men’s and women’s soccer teams to get accustomed to it before the first games in August.
To the south, at the front of campus near Camelback Road, will be the second major engineering building to be erected in the past year. It will open in two phases — classrooms in August, labs shortly after.
The rest of the building activity is on the east side of campus and at 27th Avenue and Camelback Road.

The new engineering building is shown in this artist’s rendering.
More housing for more students
GCU’s residential community will get nearly 2,000 more beds, bringing the campus total to 11,000, with the addition of three apartment buildings scheduled to open for the 2016-17 school year. Returning students will get first crack at the apartments, which feature the privacy of single-person bedrooms.
All three six-story buildings will be in the same style as Papago I and II, which opened in 2014 to rave reviews from students. Agave is on 30th Avenue north of GCU’s offices on Colter Avenue, Encanto is just south of Papago II and Roadrunner is where the Tell Science building used to be.
To accommodate the continued expansion of campus life, the Housing department, directed by Janay Poole, was spun off from Residence Life. Here’s a factoid that demonstrates why that move was necessary: The number of resident advisers will be up to almost 300 in August, about 100 more than just two years earlier.
Residence Life, like Student Engagement and Spiritual Life, will benefit greatly from being in the new administration building in terms of location and accessibility. “Having a space where students can interact with staff has always been the standard,” said Matt Hopkins, Residence Life director.
Work also has begun on the new parking garage at 29th Avenue and Camelback Road, which will be the same size as The Grove Garage on the northwest corner of campus. It will have space for 2,400 cars and, like the new apartments, is scheduled to be open for the start of the next school year.

The Roadrunner apartment building is just south of Prescott Hall, which is in the background.
The number of recreational areas on campus continues to grow as well. New intramural fields at 30th and Colter avenues opened this month, and another artificial-turf field and sand volleyball and basketball courts next to Cypress and Canyon halls are expected to open this spring (click here to read GCU Today’s story about the booming intramural program).
There also is plenty of activity at the GCU office and hotel complex on Camelback between 27th Avenue and Interstate 17.
An office building and parking garage, both four stories, are expected to be ready by November. That will enable the University to centralize operations by bringing employees from the Peoria and Tempe offices to work in west Phoenix.
The nearby Grand Canyon University Hotel also has two significant additions opening in the next few months. The new swimming pool is on course to be ready in March, and the new lobby and restaurant, which will go on the 27th Avenue side of the building, are expected to be complete by summer.
Rich Oesterle, director of campus development, said the campus and 27th Avenue complex will fill 7.6 million square feet after these 12 projects are done. And while there’s no doubt that more are on the horizon, the main part of campus is getting closer to becoming a finished product. The transformation is in good shape.
Contact Rick Vacek at 602-639-8203 or rick.vacek@gcu.edu.
---------------------
What would your classroom, office or department be like if everyone worked as if the Lord was their employer? Through GCU's Integration of Faith, Learning and Work "Lunch and Learn" series, faculty and staff shared what it means to honor God in the workplace.
Honoring God in the workplace is on our office to-do list by Janie Magruder
GCU News Bureau
What would your classroom, office or department be like if everyone worked as if the Lord was their employer? Would your colleagues get along better, would the workday be more joyful and productive, and at the end of the day would you leave the building with less grousing on your lips?
The exploration of that concept was front and center at Friday’s Integration of Faith, Learning and Work “Lunch and Learn,” the fourth in a series this academic year. Nearly 90 Grand Canyon University faculty members and others packed Howerton Hall on campus to hear words of wisdom on the topic, “Work That Honors God.”
Interestingly, the guest speaker, Tamara Wisely, a professor in the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions, and program moderator, Dr. Jason Hiles, dean of the College of Theology, independently chose the same Bible verses to frame their remarks:
“O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

Tamara Wisely
“Doing good is easy for most,” Wisely said. “Doing what’s right comes from the heart, and if you use God’s blueprint, the Bible, you can understand what God’s word says about doing His work.”
Doing the right thing, readily forgiving others and walking humbly can be especially challenging in a busy, competitive workplace, she acknowledged. But it is possible if praying, often and about everything, and being true to your values and intentional about your personal and professional growth are on your front burner.
If we are serious about honoring God, whether on or off the time clock, we will work on our personal or professional growth by knowing ourselves and our purpose, passion and commitment, Wisely said. We will work hard to recognize what, how and when to change about ourselves and evaluate our experiences on a daily basis, she noted.
If we are committed to honoring God with high character, Wisely said, we will choose to be positive and honest, take ownership of situations and embrace bad experiences by asking, “What can I learn?”
Honoring God with servant leadership is achieved by, among other things, putting the needs of others first, developing new leaders, leading by example and living the “Seven Pillars of Servant Leadership” as espoused by James W. Sipe and Don M. Frick.
In all of this, prayer is key, said Wisely, who recommended praying before all meetings and classes. “Many times I’ll hear people say, and this depends on their walk … ‘Why do we even pray? If God knows it all and is all present, why do we pray?’” The answer, according to 20th-century evangelist Oswald Chambers, is that prayer changes us so that we can change things, even in the workplace, she said.
An ideal prayer: “Lord, let my words be Your words, let my actions be Your actions and change my heart to align with Your will.”
Wisely called on her audience to “step out and step up” in order to do God’s work. In response to a comment that stepping out is outside the comfort zone of some students, she said all that many need is an example and an invitation.
“They are so hungry to step out, but they need to know how and what that looks like and they need to know you are doing it, too,” she said.

Dr. Jason Hiles
Hiles used Exodus 31:1-8 to point out that God has called us to be committed to excellence, to do things well in our workplaces.
“Work that honors God entails excellence, but not only excellence in work, but excellence in workers,” he said. “That relates to what we do, the condition of our hearts as we work and how we go about our work.”
In Micah 6:6-7, he noted, God’s people are trying to be transactional with God about how they can draw nearer to Him:
“With what shall I come before the Lord and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
Micah “clears the air” with verse 8 — do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God, Hiles said.
Of course, acting justly means not working in prostitution, human trafficking and drug smuggling, but all types of work can be done in unrighteous ways, even televangelists who rip off their viewers, he said. Christians do their jobs by demonstrating concern for each other, challenging systemic injustice and creating opportunities for the oppressed and underprivileged, Hiles said.
Loving mercy requires a heart check, he said, to ensure we truly do love others as we love ourselves, that we put their interests ahead of our own and that we serve them, rather than “lord” our authority or position over them. While we often create pecking orders in our offices, Jesus embraced the anti-pecking order, dining with sinners and tax collectors rather than the Pharisees, Hiles said.
From Hosea 6:6, “… ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Those whose hearts are close to God, Hiles said, tend to consider the needs of others over their own, but those far from God focus on themselves, he said.
Closing his presentation, Hiles quoted from 1 Peter 5:5 on walking humbly with God: “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”
The next Lunch and Learn, with Moronke Oke and a panel from the Colangelo College of Business, is Friday, Feb. 19. Faculty RSVPs for lunch are required (click here).
Contact Janie Magruder at (602) 639-8018 or janie.magruder@gcu.edu.
---------------------
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Phoenix Section recently named GCU President Brian Mueller the 2015 "Non-Member of the Year." Mueller was honored for "outstanding leadership in providing affordable education and STEM programs, developing future American force and revitalizing west Phoenix both socially and economically."
Engineers honor Mueller for STEM leadership by Laurie Merrill
Story by Laurie Merrill
Photos by Darryl Webb
GCU News Bureau
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Phoenix Section on Saturday named GCU President Brian Mueller the 2015 “Non-Member” of the year.
Mueller, who has made it a priority to expand STEM programs and enrollment at GCU to build a highly trained workforce, was honored for “for outstanding leadership in providing affordable education and STEM programs, developing future American force and revitalizing west Phoenix both socially and economically.”
The University also was given a plaque for corporate sponsorship of the organization.

From left to right, CSET students Tim Prescott, Michael Teberg, Tayler Shurley and Josh Tipton are among those involved in GCU’s first Engineering Club.
Some of Saturday’s spotlight shone on four College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET) students in attendance and their role in starting GCU’s first Engineering Club.
GCU Provost Dr. Hank Radda, who accepted the award on Mueller’s behalf, spoke about how GCU’s engineering program is blossoming.
The University opened its first engineering school this fall with more than 250 students in three areas, and the program continues outstanding growth, he said. A new engineering building opened in August, and a second one is under construction.
To help anticipate the needs of the workforce and develop top-notch programs, GCU faculty and leaders meet regularly with more than 40 industry advisers.
Radda also noted the three freshmen and one sophomore in the audience who represent part of why STEM is so important at GCU, Radda said. They are among charter members of GCU’s first Engineering Club and might help form GCU’s first IEEE student chapter.
All four students said they transferred to GCU specifically to take advantage of the University’s thriving STEM programs.
Tayler Shurley, a freshman mechanical engineering major and Engineering Club president, said she hopes to work in the aeronautics and and/or military defense industries.
“I’ve always liked math and science and building things,” Shurley said.

GCU’s Dr. Hank Radda accepts an award on behalf of President Brian Mueller for leadership in STEM advancement.
Michael Teberg, also a freshman engineering major and the Engineering Club treasurer, said he chose his major because of his aptitude in math.
Josh Tipton, a freshman electrical engineering major and club member, said he attended six Maricopa County community schools before settling on GCU as the place for him to pursue his passion for engineering.
Sophomore IT major Tim Prescott wants to develop a new electronic health system for doctors because today’s systems are too difficult and time-consuming.
“I want to make it easier to practice medicine,” Prescott said.
Prescott also said he was impressed with how much IEEE does to help the community. For example, it supports Akshaya Patra, a charity that feeds 1.4 million children in India by providing healthy lunches at more than 10,000 government schools.
“Someone said IEEE is a well-kept secret,” Prescott said. “I think there should be more publicity about what they are doing.”
Contact Laurie Merrill at (602) 639-6511 or laurie.merrill@gcu.edu.
---------------------
Women's Soccer
Women's Soccer gets its leader
Read More
WOMEN'S SOCCER
ROSTER
SCHEDULE
STATISTICS
ARCHIVED STORIES
ADDITIONAL LINKS
ARCHIVED STATISTICS
WOMEN'S SOCCER HISTORY
PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETE
GCU SOCCER ACADEMY

Women's Soccer
Charles Hampton
Women's Soccer gets its Leader
PHOENIX – Grand Canyon University has named Derek Leader as head coach of the women's soccer program, Vice President of Athletics Mike Vaught announced on Wednesday.
Leader has over 20 years of coaching experience, including four years as an NCAA Division I head coach and 12 years at the IMG Soccer Academy.
"I'm thrilled for the opportunity to coach at Grand Canyon University," Leader said. "It is a school with the potential to be a national contender. I can't wait to get my family here and to start working on the field with the GCU team. I'd like to thank President Mueller and Vice President of Athletics Mike Vaught for making me a part of the GCU family. I'm also excited to work alongside men's head coach Schellas Hyndman and his staff. We will work to make GCU not only a power in the WAC, but also on the national stage."
Leader joins the Lopes from Georgia State where he spent the last three seasons. Under his direction, Leader improved the Panthers' RPI from 235 in 2013 to 95 in 2015. The Panthers were ranked in the top-10 in the Southern Region, one of only two non-SEC teams on the list. Leader also coached the first two NSCAA All-South Region players in program history. In just their second year in the Sun Belt Conference, the Panthers finished as runner-up to No. 22 ranked South Alabama in the 2015 Sun Belt Conference Championship.
As assistant director at the IMG Soccer Academy in Bradenton, Fla., Leader made his mark in the soccer community where he also served as women's soccer head coach from 1996-2008. He was inducted into the IMG Soccer Academy Hall of Fame in 2010.
Leader coached the 2005 MLS Rookie of the Year, Michael Parkhurst, and the 2013 NWSL Rookie of the Year, Erika Tymrak among many other future professional soccer players, during his time with IMG. During his tenure in Bradenton, he also coached local semi-pro teams, serving as an assistant coach for the Bradenton Academics PDL men's team from 2001-04 and as head coach for the Bradenton Athletics W-League women's team from 2004-08.
Prior to taking the head coach position at Georgia State, Leader was the associate head coach at SMU for four years. Leader assisted head coach, and current GCU men's assistant, Brent Erwin to four-straight Conference USA Tournament appearances, including two double-digit win totals in his last two seasons with the Mustangs.
Leader is a graduate of Akron in 1995 and is a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and the United States Soccer Coaches Organization. He also holds several coaching licenses that include a United States Soccer Federation National "A" License, an NSCAA Premier License and an International Coaching Diploma from the Victoria Coaching Institute in British Columbia, Canada.
Leader is a native of Stow, Ohio, and his wife, Kim, hails from Millen, Ga. The couple has a daughter named Jacqueline.
DEREK LEADER: WHAT'S BEING SAID
Robbie Church, Duke women's soccer head coach
"I think this is a home run hire for Grand Canyon with Derek Leader. Derek is one of the best soccer minds in the college game and he did a phenomenal job of building the Georgia State program up. Not only is he very, very good on the field, but he genuinely cares for his student-athletes. He makes sure they do the right thing in the classroom and that they do the right thing in the community. I think everyone at Grand Canyon will really enjoy Derek and I think he will become part of the community as the program continues to grow under his leadership."
Schellas Hyndman, GCU men's soccer head coach
"We are going to be very pleased having Derek Leader as our women's soccer coach. I have known him through reputation and people that I respect greatly in the game think a lot of him because he is extremely hard-working and he is a grinder. He has a can-do mentality and is very knowledgeable about soccer and is very committed to his team and university. He has been very involved with the IMG Academy in Florida, so he has been around some great coaches from national teams and that have given him the foundation to be a great soccer coach. He will be a great hire for us here at GCU."
Tom Durkin, Former Director of Coaching & Player Development at IMG Academy
"I am really pleased that GCU decided to hire Derek as head coach because he has worked at almost every level of U.S. Soccer on the women's side. He has certainly put in his time in the trenches and I think this is his time. Derek is going to do a wonderful job with the opportunity presented at Grand Canyon."
---------------------
Student Athletes
GCU hosts student-athlete Life After College Conference
Read More
ACADEMICS
ABOUT US
L.O.P.E.S. FOR LIFE
SLS PROGRAM
GRADESFIRST
RESOURCES
ADDITIONAL LINKS
STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SAAC)
STUDENT-ATHLETE HANDBOOK (PDF)
CONTACT US

Academics
Steven Gonzalez
GCU hosts WAC SAAC - Life After College Conference
PHOENIX – The Grand Canyon athletic department hosted an important conference for the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and its student-athletes. L.O.P.E.S. for Life coordinator Jenna Pearson and women's golfer Brittany Holen initiated the first ever WAC SAAC - Life After College Conference to help WAC student-athletes prepare for life after their sports careers are over.
"It was great to bring students in from every school in the WAC," Pearson said. "It is so important to think about life after college is over because less than one percent of athletes turn pro. You have to have that 'bigger picture' mentality and I am glad we were able to encourage that this weekend."
GCU's Holen, who serves as the events coordinator for the WAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), presented the WAC with the idea of a conference to help provide guidance for its athletes to create a plan for life after sports.
"I am so grateful to be a part of a special weekend and we got a lot of great feedback from our fellow student-athletes," Holen said. "I am hoping this weekend can be used as a launching pad to help other campuses help their student-athletes. All of the hard work that was put into this past weekend was very exciting and very rewarding."
A number of activities were set up by the GCU office of student-athlete development that placed the students in real-life situations that they will face when working at a job. GCU lined up guests speakers to talk to the student-athletes about resume writing, interview skills, how to network effectively and all of the activities led up to mock interviews. GCU reserved conference rooms and the Lopes were able to place WAC athletes in a formal interview where they practice the tools and traits they learned throughout their weekend in Phoenix.
Just like how players look at game film to see where they can improve, GCU did the same thing during the mock interviews as they set up cameras while the students were being interviewed so the professionals can tell them how to refine their interview skills the next time around. Megan McDonald, Media Relations and WAC Digital Networking Relations Intern, edited all of the film so that Jodi Holen, Associate Director of Biogen Idec, could come in on the last day and offer feedback to the student-athletes on each of their interviews.
"We spend a ton of hours in the weight room and on the field but it is crucial to think about life after college while you are still a student," Holen said. "It is imperative that we are prepared for that transition once we graduate and this weekend was preparing us and making sure we are equipped once that time comes."
GCU was also able to host an etiquette dinner at the new GCU golf course that provided an opportunity for the athletes to sit down with employers from different professions and work on their social networking. The business professionals at the dinner were able to pass down advice to the athletes to help better their lives once they graduate from college.
"I am hoping that the student-athletes will walk away from this conference with an action plan once they graduate," Pearson said. "We provided them with the tools and now I hope the students will use them."
---------------------
Make-A-Wish
Lopes Baseball helps Make-A-Wish Arizona send young fan to Disneyland
Read More
BASEBALL
ROSTER
SCHEDULE
STATISTICS
ARCHIVED STORIES
ADDITIONAL LINKS
ARCHIVED STATISTICS
GAME NOTES
HISTORY
WAC MEDIA GUIDE
CAMPS
PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETE


Baseball | 1/28/2016 5:28:00 PM | Josh Hauser
Lopes help Make-A-Wish Arizona send Landon to Disney World
PLAYERS MENTIONED


PHOENIX - The Grand Canyon baseball team adopted Landon, a 10-year old from Anthem, Ariz. battling multiple health issues, as an honorary teammate in December. A month later, Landon and the team were reunited at Brazell Stadium, as GCU Baseball helped Make-A-Wish Arizona present Landon with a trip to Walt Disney World.
Landon and the GCU baseball team were brought together by Team IMPACT, a national organization based in Boston that looks to improve the quality of life for children that are facing life-threatening illnesses. The Lopes simulated a live game with a struggling pitcher walking the bases loaded, threatening to give up the go-ahead run to the opponent. But then GCU head coach Andy Stankiewicz made the call to the bullpen.
"Fans it looks like Coach Stankiewicz is going out to the mound to make a pitching change," Arizona Diamondbacks public address announcer Chuck Drago said over the Brazell Stadium speakers. "Now pitching for the Lopes, a left-hander from Anthem, Arizona, no. 9, Landon Priest."
With two outs in the top of the ninth, Landon took his warmup pitches, looking to send Grand Canyon home victorious. After a pair of strikes, Landon coaxed a swing and a miss to end the game.
"Fans he has done it," Drago said. "Landon has struck him out and won the game for the Lopes."
The Lopes in the dugout stormed the field and celebrated with the game-winning left hander.
"Today was a great moment for [the team], and, more importantly, Landon," senior outfielder Brandon Smith said. "I got the chills just hearing the P.A. announcer from the Diamondbacks as well. Overall, it was just an awesome experience."
Once the madness around the mound quieted down, there was more good news for the youngster.
"Along with being our Most Valuable Player, Make-A-Wish Arizona would like to present you and your mom with a trip to Walt Disney World," Drago said.
Junior catcher Josh Meyer hoisted Landon up on to his shoulders as the team continued to celebrate.
"Everything that is happening with Landon today is really a God-send," Antonio Sanchez, Landon's wish granter from Make-A-Wish Arizona, said. "GCU was great. Nothing but helpful throughout this entire process. He finds out that he's going to Disney World with his cousins and his families next week."
Landon wasn't the only one enthralled by the surprise trip.
"It was really awesome, it's hard to describe in words," Landon's mom, Krystal Schripsema, said. "To see people do this for my son, it's humbling for people to step up and take part in his life and make him feel important. It's awesome."
--------------------
Baseball Alumni
Baseball welcomes back former players in annual alumni game
Read More
BASEBALL
ROSTER
SCHEDULE
STATISTICS
ARCHIVED STORIES
ADDITIONAL LINKS
ARCHIVED STATISTICS
GAME NOTES
HISTORY
WAC MEDIA GUIDE
CAMPS
PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETE
Baseball
Josh Hauser
Baseball welcomes back former players in annual alumni game
PLAYERS MENTIONED






The Grand Canyon baseball program took another step towards opening up the 2016 season with the holding of its Alumni Game on Saturday afternoon at Brazell Stadium. The annual event features an exhibition game between the current Grand Canyon baseball team and a host of GCU Baseball alumni, ranging from last year's graduates all the way back to players from the 1970s.
Although the event served as a good dress rehearsal for head coach Andy Stankiewicz's 2016 club, the intent of the event is to bring back baseball alumni from years past for a time of entertainment and reconnecting.
"This day is about the alumni more than anything else. It's about those guys on the other side," Stankiewicz said from the 2016 squad's dugout. "Let them have their day and let them come together and visit with one another, build relationships and have a good time. The alumni game is always fun and its always a good time. It's great to see the guys again."
Recent GCU alumni in uniform were David Walker, Chad De La Guerra and Michael Pomeroy. Pomeroy flashed the leather at first base on several occasions for the alumni, bringing back the memories of his days as a National Gold Glove Award winner at first base during his time at Grand Canyon. Walker was manning the outfield for the alumni squad and had an enjoyable time in the alumni dugout just one year removed from being a member of the Lopes.
"It's pretty fun. It's definitely a fun time," Walker said. "It's good to be out here with other guys as well, meet some new people."
Dr. Dave Brazell chats with former GCU Baseball
players at the Alumni Game on Feb. 13.In addition to the former players in attendance, the founder of GCU Baseball and the namesake of the ballpark, Dr. Dave Brazell, returned as well. Brazell got a huge ovation from the fans in attendance.
Sophomore Jake Repavich, who was recently named to the All-WAC Preseason Team, took the hill for the current GCU squad and was sharp from the getgo, including three strikeouts in the first inning. Offensively, this year's Lopes got off to a hot start with Paul Panaccione, Krysthian Leal and Garrison Schwartz opening the game with three straight hits. A handful of new faces were able to get in on the action for GCU as well including Tyler Wyatt andPreston Pavlica who both put some power on display from the plate.
"We do want to compete and put some nice at bats together," Stankiewicz said. "Our guys have done a nice job competing out there. We got some innings for some of our younger guys too."
After a brief 1-1 tie in the early stages of the game, the younger bodies prevailed. This was a welcomed sight for Walker, who was pleased to see the 2016 team pull away early.
"I think they did a lot better than we did last year," Walker said. "Last year it was like a 4-3 game, a little too close. This year the young guys put us away pretty quick."
Grand Canyon opens the 2016 campaign with a four-game set vs. Gonzaga at Brazell Stadium beginning on Friday. Stankiewicz was pleased with the preparation of the team with opening day less than a week away.
"It's good just to kind of get a dress rehearsal for us," Stankiewicz said. "We got in some batting practice, infield/outfield, getting guys to understand the sequence of events leading into a game. It's good in that respect."
First pitch for Friday's season opener is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on Cox 7 Arizona on the television side, and KXXT 1010 AM on the radio.
---------------------
"For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations." (Isaiah 61:11, NIV)
Grand Canyon University
3300 West Camelback Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85017, United States.
---------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment