February 2017 GCU Alumni News.
FEBRUARY 2017
Not many GCU alumni can say that a president, a governor and a famous singer have asked for their work, but Bob Eckel can. That, however, isn't the only interesting twist to the life of the 82-year-old railroad scene painter.
Eckel’s railroad paintings have great track record by Rick Vacek
Not many GCU alumni can say that a president, a governor and a famous singer have asked for their work, but Bob Eckel can. That, however, isn't the only interesting twist to the life of the 82-year-old railroad scene painter.
Eckel’s railroad paintings have great track record by Rick Vacek
Bob Eckel shows off one of his many paintings, which are on display all over the world. (Photo by Darryl Webb)Editor’s note: This story is reprinted from the December issue of GCU Magazine. To view the digital version of the magazine, click here. by Mark Heller
GCU News Bureau
Bob Eckel’s life is a work of art.
His retirement after more than 30 years in engineering was a nod to his lifelong love of trains and railroads. At age 82, he’s still oil painting railroad scenes from coast to coast, including ones presented to United States presidents and country music legends.
And, judging by his dozens of stories, each of those scenes is worth a thousand words.
“It takes a lot of work,” he said. “Painting railroad tracks alone is a full-time job.”
Born in Connecticut in 1934, Eckel moved to Pennsylvania with his family after his father “lost our house on a poker bet.” It was there that the famous Reading Railroad became part of his future passion.
More than 20 years into his engineering career, he earned his bachelor’s degree in art from what was then Grand Canyon College in 1977.
By that point, he already had been commissioned to do an oil painting for former president Richard Nixon that hung in the White House (Nixon’s father was in the railroad business), one for Arizona governor and presidential hopeful Barry Goldwater, and another for Johnny Cash when “The Man in Black” rode West to Arizona by train during a 1976 tour.
“Two days before Watergate I get a letter of thanks,” he said of Nixon. “You’d have never known there was a problem.”
After 34 years in the steel and aircraft industries, he retired in 1989 to pursue painting (and reading). These days he paints out of his Peoria, Ariz., home for a couple of hours each morning and has artworks that hang in six continents.
Since becoming one of the first GCU graduates of an evening degree program, he’s been a survivor — his doctor gave him 90 seconds to live seven years ago when Eckel had a stroke, and he was struck by lightning five years ago.
“I let go of the metal door handle (on his car), and lightning hit the neighbor’s house and traveled into me,” he said. “Sparks flying out of my hand. I was numb, didn’t feel a thing.”
Perhaps lightning can strike twice. It already has in his career.
“Guys (on the railroad) taught me right and wrong and about life,” he said. “They were very good. I love railroad people.”
Contact Mark Heller at (602) 639-7516 or mark.heller@gcu.edu
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Ahmad Saleem and twins Brad and Brian Scruggs won the Canyon Challenge in 2015 with a startup called Joblyt. Thanks to a partnership with the Better Business Bureau, the three GCU alumni launched their company, now called Great Pros.
They learned great lessons in launching Great Pros by Rick Vacek
Brad Scruggs (left), Ahmad Saleem and Brian Scruggs have taken their original concept, which won the Canyon Challenge in 2015, and made it even better by launching Great Pros. by Rick VacekGCU News Bureau
Being an entrepreneur requires more than a good idea and solid business plan. It also requires patience, passion, perseverance … and, sometimes, pivoting from your original seemingly great idea and supposedly solid business plan.
For proof, look no further than the experience of three Grand Canyon University graduates, Ahmad Saleem and twin brothers Brad and Brian Scruggs, who won GCU’s Canyon Challenge entrepreneurial competition in 2015 with a company called Joblyt. With a team of 20 GCU interns, they were going to use their software application to hook up people who need tasks done with people who can do them.
The company founded by Saleem and the Scruggs twins was called Joblyt when they won the Canyon Challenge in 2015.What has changed since then? Oh, just about everything.
They’ve changed their focus to home in on the market connecting homeowners to contractors. How did that happen? They continued to meet with Tim Kelley, assistant professor for entrepreneurship and economics at GCU, long after they had graduated, and he helped them find the right path. “He’s always been a mentor to us,” Brad Scruggs said.
They’ve changed the name of the company to Great Pros. No more Joblyt. “People couldn’t pronounce it,” Brad Scruggs said. “They didn’t know what it was.” To which Saleem added, “In this industry, there has to be a memorable name.”
They’ve changed their website to give it a sharp and professional look. “Software development is so huge,” Brad Scruggs said.
They’ve changed their business plan by partnering with the Better Business Bureau to vet all contractors. “With the BBB, every professional is licensed, bonded, insured, has had a background check and has been in business for more than a year,” Brad Scruggs said.
Most important, they’ve changed because they’ve learned. Boy, have they learned.
“A lot of people when they launch a business, they have these ideas in their head and they have all these aspirations,” Saleem said. “‘We’ll put together an app, throw it in the marketplace, users will come, it’ll grow, we’ll have billions of dollars tomorrow and we’ll be good to go, right?’
“Well, sorry to burst that bubble, but that’s not the reality of it. What we learned is, you can sit there as founders in a room with these four walls, and you can come up with all the ideas in the world and all the features you want to put into an application. But until you go and talk to your customers who actually are going to pay for your service, you really have no idea what the heck you’re doing or what you’re building.”
The phone calls would drift long into the evening, seven days a week. Not a big deal … except for the fact that they usually would arrive at the office around 6:30 in the morning. Seven days a week.
“We talked to hundreds and hundreds of customers — not only homeowners but professionals as well,” Saleem said. “We spent a year researching the industry, studied competitors and figured out gaps in the market.
“When you build your software incrementally based on what the market is telling you rather than piling up all these features in front, your product slowly builds to something that the market will definitely use and you can scale. You launch something into the market, you learn from customer feedback, you build on top of that, and you incrementally grow that product.”
But the growth doesn’t happen overnight. The biggest challenge is to keep going back, day after day, and keep making all those calls.
“What I admire most,” Kelley said, “is their tenacity.”
Brad Scruggs said, “There are so many ups and downs. One day it’s like, ‘This is great. We had something amazing built onto our platform.’ And the next day, it’s like, ‘No one’s using it,’ or you’re not getting feedback on it. There are so many roller-coasters with a startup.”
Dr. Randy Gibb, the CCOB dean, helped turn them toward the Better Business Bureau (BBB), a corporate watchdog that was incorporated in 1921. Gibb got them in touch with a BBB board member, who helped them arrange a January 2016 meeting with officials from the organization’s Arizona branch.
Perfect fit — for both Great Pros and the BBB.
“There’s a higher standard with the BBB,” Saleem said. “For us, the peace of mind of the homeowner is a very important thing.”
Felicia Thompson, the BBB’s vice president of communications, said, “Our value is our data — we have all this great information. We’re looking to work more with startups and entrepreneurs. This just fits into our vision going forward.”
The Great Pros vision, honed from feedback both inside and outside GCU, is to establish itself in the Phoenix market and then expand to other cities. “The partnership we have with the Better Business Bureau allows us to do that,” Saleem said.
And, just as they have used the advice of Kelley, Gibb and other mentors, the Great Pros guys now are pros who can properly advise GCU students following in their footsteps. They have been frequent attendees and even presenters at the monthly GCU Shark Tank meetings.
“They’re on campus all the time,” Kelley said. “It’s pretty impressive that they keep coming around.”
They’re coming around to give as much as they get. Other budding entrepreneurs consider them a resource as they try to market their ideas.
“The answer I always give is, ‘Don’t talk to me, talk to your customers,’” Saleem said. “Some entrepreneurs have an idea but don’t want to tell anyone. You can’t do that. Ideas are a dime a dozen. You’ve got to talk to people and get as much feedback as possible.”
That’s how you change. That’s how you grow. That’s how you become Great Pros.
Contact Rick Vacek at (602) 639-8203 or rick.vacek@gcu.edu.
From career fairs to networking events and one-on-one coaching, the Career IMPACT Center is a busy hub of opportunity for students and alumni alike. See how this multifaceted team finds prime internships and positions, partners with major organizations and works tirelessly to put Lopes on the path to success.ACADEMICS ALUMNI COLANGELO COLLEGE OF BUSINESS COLLEGE OF DOCTORAL STUDIES COLLEGE OF EDUCATION COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS AND PRODUCTION COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES COLLEGE OF NURSING & HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONS COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE OF THEOLOGY COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
GCU has huge IMPACT on students’ job opportunities by mark.heller
Enterprise hired 12 GCU grads into management training positions last year and also brought on five former interns from the University. by Mark HellerGCU News Bureau
The proof is in the hires.
Between dozens of job fairs, networking and etiquette events, résumé reviews, mock interviews, Career IMPACT Center online tools website and more, Grand Canyon University students and alumni aren’t lacking free career resources.
GCU’s Career IMPACT Center job fairs bring together large numbers of companies and students.More than 200 companies are expected on campus during the annual spring career fairs in February and March. Another 5,000 organizations are part of GCU’s Career Connections database, and nearly a dozen programs or events are scheduled for spring semester, an increasing number of which are college-specific.
This creates an obvious advantage for GCU by helping students and alumni contact, network and ultimately land jobs. Once inside, however, the success of GCU graduates and alumni has created pipelines between the school and dozens of companies around the Valley and beyond, including, Vanguard, ADP, The Hartford Group, Enterprise and REDW.
“(Companies) want to get into classrooms and meet students before even seeing a résumé,” said Jacqueline Smith, executive director of the Career IMPACT Center. “They want to partner with us and get to know students. They want to be involved in more ways than just job fairs.”
Northwestern Mutual is one of the many top-notch companies that recruit on campus.Vanguard has 47 GCU alumni in its Scottsdale workforce, including 13 who have been hired in the last two years, according to Danielle McCormick, Vanguard’s university relations specialist. Although it’s known as a financial and investment services organization, Vanguard employees have accounting, marketing, business, entrepreneurism and other degrees that seamlessly fit among its 10 divisions that extend beyond finance.
Even better, Vanguard trains employees in any relevant financial and customer service knowledge.
Shane Keith earned his Business Management degree from GCU in 2013 and worked his way up within Vanguard as an operations supervisor in the Scottsdale office. He said the company culture was a huge draw for him, and he’s had the opportunity to cross-train with three different departments during his tenure.
Community involvement and its mission and values statements also attracted Kate Mears, who worked at Vanguard for several years before she went back to school and earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from GCU in 2015.
“A lot of our values align with GCU’s and its students,” McCormick said. “I always tell people that the phrase ‘Find Your Purpose’ is the words you live by and the mindset to do your best for the communities and beyond.
“We look for people who are good communicators, which is a big need in the customer service industry. Strategic thinking is important for companies that are growing fast and doing things differently, beyond the box.”
Enterprise, which operates transportation rental agencies and services, hired 12 GCU graduates into its management training program in 2016 along with five former interns for full-time positions.
Katie Berry, Enterprise’s HR talent acquisition specialist, noted that two recent grads – Belen Avila and Matthew Craft – received “milestone promotions” within two months of being hired. Andree Reid was hired to join the management training program after he graduated with a criminal justice degree.
Berry also said student-athletes are popular choices for employment by Enterprise and other service-oriented organizations. The list includes former GCU basketball players Isaiah Hamlin, Toby Okafor and Uros Ljeskovic.
Companies that attend GCU career fairs widely considered it advantageous for them because of the timing: The fair before commencement in April allows both the companies and soon-to-be-graduates to get a leg up on possible competitors who graduate in May or even June.
“When someone attends or graduates from GCU, they have a higher standard,” Berry said. “There’s character they showcase in choosing to go to GCU. It’s the standards of the University, the ideals and curriculum. The quality of education and candidates we find through GCU goes back to their decision to attend there in the first place. We keep track of them.”
The REDW accounting and tax firm located near the Biltmore area employs two GCU alumni among its more than 50 Phoenix office employees: Christine Brunke (Class of 2010) is a senior audit associate, and recent graduate Christy Kiser is a tax accountant.
The company also has hired two GCU seniors for a tax program internship beginning in January, and, according to Jodi Kellerhals in REDW’s human resources department, it has “current GCU students in the pipeline for future full-time audit positions.”
“We find that Grand Canyon University graduates fit wonderfully within our culture, vision and commitment to serve the community, our clientele and one another,” said Sandy Abalos, a principal in charge at REDW. “GCU is on the right track.”
So, too, are the increasingly symbiotic relationships between school and employer.
“We know our students are really prepared,” Smith said. “From large to small, the lists of events and successful alumni keep growing.”
CAREER IMPACT CENTER EVENTS
Companies on Campus (11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Student Union)
Jan. 9: Pacific Office Automation
Jan. 10: Circle K
Jan. 11: AZ Department of Environmental Quality
Jan. 17: The Hartford
Jan. 18: Prescott Pines Camp
Jan. 23: Human Resources, Inc.
Jan. 24: Yelp
Jan. 25: Infinity Hospice Care
Jan. 30: U-Haul International
Jan. 31: Amazon
Feb. 7: Great Hearts
Feb. 13: Vanguard
Feb. 15: Liberty Mutual Insurance
Other notable dates:
Jan. 11-17: Student-Worker Appreciation Week
Feb. 24: GCU Pre-Health Grad School Fair (11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Student Union Promenade)
Feb. 28-March 8: Career Week
Feb. 28: Mocktail Reception and Etiquette Dinner (5-8 p.m.; RSVP required)
March 1: Resume Review and Mock Interviews (10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Saguaro Hall; RSVP required)
March 2: Job/Internship Fair (11 a.m.-1 p.m., Main Promenade)
March 8: GCU Wants to Hire You (11 a.m.-1 p.m., Saguaro Hall)
For more information, visit the Career IMPACT Center website or call (602) 639-6606.
Contact Mark Heller at (602) 639-7516 or mark.heller@gcu.edu
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GCU Homecoming is just around the corner!
It's time to get ready for GCU Homecoming! Mark your calendar now for a jam-packed weekend of exciting activities designed to celebrate the one and only home of the Lopes. Officially scheduled for Feb. 24 - 25, 2017, this year's edition is your chance to witness the breathtaking expansion of our campus while enjoying a great time with classmates and friends.
RSVP TODAY
FEB.
11 Alumni Baseball Game
GCU Brazell Stadium // 1 pm FEB. 24-25
Homecoming 2017
Grand Canyon University
FEB.
13 Ministry Forum - A Conversation about
Identity, Sexuality, Gender and the Church
CCOB Lecture Hall // 5 pm MAR.
11 Run to Fight Children's Cancer
Grand Canyon University
Use coupon code GCUALUMNI2017
FEB.
22 Lopes on the Road - GCU v. Diamondbacks
Salt River Stadium
Every year, the race starter for the GCU Foundation Run to Fight Children's Cancer is a superhero who has valiantly fought the disease. This year's starter, 6-year old Jace Hyduchak, is no different. His parents George and Ann have responded heroically, too. Sign up now to join the race using coupon code GCUALUMNI2017 at registration to get the alumni discount.
His cancer fight showed the superhero in all of usJ by Rick Vacek
Story by Karen Fernau
Photos by Ralph Freso
GCU News Bureau
When George and Ann Hyduchak learned that their 5-year-old son had been diagnosed with cancer, they doubled over in fear.
Jace Hyduchak, 6, will be the race starter for the 2017 GCU Foundation Run to Fight Children’s Cancer.They’d thought that Jace, their third of four boys, simply had a childhood bug, not a deadly disease. Upon hearing the dreaded news, George allowed himself 30 minutes to cry, a condensed blast of heartache before tackling the practicalities of battling acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), a cancer of the blood and marrow.
There were treatment decisions to be made, medical bills to pay. There were three other children — from seven months to 10 years old — to raise.
“If it had been me, I might have gone into denial, but not with my child. Denial would prevent me from doing my job, protecting him from harm,” George said.
About the race
What: Seventh annual Grand Canyon University Foundation Run to Fight Children’s Cancer
When: Saturday, March 11. Starting time 7 a.m. for 10K, 7:45 a.m. 5K, 9 a.m. Cancer Survivors Walk
Where: Grand Canyon University, 3300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix
Cost: $25 for 5K and $35 for 10K through Jan. 31, $30-40 through Feb. 28 and $35-45 through March 11. Cancer Survivors Walk is free and open to cancer survivors.
Registration: Go to runtofightcancer.com.
Benefit: All proceeds from the run are spent locally by Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Children’s Cancer Network.
Job well done. Today, after 65 days and 58 nights in the hospital, seven trips to the emergency room and 43-and-counting trips to a treatment center, Jace is cancer free and strong enough to be the race starter for the 2017 Grand Canyon University Foundation Run to Fight Children’s Cancer.
George’s first task after Jace’s diagnosis was asking the Ahwatukee Foothills Family YMCA for a refund of his son’s $100 basketball registration fee.
“We didn’t know what kind of medical bills we would be facing, but I knew I needed everything we had to be able to afford the best care and treatment,” George said.
Two strangers at the front desk returned the money on the spot. No questions asked.
A few hours later, people from the Y showed up at the Hyduchaks’ Phoenix home with a basket of sports paraphernalia, from a Suns jersey to a water bottle.
“We were so touched by his request that we wanted to do something nice for the family,” said Sandra Banks, the YMCA’s executive director. “We gave what we could.”
And so began an avalanche of giving.
Family from Scottsdale to Pennsylvania mobilized to care for the Hyduchaks’ other three sons, Bryce, Caden and Brig, which allowed both parents to live around the clock at Phoenix Children’s Hospital (PCH).
Friends and neighbors delivered home-cooked meal after home-cooked meal and shuttled the boys to school. Children of Hope Preschool in Phoenix ripped up Jace’s tuition check. His teachers sat bedside reading stories. Boy Scouts visited and played games. Local businesses helped organize a blood drive in Jace’s name.
“We began calling all those who helped our village our ‘special village,’” said Ann, a full-time mom and realtor with West USA.
And now the Hyduchaks are giving back.
“Looking back,” George said, “I can honestly say that our struggles were lessened thanks to the overwhelming support of our family, friends and community.”
Jace is back to bouncing, and driving, around the backyard.The road to Run to Fight
One January night in 2016 after Jace fell asleep, Ann fired up the computer in his PCH hospital room to search for a payback cause.
“I thought we had enough to deal with, but Ann was determined to start giving back for all we had received,” George said.
Ann quickly discovered Run to Fight Children’s Cancer.
She clicked on the site and realized the run was a match made in heaven.
“Their goals were our goals,” she said.
In six years, Run to Fight has raised more than $450,000 for PCH and its research into cancer cures and for Children’s Cancer Network (CCN), a Chandler-based nonprofit that supports children with cancer and their families.
This year’s race, scheduled for Saturday, March 11, is expected to hit a milestone – a half-million dollars raised to do what Jace calls “kicking cancer in the butt.”
Ann and George Hyduchak view their association with GCU — and Thunder — as a match made in heaven.During his standoff against ALL, Ann and George became painfully aware of the support patients and their families need to survive grueling rounds of chemotherapy, surgeries, setbacks, blood transfusions and bone marrow transplants.
“I loved that the money goes directly to fight the disease and help the families of kids with cancer,” she said. “We couldn’t have made it without PCH and CCN.”
An added plus: George and Ann are runners.
After selecting Run to Fight 2016 as their give-back cause, Ann posted a Facebook call for others to join them. In no time at all, the Hyduchaks assembled Jace’s Defenders, the largest team ever to run the race — 127 strong.
This year, 6-year-old Jace will be more than just a runner on the returning mega-team. As the race starter, he’s the cancer survivor chosen to blow the horn on for thousands of runners at the starting lines for the 10K and 5K races on and around the GCU campus.
Jace, with Ann and little brother Brig, is excited about being the race starter.Jace joins an illustrious group of childhood cancer survivors and race starters: Emma Kerr, Mia Bryant, Jack Welch, Cooper Gokee, Grace Kostyk and Olivia Baumgardner. All are expected to be at this year’s race.
For George, a major appeal of Run to Fight is its commitment to raise money for all childhood cancers, not just ALL, a cancer with an 85 percent survival rate for children.
“We would love to wipe out ALL, but it wasn’t the type of cancer that rocked our world,” he said. “It was that our 5-year-old had cancer. Our cause is to find a cure for every pediatric cancer, and that’s what this race is all about.”
Jace’s cancer story
The telltale signs showed up during the 2015 Thanksgiving weekend. Jace mysteriously began bruising. The boy partial to superheroes and fast breaks on the basketball court was listless and his appetite was flat.
Fighting cancer was a back-and-forth battle for Jace and his family.“He’s a rough-and-tumble kid and my best eater, so we were worried but at first not alarmed,” Ann said.
After three nights of bloody noses, they took Jace to their family doctor, who ordered blood tests and sent them home. They’ll always remember the date: Nov. 30.
The doctor called at 8 o’clock that same night with the knee-buckling news: Jace had cancer and needed to go to PCH immediately for a life-saving blood transfusion.
“We’ve learned that it’s never good news when a doctor calls at night,” George said.
Ann called her parents to watch the other boys, and the couple arrived at PCH by 10 p.m.
Jace’s low hemoglobin levels made inserting the IV difficult. It was the first of a long line of medical hurdles, from blasts of chemotherapy to a series of aggressive infections.
Always a kid who dreaded taking pills and getting poked with needles, Jace fought cancer treatment with the ferociousness of a scared child.
Jace is back doing many of his favorite things, such as playing basketball at the YMCA.George learned to hug Jace into stillness while Ann administered the shots. Coaxing Jace to swallow a single pill often took two hours.
“Jace was scared so much of the time,” Ann said. “He was in pain. His legs hurt so bad he wouldn’t walk, and the doctors warned against atrophy. He didn’t eat and fought taking morphine for the pain.”
George talks of Jace’s cancer in precise, clinical detail — hemoglobin 12.3, platelets 443. That’s not surprising for a technical support engineer for Cymer, a San Diego-based supplier of deep ultraviolet light for semiconductor chips.
But when he talks about “the rough spots,” George sounds like a dad with his heart in his hands. His voice wavers. He swallows tears.
“It’s been hard for us not to cry, but we didn’t want to cry in front of Jace or the other boys,” he said. “We are the two people who always make them feel safe, and we were not going to let cancer change that.”
Today, Jace and his full head of hair are in kindergarten and on a YMCA basketball team coached by George.
Jace pushes Brig around the house on a skateboard and jumps on the backyard trampoline as if he wants to be the first kid to walk on the moon.
Jace and his family have bounced back after a tough year.Although cancer free, he’s still tethered to maintenance doses of chemotherapy for another two years.
“We are now in the home stretch, albeit a lengthy one,” George said. “When this is all over, you can bet we will be throwing a huge celebration party.”
Run to Fight money at work
The money raised by Run to Fight is split evenly between PCH’s research into treatment and cures and CCN’s programs for families blindsided by the cost of fighting cancer.
Patti Luttrell, director of CCN, knows first-hand the strain of long, expensive cancer treatments.
Luttrell’s 28-year-old son, Jeff, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when he was 5. He has endured rounds of chemotherapy and radiation along with a bone marrow transplant to treat his cancer and recurrences. Jeff, a graphic designer and graduate of The Art Institute of Phoenix, is currently battling a recurring oral cancer.
Luttrell, a former nursing professor at GCU, and her husband, Steve, had insurance coverage, the financial wherewithal and a support network to battle the disease.
George loves coaching Jace’s basketball team — and just horsing around.But while in Tucson nearly two decades ago for Jeff’s bone marrow transplant, the Luttrells learned others were not as fortunate. A child in a same cancer ward died, and the family’s gas tank and bank account were empty.
That was 2004, the year the Luttrells, along with daughter Jenny, created CCN, which has grown to help nearly 650 families a year.
“For many families, cancer brings financial disaster. We help with the expenses insurance doesn’t cover,” Luttrell said.
The lion’s share of their money, about $70,000 a year, is given in gas and food gift cards. Nearly 200 volunteers also lend a hand.
For the first time, CCN last year allocated the Run to Fight proceeds to fund a part-time therapist at PCH. The new therapist has dramatically cut the 90-day wait for families to receive counseling.
“Now families can get help when they need it most,” Luttrell said.
Another new program — Honoring Our Peers Everyday (HOPE) — helps children with cancer return to school by educating their peers about cancer, the leading cause of death in children.
The program explains why a child with cancer is bald and might look and act differently.
Oldest brother Bryce, like everyone else in the family, is thrilled with Jace’s recovery.“The program demystifies cancer and the effects of the treatment. It makes a difference to children with cancer when they return to the classroom,” Luttrell said.
CCN also awards survivors of childhood cancer, their siblings or parents with scholarships.
Race day
In the 2016 Run to Fight Children’s Cancer, Jace almost was sidelined by an infected foot. He attended but was off kilter and far from the top of his game.
This year is different. A re-energized Jace will be at the starting line at the main entrance of GCU, running shoes on and horn in hand.
After his official race starter duties are over, he’ll join his family and Jace’s Defenders in the race.
Most likely, he’ll channel a favorite superhero, maybe Superman or Captain America, to help power him through the 5K.
To his parents, however, Jace’s cape-wearing idols pale in comparison to the real deal.
“Jace is the real superhero,” George said. “He is an amazing young man.”
● Run to Fight Children’s Cancer will be the featured charity at Saturday’s GCU men’s basketball game against Seattle University, and pediatric cancer survivors will be among the guests in attendance. Fans at GCU Arena also will be able to register for the race and can get a special in-person-only discount.
Contact Karen Fernau at (602) 639-8344 or karen.fernau@gcu.edu.
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Donate to Elevate gives employees the option of allocating some of their state tax dollars to specific programs, such as GCU's alliance with Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona. The benefits of the campaign can be seen in the gratitude of homeowners such as GCU neighbor Donald Contreras, whose home got new windows and a paint job thanks to the partnership.
He has new outlook thanks to GCU/Habitat project by Rick Vacek
Donald Contreras is delighted with the new windows and paint on his west Phoenix home, courtesy of GCU’s partnership with Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona. (Photo by Darryl Webb) by Mark HellerGCU News Bureau
Donald Contreras sounded as if he had won the lottery as he described the before-and-after pictures of his recent home renovations.
It took the Canyon Corridor resident three years to afford a new air conditioner that already was 25 years old. And since his house on 28th Drive was built in 1952, new windows, exterior paint and a renovated block wall were desperately needed.
Even after selling his camping trailer and an old organ, the money needed for windows alone would have taken years to save.
Pipe dreams at best.
That is, until last fall, when he saw a flyer in his mail about a partnership between Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona and Grand Canyon University. Intrigued about the opportunity, Contreras swallowed his pride and asked for help.
A few months later, the 12-year resident now has new windows, a freshly painted house and concrete block wall to begin 2017.
“My dream came true,” said Contreras, who’s hoping for a quick return visit this year to replace 64-year-old insulation. “It’s like winning a car on a TV show.
“There was no way I could have afforded it by any means. After 12 years of being here, I get to have what I had always dreamed of.”
Contreras’ story is one that has played out in several neighborhoods near the University thanks to its Donate to Elevate campaign, which gives GCU employees the option of allocating some of their state tax dollars to specific programs, such as Habitat for Humanity or private school tuition, with no reduction in take-home pay.
“It puts many, many people on a different trajectory because of these contributions,” said Dr. Tacy Ashby, GCU’s senior vice president for Strategic Educational Alliances. “It’s definitely a heartfelt contribution, and this is a good time to consider that.”
The University’s goal is to get participation from at least 90 percent of the employees in each department. Departments that have reached the goal will be recognized at the all-employee meeting Friday morning at GCU Arena.
GCU’s partnership with Habitat for Humanity is part of President Brian Mueller’s neighborhood revitalization plan that was launched in 2015. The goal is to renovate as many as 700 homes in the Canyon Corridor. Renovation projects include painting, landscaping, roofing, new windows, air conditioning and other structural repairs. Habitat provides the leadership and training, while GCU students and employees provide the volunteer manpower and funding.
To date, 1,026 volunteers have contributed 6,521 hours to the Habitat projects. More than 200 repairs have been completed for 105 families, and tangible results can be seen in every nearby neighborhood.
One such house belongs to Sharon Malone, a retired educator and a 41-year resident. An “eyesore” that was her exterior was replaced in mid-December with a new paint job for the house and fence plus a new air conditioner.
Now that her house has been improved, she has watched her neighbors suddenly start sprucing up their home exteriors, too.
“I just added value to my home, but it’s really about a sense of pride developing in talking to my neighbors,” she said. “Newness is infectious.”
Both Contreras and Malone said they hope that more such improvements are on the horizon — and not just because it would raise the value of their homes.
“The word of mouth is happening, and we’re finding the best way is by neighbors telling each other,” said Cassandra Jarles, director of sponsor relations for Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona. “People say communities don’t talk. They absolutely do.”
Upgrades to people’s lives means upgrading the community’s future, one home at a time.
“A huge, huge improvement — I’m so glad they’re there,” Contreras said. “I think it’s going to help the neighborhood, and the program is fantastic.
“I’m just glad people jump in and help. I’m the guy everyone calls to help them, and it was great to have someone come help me.”
Contact Mark Heller at (602) 639-7516 or mark.heller@gcu.edu
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Dr. Peter Williams' brought a different perspective with him from Tyndale House, a biblical research center at the University of Cambridge in England, during his recent visit to Grand Canyon Theological Seminary. This made for a riveting Thursday night presentation on campus.COLLEGE OF THEOLOGY RECENT NEWS SPIRITUAL LIFE
Bible expert explains reasons we should trust it by Rick Vacek
Dr. Peter Williams speaks at Grand Canyon University on Thursday night. (Photo by Mark Heller) by Mark HellerGCU News Bureau
It’s a matter of trust.
For nearly two hours, Dr. Peter Williams offered plenty of Biblical verse(s) for thought, evidence, reasoning, understated British humor and wit Thursday night in front of a near capacity crowd in the Colangelo College of Business.
Williams is CEO and principal of Tyndale House, a research center at the University of Cambridge in England devoted to studying and exploring evidence (language, culture, history, etc.) found within the Bible. Despite being jet-lagged from his trip, he delivered a breezy, humorous and relatable discussion that nearly all documented translations of the Bible are identical in concept and message, regardless of which version you read and from which geographical region of the world it is sourced.
While often referencing Wikipedia as a “pretty good source” of Biblical information and history, Williams laid out the similarities (and differences) between “faith” and “truth.” By using faith in our own and others’ conclusions (whether evidence-based or not), we deem these interpretations as “truth.”
Given that various forms of the Bible were written hundreds or even thousands of years apart, Williams believes the similarities in nearly every event or story – even if a few details of descriptions vary – makes it hard to believe any version of the Bible is wrong.
“We can’t necessarily prove something wasn’t changed – it’s very difficult to prove a negative – but there’s no reason to think it was (changed), and there are reasons to think it hasn’t changed,” he said.
“It’s like you’re on a date, and the woman asks where you’re from, and you say Minnesota, and they say, ‘Prove it.’”
Saying it’s perfectly normal that we are constantly trusting ourselves and each other, Williams believes the Bible and its various versions are no different. After all, he said, there are fewer original manuscripts of Plato than the New Testament, and we usually view modern text versions of Plato as an accurate interpretation.
Further, there are several cities around the Middle East and beyond – Jerusalem, Paris, Cairo, Athens, Rome and Mount Athos – in which Biblical manuscripts were found and dated. Each was a vastly different period of time and language than others, and yet each had nearly identical phrasing and fundamental stories.
“Not accepting the Word of God because of a word or phrase here and there is disingenuous because we humans often do it toward each other,” he said. “If I mumble and you can’t understand a word I’m saying, I’d hope that doesn’t change the message behind what I’m saying.”
His challenge was to read others’ worldviews, often from different periods of time. Williams acknowledged that his own faith in what he read was questioned in his early 20s, and he encouraged listeners to challenge themselves because “questions don’t take much time to ask but can take forever or longer to answer.”
The worldview approach to Christianity, belief vs. trust vs. faith, critical thinking and exploring these differences from someone halfway around the world distinguished him with the College of Theology and prompted the school to reach out.
“He brings an international perspective and worldview (and helps us) see where biases are that we might view differently (in America),” said Dr. Daniel Diffey, an assistant dean in the College of Theology and assistant professor of the Old Testament.
Others were excited by a new perspective about a not so obvious concept.
“I had some doubts about the topic, but it was great,” sophomore Tanya Figueroa said. “He was funny and used many basic concepts and ideas about trust and faith that, now that I’ve thought about it, make pretty good sense.”
Contact Mark Heller at (602) 639-7516 or mark.heller@gcu.edu
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Women's
AthleticsHighlighting Grand Canyon Women's Athletics in 2016
General
Josh Hauser
Highlighting Grand Canyon Women's Athletics in 2016
PLAYERS MENTIONED
Highlighting Grand Canyon Women's Athletics in 2016
PLAYERS MENTIONED
The 2016 calendar year brought with it more success for Grand Canyon University Athletics. Take a look back at some of the top memories in women's athletics over the course of the year.
BASKETBALL: Lopes win two thrillers in inaugural GCU Thanksgiving Classic
Grand Canyon came from 14 points down to defeat Denver in dramatic overtime fashion before withstanding a furious rally by Idaho the following day. The Lopes went 2-0 in the Classic, claiming co-champion honors. In the opener, Marina Laramie posted 31 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Lopes. In Game 2, Casey Rarrick led GCU with 20 points after hitting six three-pointers during the game, while Aniya Baker nearly recorded a triple double with 15 points, 12 rebounds and 8 steals.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL: GCU starts season 11-1 with 10-game win streak
Following a narrow loss to No. 5 Florida State, Grand Canyon reeled off 10 straight victories to begin the year 11-1. During the streak, the Lopes posted wins over Cal, South Carolina, New Mexico and San José State. Four of the 10 victories came in the form of 5-0 sweeps. The second half of the streak all came on the road. "This was a great experience for us being on the road and learning how to win in the different environments," head coach Kristen Rohr said.
CROSS COUNTRY: Women race to third place finish at Dave Murray Invite
Grand Canyon placed seven runners in the top 20 of the Dave Murray Invitational to take home third place at the Randolph Municipal Golf Course in Tucson, Ariz. Finishing behind only Arizona and Arizona State, the Lopes were led by freshman Elizabeth Balsan.
GOLF: Lopes host inaugural tournament at GCU Golf Course
With renovations complete at the new GCU Golf Course, the women's golf team hosted the course's first college tournament in late February. Entering the tournament's final day, GCU was just one stroke outside of first place, and Charatta Thongbai was in third place individually. The Lopes struggled on the final day of the tournament, but head coach Lauren Giesecke was pleased with GCU's standing heading into the final day.
SOCCER: Grand Canyon tops Utah Valley in double overtime
After dropping a thrilling meeting in Orem to Utah Valley, the Lopes returned the favor at GCU Stadium one week later. With only one shot a piece in the first overtime, the match proceeded to double overtime. After a Utah Valley foul, McKenzie Cook took the free kick with a beautiful cross to set up a header and game-winning goal for Madison Cox in the 107th minute. The goal was Cox's third on the season, tying her season total from a year ago.
SOFTBALL: GCU ends non-conference with sweep of LMU, enters RPI top 50
The Lopes swept Loyla Marymount in the final non-conference series of the season to improve to 25-10 on the season. With the combination of GCU's impressive record and a tough schedule, the Lopes were catapulted as high as No. 43 in the NCAA RPI rankings, the highest mark in program history. Brittany Medina was perfect at the plate going 5-for-5 with five RBIs and a two-run home run. In the circle, Taylor Nowlin, the eventual WAC Pitcher of the Year and GCU's all-time strikeout leader, picked up a pair of wins through 7.1 innings tossed with nine strikeouts.
SWIMMING & DIVING: Howard competes for Zambia in Rio Olympics
Jade Howard, following her junior campaign on the GCU Swimming & Diving team, was selected to represent Zambia in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil. Howard entered the 100 meter freestyle with a qualifying time of 58.74. On August 10, she swam the event in 58.47, a time that placed her fourth in her heat and set a new personal best and Zambian record. "The Olympics were such an incredible experience," Howard said. "I feel so honored and blessed to have been given the opportunity."
TENNIS: Lopes successful in first tournament at new GCU Tennis facility
The new GCU Tennis Facility, a part of the university's 10 in 2 initiative, debuted for competition on November 4. "I can't thank our administration staff enough and our executive team because they gave us the chance to play on GCU soil," head coach Gregory Prudhomme said. GCU's Lana Rinaldi and Celina Buhr came away with wins in their respective championship matches to claim singles titles. Doubles championships came from the duos of Tatum Prudhomme/Susan Baklini and Lana Rinaldi/Celina Buhr.
TRACK & FIELD: GCU wins both WAC titles, sends athlete to Olympics
Grand Canyon more than doubled its nearest competitor in team scoring to claim the WAC Indoor Track & Field title. In the outdoor season, the Lopes claimed their first WAC title since transitioning to the Division I ranks. Head coach Tom Flood was named the WAC Coach of the Year. Individually, Tarasue Barnett represented GCU and Jamaica at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio after taking first place in the Jamaica National Trials in the discus.
VOLLEYBALL: Nollan joins GCU, begins new era for Lopes Volleyball
Tim Nollan became the seventh head coach in GCU Women's Volleyball history when he was hired after spending time at USC. In addition to coaching duties at USC, Nollan also served as the recruiting coordinator and brought in the No. 1 recruiting class in the country in 2010 and the No. 2 class in 2013 and 2014 according to PrepVolleyball.com. "Tim Nollan is one of the most respected volleyball coaches in the country," Mike Vaught said.
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Men's
AthleticsHighlighting Grand Canyon Men's Athletics in 2016
General
Josh Hauser
Highlighting Grand Canyon Men's Athletics in 2016
PLAYERS MENTIONED
The 2016 calendar year brought with it more success for Grand Canyon University Athletics. Take a look back at some of the top memories in men's athletics over the course of the year.
BASEBALL: GCU goes 9-5 in home games entering WAC play
The Lopes opened the season with a split against eventual NCAA Tournament participant, Gonzaga, and defeated eventual WCC Champion Saint Mary's amid a solid start to the 2016 campaign. Headlining the home non-conference stretch included Jake Repavich throwing 7.0 innings of three-hit shutout baseball vs. Gonzaga, Krysthian Leal and Austin Bull combining to go 7-for-7 in a win over Saint Mary's, and a series win over Cal Poly with a rubber match walk-off from Thomas Lerouge.
BASKETBALL: Russell gains national respect with 42-point effort
Much was made of how a No. 16 team and respected program like Louisville never travels to a mid-major. Not only did that happen, DeWayne Russell hung 42 points on one of the top defenses in the nation as GCU stayed within 10 points of the Cardinals at GCU Arena. In the video clip heard 'round the GCU world, famed coach Rick Pitino called it "the best guard performance I've seen against one of my teams since I've been coaching." Pitino went on to say "it was the toughest crowd I've ever faced" as the GCU Havocs were officially put on the national map.
CROSS COUNTRY: Proctor races to runner-up finish at WAC Championships
Despite wet and sloppy conditions due to the rain in Seattle, Wash., Samuel Proctor was aggressive from the start en route to a second-place finish overall in the WAC Cross Country Championships. The junior from South Royalton, Vt., covered the men's 8,000m course in 25:06, just under three seconds behind Bryce Miller of UMKC.
GOLF: Grand Canyon claims two fall tournament team titles
The Lopes men's golf program had its best showing in a fall season since transitioning to the Division I ranks. GCU won the team titles for both the Bill Ross Intercollegiate and Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate tournaments, topping the likes of Kansas State, Wichita State and UTEP along with a handful of WAC competitors including New Mexico State, UMKC and Utah Valley. In the two tournaments where GCU claimed championships, Lopes golfers also won individual titles with Jake Chanen and Matt McClung, respectively.
SOCCER: Lopes open new stadium with victory in front of 6,402
With the largest crowd ever -- by far -- to watch a college soccer game in Arizona, not a single one left disappointed as GCU flew past UCF 4-2. It was the christening of the beautiful new GCU Stadium, and Damian German, who grew up just down the street from the GCU campus, scored the first goal in the stadium's history. "I think it's an amazing feeling," German said. "Walking out of the tunnel has to be one of the greatest feelings I've had." Head coach Schellas Hyndman, in his second season at GCU, said, "It's a historic game. The first game in this beautiful stadium. I'm really proud of our guys, playing as well as they did and the efforts they gave."
SWIMMING & DIVING: GCU rises to top 10 mid-major swimming program
With a third-place finish at the WAC Championships in Houston, Texas, the men's program finished the season as the No. 9 ranked Division I mid-major team according to CollegeSwimming.com and the No. 39 team in the country. Both marks were steady improvements over a year ago when they finished No. 11 and 49 respectively. Had the Lopes been eligible for postseason competition, they would've qualified three individuals and one relay team.
TENNIS: Grand Canyon finishes in three-team tie for WAC title
The Lopes cruised through the 2016 spring tennis season with conference victories over UTRGV, New Mexico State, Chicago State and Seattle U before falling to UMKC in the final match of the conference season. With a 4-1 WAC record, the Lopes finished as WAC Champions, sharing the honor with New Mexico State and UMKC. Greg Prudhomme was named WAC Coach of the Year for his efforts leading the Lopes.
TRACK & FIELD: GCU wins both indoor and outdoor WAC titles
After beginning Division I participation with back-to-back runner-up finishes in the WAC Indoor Track & Field Championships, the third time was the charm for the Lopes who outscored the nearest competitor by nearly 50 points to claim the title. Once things shifted to outdoor season, Grand Canyon reiterated its dominance by winning the outdoor title also. "Both championships were total team efforts," Flood said. "Myself and my coaching staff couldn't be more proud of all their outstanding performances."
VOLLEYBALL: Lopes split matchups with three top-15 opponents
Grand Canyon finished the 2016 campaign under first-year head coach Matt Werle with the best record in program history. Headlining GCU's 17 wins on the season were momentous victories over three top-15 teams, including the defending national champion Loyola-Chicago and runner-up Lewis. In the second game at No. 13 Lewis, GCU recorded a 3-0 sweep for the first win over Lewis in school history. Later in the year, Grand Canyon edged out five-set victories over No. 8 Ball State and No. 12 Loyola-Chicago in Antelope Gym.
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Baseball
AlumniBaseball announces details of annual Alumni Game
Baseball
Highlighting Grand Canyon Men's Athletics in 2016
PLAYERS MENTIONED
The 2016 calendar year brought with it more success for Grand Canyon University Athletics. Take a look back at some of the top memories in men's athletics over the course of the year.
BASEBALL: GCU goes 9-5 in home games entering WAC play
The Lopes opened the season with a split against eventual NCAA Tournament participant, Gonzaga, and defeated eventual WCC Champion Saint Mary's amid a solid start to the 2016 campaign. Headlining the home non-conference stretch included Jake Repavich throwing 7.0 innings of three-hit shutout baseball vs. Gonzaga, Krysthian Leal and Austin Bull combining to go 7-for-7 in a win over Saint Mary's, and a series win over Cal Poly with a rubber match walk-off from Thomas Lerouge.
BASKETBALL: Russell gains national respect with 42-point effort
Much was made of how a No. 16 team and respected program like Louisville never travels to a mid-major. Not only did that happen, DeWayne Russell hung 42 points on one of the top defenses in the nation as GCU stayed within 10 points of the Cardinals at GCU Arena. In the video clip heard 'round the GCU world, famed coach Rick Pitino called it "the best guard performance I've seen against one of my teams since I've been coaching." Pitino went on to say "it was the toughest crowd I've ever faced" as the GCU Havocs were officially put on the national map.
CROSS COUNTRY: Proctor races to runner-up finish at WAC Championships
Despite wet and sloppy conditions due to the rain in Seattle, Wash., Samuel Proctor was aggressive from the start en route to a second-place finish overall in the WAC Cross Country Championships. The junior from South Royalton, Vt., covered the men's 8,000m course in 25:06, just under three seconds behind Bryce Miller of UMKC.
GOLF: Grand Canyon claims two fall tournament team titles
The Lopes men's golf program had its best showing in a fall season since transitioning to the Division I ranks. GCU won the team titles for both the Bill Ross Intercollegiate and Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate tournaments, topping the likes of Kansas State, Wichita State and UTEP along with a handful of WAC competitors including New Mexico State, UMKC and Utah Valley. In the two tournaments where GCU claimed championships, Lopes golfers also won individual titles with Jake Chanen and Matt McClung, respectively.
SOCCER: Lopes open new stadium with victory in front of 6,402
With the largest crowd ever -- by far -- to watch a college soccer game in Arizona, not a single one left disappointed as GCU flew past UCF 4-2. It was the christening of the beautiful new GCU Stadium, and Damian German, who grew up just down the street from the GCU campus, scored the first goal in the stadium's history. "I think it's an amazing feeling," German said. "Walking out of the tunnel has to be one of the greatest feelings I've had." Head coach Schellas Hyndman, in his second season at GCU, said, "It's a historic game. The first game in this beautiful stadium. I'm really proud of our guys, playing as well as they did and the efforts they gave."
SWIMMING & DIVING: GCU rises to top 10 mid-major swimming program
With a third-place finish at the WAC Championships in Houston, Texas, the men's program finished the season as the No. 9 ranked Division I mid-major team according to CollegeSwimming.com and the No. 39 team in the country. Both marks were steady improvements over a year ago when they finished No. 11 and 49 respectively. Had the Lopes been eligible for postseason competition, they would've qualified three individuals and one relay team.
TENNIS: Grand Canyon finishes in three-team tie for WAC title
The Lopes cruised through the 2016 spring tennis season with conference victories over UTRGV, New Mexico State, Chicago State and Seattle U before falling to UMKC in the final match of the conference season. With a 4-1 WAC record, the Lopes finished as WAC Champions, sharing the honor with New Mexico State and UMKC. Greg Prudhomme was named WAC Coach of the Year for his efforts leading the Lopes.
TRACK & FIELD: GCU wins both indoor and outdoor WAC titles
After beginning Division I participation with back-to-back runner-up finishes in the WAC Indoor Track & Field Championships, the third time was the charm for the Lopes who outscored the nearest competitor by nearly 50 points to claim the title. Once things shifted to outdoor season, Grand Canyon reiterated its dominance by winning the outdoor title also. "Both championships were total team efforts," Flood said. "Myself and my coaching staff couldn't be more proud of all their outstanding performances."
VOLLEYBALL: Lopes split matchups with three top-15 opponents
Grand Canyon finished the 2016 campaign under first-year head coach Matt Werle with the best record in program history. Headlining GCU's 17 wins on the season were momentous victories over three top-15 teams, including the defending national champion Loyola-Chicago and runner-up Lewis. In the second game at No. 13 Lewis, GCU recorded a 3-0 sweep for the first win over Lewis in school history. Later in the year, Grand Canyon edged out five-set victories over No. 8 Ball State and No. 12 Loyola-Chicago in Antelope Gym.
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Baseball
AlumniBaseball announces details of annual Alumni Game
Baseball
Josh Hauser
Baseball announces details of annual Alumni GameThe Grand Canyon baseball program has released the scheduling details of its Annual Alumni Game, played at Brazell Stadium six days before the 2017 season officially gets underway. This year's Alumni Game will be held on Saturday, Feb. 11 at Brazell Stadium with a first pitch set for 1 p.m.
"This day is about the alumni more than anything else," head coach Andy Stankiewicz said. "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 always great to see the guys again."
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.
"It's pretty fun. It's definitely a fun time," 2015 graduate David Walker said following last year's Alumni Game. "It's good to be out here with other guys as well, meet some new people."
The game will be followed by a BBQ for alumni and their family members.
For more details and to RSVP:
Contact Sam Arcalas at samuel.arcalas@gcu.edu or by phone at (714) 745-6583.
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Athletics in
AcademicsLopes lead in Academic All-WAC honorees
General
Baseball announces details of annual Alumni GameThe Grand Canyon baseball program has released the scheduling details of its Annual Alumni Game, played at Brazell Stadium six days before the 2017 season officially gets underway. This year's Alumni Game will be held on Saturday, Feb. 11 at Brazell Stadium with a first pitch set for 1 p.m.
"This day is about the alumni more than anything else," head coach Andy Stankiewicz said. "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 always great to see the guys again."
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.
"It's pretty fun. It's definitely a fun time," 2015 graduate David Walker said following last year's Alumni Game. "It's good to be out here with other guys as well, meet some new people."
The game will be followed by a BBQ for alumni and their family members.
For more details and to RSVP:
Contact Sam Arcalas at samuel.arcalas@gcu.edu or by phone at (714) 745-6583.
Read More
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Athletics in
AcademicsLopes lead in Academic All-WAC honorees
General
Lisa Amsler
Lopes lead in Academic All-WAC honorees
PLAYERS MENTIONED
PHOENIX -- The Grand Canyon student-athletes are achieving greatness both on and off the field as they lead the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in Academic All-WAC selections for the second semester in a row.
The WAC has released the list of of the 2016 Fall Academic All-WAC honorees for men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer and women's volleyball with GCU topping the list at 51 student-athletes.
"We are committed to the total development of our student-athletes and will continue to develop our programming, resources, and support services to provide the best possible student-athlete experience," said Senior Associate AD Jason Linders. "It definitely takes a village to support our student-athletes, but it's fulfilling to see hard work and commitment by the student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and our student-athlete development team recognized by the WAC with these awards!"
A total of 248 honorees were named to the list. To be eligible for the honor, a student-athlete must have completed at least one academic year, have at least a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average and have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's contests.
Women's soccer tallied 16 of the Lopes' 51 honorees which is the highest number of any of the Fall sports. The complete list of Academic All-WAC student-athletes is below:
Men's Cross CountryGage Hale, Jr.
Jonny Holsten, So.
Samuel Proctor, Jr.
Jose Retana, Sr.
Sammy Schilling, So.
Brendan Wagler, So.
Women's Cross CountryTaylor Bond, Sr.
Natalie Cardwell, Sr.
Anna Henry, Sr.
Bailie Jones, Jr.
Mariah Montoya, Jr.
Lacey Peterson, Sr.
Kellie Stroupe, Jr.
Emily Wilkinson, Sr.
Men's SoccerAndy Alanis, So.
Ben Barkoff, Sr.
Kendyl Day, Sr.
Wedner Delmonte, Jr.
Damian German, So.
Alexandros Halis, Sr.
Niki Jackson, Jr.
Charles Keating, Jr.
Aidan McGlothan, Jr.
Jaime Olabarria, Sr.
Alejandro Radilla, So.
Jose Rodriguez Nieblas, Sr.
Jordan Slack, Sr.
Women's SoccerMilla Benedetti, Jr.
Emma Cain, Jr.
McKenzie Cook, So.
Shannon Costello, Sr.
Madison Cox, Jr.
Blakely Fraasch, Jr.
Brylee Hawkins, Jr.
Joanna Lagunas, Sr.
Taylor Layton, Sr.
Rachel Mina, Jr.
Maria Monterroso, Sr.
Christian Recinos, Sr.
Alexis Roberts, Sr.
Kelsey Smith, Jr.
Jessica Valadez, Sr.
Kathryn Yancone, Sr.
Women's VolleyballGracie Dimond, Sr.
Hannah Hicks, Jr.
Chloe Jenkins, Sr.
Katrice Pond, So.
Randahl Powers, Jr.
Jordan Sanchez, Jr.
Natalie Tardy, Jr.
Sara Westerman, Sr.
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ATTENTION ALL 2011, 2013 and 2016 GCU ALUMNI:
In an effort to continuously improve the quality and value of our degree programs, GCU is conducting an alumni survey of 2011, 2013 and 2016 graduates. These alumni classes should have received the survey link in a separate email. If you have not already, please complete the survey and know that your voice counts!
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."(Ephesians 4:2)
Grand Canyon University
Lopes lead in Academic All-WAC honorees
PLAYERS MENTIONED
PHOENIX -- The Grand Canyon student-athletes are achieving greatness both on and off the field as they lead the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in Academic All-WAC selections for the second semester in a row.
The WAC has released the list of of the 2016 Fall Academic All-WAC honorees for men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer and women's volleyball with GCU topping the list at 51 student-athletes.
"We are committed to the total development of our student-athletes and will continue to develop our programming, resources, and support services to provide the best possible student-athlete experience," said Senior Associate AD Jason Linders. "It definitely takes a village to support our student-athletes, but it's fulfilling to see hard work and commitment by the student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and our student-athlete development team recognized by the WAC with these awards!"
A total of 248 honorees were named to the list. To be eligible for the honor, a student-athlete must have completed at least one academic year, have at least a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average and have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's contests.
Women's soccer tallied 16 of the Lopes' 51 honorees which is the highest number of any of the Fall sports. The complete list of Academic All-WAC student-athletes is below:
Men's Cross CountryGage Hale, Jr.
Jonny Holsten, So.
Samuel Proctor, Jr.
Jose Retana, Sr.
Sammy Schilling, So.
Brendan Wagler, So.
Women's Cross CountryTaylor Bond, Sr.
Natalie Cardwell, Sr.
Anna Henry, Sr.
Bailie Jones, Jr.
Mariah Montoya, Jr.
Lacey Peterson, Sr.
Kellie Stroupe, Jr.
Emily Wilkinson, Sr.
Men's SoccerAndy Alanis, So.
Ben Barkoff, Sr.
Kendyl Day, Sr.
Wedner Delmonte, Jr.
Damian German, So.
Alexandros Halis, Sr.
Niki Jackson, Jr.
Charles Keating, Jr.
Aidan McGlothan, Jr.
Jaime Olabarria, Sr.
Alejandro Radilla, So.
Jose Rodriguez Nieblas, Sr.
Jordan Slack, Sr.
Women's SoccerMilla Benedetti, Jr.
Emma Cain, Jr.
McKenzie Cook, So.
Shannon Costello, Sr.
Madison Cox, Jr.
Blakely Fraasch, Jr.
Brylee Hawkins, Jr.
Joanna Lagunas, Sr.
Taylor Layton, Sr.
Rachel Mina, Jr.
Maria Monterroso, Sr.
Christian Recinos, Sr.
Alexis Roberts, Sr.
Kelsey Smith, Jr.
Jessica Valadez, Sr.
Kathryn Yancone, Sr.
Women's VolleyballGracie Dimond, Sr.
Hannah Hicks, Jr.
Chloe Jenkins, Sr.
Katrice Pond, So.
Randahl Powers, Jr.
Jordan Sanchez, Jr.
Natalie Tardy, Jr.
Sara Westerman, Sr.
Read More
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ATTENTION ALL 2011, 2013 and 2016 GCU ALUMNI:
In an effort to continuously improve the quality and value of our degree programs, GCU is conducting an alumni survey of 2011, 2013 and 2016 graduates. These alumni classes should have received the survey link in a separate email. If you have not already, please complete the survey and know that your voice counts!
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."(Ephesians 4:2)
Grand Canyon University
3300 West Camelback Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85017, United States.
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