OCTOBER 2017 
Lopes on the Road returns for a third consecutive year! Check out our full list of away games and join us at the one nearest you!
Hosted by the Office of Alumni Relations
Once a Lope, you're a Lope for life! Lopes on the Road returns for its third season with more opportunities for alumni, GCU students, faculty and fans to cheer GCU to victory on the road. Each registered attendee will receive a free ticket, GCU swag, and a concessions voucher or pregame reception! If you are interested in attending, please RSVP below.
For most games, additional details will be available approximately four weeks before each game-day, and you will also receive an email. Please check back frequently for updates on the game in your area, including those with multiple dates listed.
Contact the Office of Alumni Relations
alumni@gcu.edu | (602) 639-6415
alumni@gcu.edu | (602) 639-6415
Schedule
Date
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Sport
|
Opponent
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Location
|
Time
| ||
Oct. 8, 2017
|
Men's Soccer
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San Jose State
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San Jose, CA
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3 pm
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Oct. 22, 2017
|
Men's Soccer
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Air Force Academy
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Colorado Springs, CO
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3 pm
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Dec. 10, 2017
|
Women’s Basketball
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University of Washington
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Seattle, WA
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TBD
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Dec. 13, 2017
|
Men's Basketball
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Boise State University
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Boise, ID
|
7 pm
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Dec. 14, 2017
|
Women’s Basketball
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Northern Arizona University
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Flagstaff, AZ
|
TBD
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Dec. 27, 2017
|
Men’s Basketball
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Morgan State
|
Las Vegas, NV
|
7 pm
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Jan. 6, 2018
|
Men’s Basketball
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Seattle U
|
Seattle, WA
|
TBD
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Jan. 18, 2018
|
Men's Basketball
|
Chicago State University
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Chicago, IL
|
6 pm
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Jan. 20, 2018
|
Men’s Basketball
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University of Missouri Kansas City
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Kansas City, MO
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TBD
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Feb. 10, 2018
|
Men's Basketball
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New Mexico State University
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Las Cruces, NM
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TBD
| ||
Feb. 24, 2018
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Baseball
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University of San Diego
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San Diego, CA
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TBD
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March 8-10, 2018*
|
Men's Basketball
|
WAC Championship
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Las Vegas, NV
|
TBD
| ||
March 17, 2018
|
Baseball
|
CSU Fullerton
|
Fullerton, CA
|
TBD
| ||
*Tickets are not included for WAC tournament. More information about tickets will be released at a later date. Your RSVP is for pre-game festivities only.
Former GCU swim star's business feats reach uncharted waters
Ivan Nechunaev was a six-time NCAA All-American during his swimming career at Grand Canyon University, and now he’s the first GCU graduate to be accepted into The Wharton School. by Rick Vacek, GCU News Bureau
Ivan Nechunaev tended to be the best during his time at Grand Canyon University, and now he’s first in another way – but his heart is with people who don’t have many victories in life.
The former NCAA Division II swimming champion recently became the first GCU graduate ever to be accepted into The Wharton School, the prestigious business school of the University of Pennsylvania.
That’s big news. But even more significant is what Nechunaev expects of himself and what he plans to do with this opportunity. His bottom line is to have a positive social impact in places, such as Africa, that need help.
Ivan Nechunaev“It means a higher responsibility that I have and will have for my actions down the road, and hopefully through those actions I can help improve our world on a global scale,” he wrote in an interview conducted via email.
“This also means that through the way I act, study and behave I am representing not just myself, but the whole GCU and the future applicants from GCU that are to come.”
After getting his bachelor’s degree in Finance and Economics from GCU in 2012 and then his master’s in Accounting in 2014, Nechunaev was hired by J.P. Morgan in London. How tough is that hiring gauntlet? He had 10 interviews and was given a business case to solve.
He worked there for a year and a half on the company’s ultra-high net-worth team but didn’t feel enriched by dealing with some of the world’s wealthiest people. So he leaped to LeapFrog Investments, which helps businesses in Africa and Asia, and found his niche.
“The company’s goal,” he said, “is not only to make profits for the investors but also to help local African and Asian communities rise toward middle class through getting access to the most basic financial tools (life insurance, bank savings) for the first time in their lives.
“It may seem strange in the developed world, but most of the people in the poorest regions of the world have never been able to afford life insurance, or store money safely, or send money to their relatives living in another region. Without access to those very basic services, local communities are at risk to remain in poverty for too long.”
He called it “Capitalism 2.0” and said he believes it ultimately will replace business based on greed. Ironically, LeapFrog’s motto is “Profit with Purpose.”
“This obviously resonates well with GCU’s own ‘Find your Purpose,’ and I have thought about it many times,” he said. “I am good at finance, and applying my financial skills toward social good without any sacrifice of profit appears to be the perfect fit.”
65 degrees below zero
Nechunaev also had his share of hardships while growing up in Tomsk, Russia, deep in the heart of Siberia and far closer to Mongolia than Moscow. There, he sometimes watched the thermometer plunge to minus-65 degrees Fahrenheit, and his upbringing was in no way similar to the typical Ivy League background.
But he has found Wharton to be nothing like that stereotype and instead is strong in its social-impact emphasis and “very much down-to-earth, friendly, inclusive and diverse, which reminded me of the atmosphere at GCU and which was highly important to me, given that I do not come from a privileged background.”
Equally important to him is thanking people for helping him get to where he is.
“Getting into Wharton once again reminded me of all the sacrifices my parents have made and all the genuine support I have received throughout the years from my family, friends, coaches, professors, mentors and colleagues,” he said.
Nechunaev was an NCAA Elite 90 Award winner, a six-time All-American at the 2013 NCAA Division II Championships and was on the winning 400-meter medley relay that still holds the school record.
He called the team “one large family with Steve Schaffer as our father. I cannot express enough how much gratitude I have for Coach Schaffer for bringing me to GCU and being a great coach, mentor and friend.
“He managed to build a highly competitive team in a very short period of time, but what is more important is the team atmosphere. Lifelong friendships were made, we had lots of fun and worked hard together – all as one.”
Thanks to CCOB
He similarly is grateful to the Colangelo College of Business faculty, particularly Dr. Ernie Scarbrough (“His experience and personal and professional stature remind me of those of a Japanese sensei master”) and Tim Kelley (“He is a fantastic resource for all aspiring entrepreneurs and those interested in international development”).
Kelley’s response: “He was one of my best students ever.”
“I always liked to talk to the professors, and not necessarily about business issues but about life in general,” Nechunaev said. “In fact, I believe that through having such conversations with GCU professors I was able to grow not only personally but also professionally.”
He’d like to someday teach an investment class at GCU, but for now he’s watching from afar and liking what he sees.
“When I started at GCU in 2010, the campus had about a thousand students and had the vibe of a family-owned restaurant,” he said. “Now it might be very different, but it seems that the school was able to carry its spirit through these years.
“It is fascinating how much the school has grown under the leadership of Brian Mueller, and I am sure the best is yet to come. I am always following the good GCU does.”
You can be sure people at GCU will be following the good he does as well. His competitive swimming days are over, but now he’s winning a far more important race.
Contact Rick Vacek at (602) 639-8203 or rick.vacek@gcu.edu.
>> READ MORE
Alumni in GCU Magazine Catch the latest and greatest stories from the university and alumni
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Career IMPACT Center Starting a new job or role? Follow the four P's of workplace success bBy Aysha Bell, GCU Career Services
CONGRATULATIONS! You might have just graduated from Grand Canyon University or maybe you’ve been out of school for a little while and you have now landed your first, real-world position. What a wonderful feeling! It is tempting to relax, put your feet up and feel as if you have “arrived.” However, the work has actually just begun, and GCU Career Services wants to help you be successful with the Four P’s of being successful at work: preparation, professionalism, politics and performance.
PREPARATION: Feeling anxious about your new position is normal. To overcome anxiety, review your resume and the job description again by focusing on your past accomplishments and visualizing how you will utilize your previous experience in your new career!
Practice your elevator speech and handshake. You will meet numerous new colleagues, and it is important to make a strong first impression.
Know the logistics! Some key items to know are the address of the company, where to park (and if you need to pay to park), dress code, and name and phone number of the person and/or department to which you report. Also, know whether you need to bring a lunch or if there is a cafeteria onsite.
PROFESSIONALISM: You might have a probationary period in which your conduct may be closely monitored for anywhere from 90 days to one year. Pay attention to:
- Attendance
- Dress code
- Work habits
- Cellphone usage (some companies have very strict cellphone policies)
Listen to your manager or supervisor and follow their advice. They may serve as a mentor for you – someone who can help you accomplish your goals in the company.
Identify the “movers and shakers,” the individuals who excel in the company and have done well. Approach, get acquainted with and listen to any advice they give you.
Avoid negative habits such as putting down other coworkers, trying to do the least amount possible and not being a team player. Do your best every day to be a productive employee who strongly supports the team. A great phrase to remember is, “Be on your way up, not on your way out.”
PERFORMANCE: You were hired to do a job. Therefore, make sure you understand the requirements of your position. Your performance will be evaluated at some point.
Meet with your manager and discuss your progress. Identify any areas of opportunity for you to become even better at your job.
Accept feedback graciously and learn from your mistakes.
Set measureable goals to improve performance.
Participate in learning and development opportunities. Some classes at work may be worth college credit!Remember, GCU Career Services is here for you. Visit www.gcu.edu/careerservicesto utilize any of our online tools to identify your career path, build your resume, research career options or apply to current job postings!
>> READ MORE
GCU 'Angels'
GCU 'angels' help family in car accident by Lana Sweeten-Shults
Jennifer Florez, who was in a car accident with her family Labor Day weekend, found help from two GCU nursing students. Her mom, Sandra, is a GCU graduate.
Jennifer Florez did what countless people do on Labor Day weekend.
She loaded up the suitcases, the puppy and her three children – 17-year-old Alexis, 15-year-old Jayk and 14-year-old Aberan, all students at Peoria High School. They hit the road for California for the long weekend to visit her children’s grandparents.
GCU 'angels' help family in car accident by Lana Sweeten-Shults
Jennifer Florez, who was in a car accident with her family Labor Day weekend, found help from two GCU nursing students. Her mom, Sandra, is a GCU graduate.
Jennifer Florez did what countless people do on Labor Day weekend.
She loaded up the suitcases, the puppy and her three children – 17-year-old Alexis, 15-year-old Jayk and 14-year-old Aberan, all students at Peoria High School. They hit the road for California for the long weekend to visit her children’s grandparents.
Jennifer Florez was traveling to California Sept. 1 with her children, Aberan, Alexis and Jayk, when they were in a rollover accident. The first people Jennifer remembers seeing were two GCU nursing students, Carrie Dean and Riley Arnold.“We were going to visit their grandpa for his birthday. He was really sick,” Jennifer said.
The family hit the road Sept. 1 – the same path along Interstate 10 she has traveled countless times, over 20 years, and one she has known, like a faithful friend.
“But something didn’t feel right,” said Jennifer.
Jennifer checked the tires – everything seemed OK – and then put the puppy into its kennel.
“We had only been driving for an hour and a half. We had three hours to go … then the back tire blew out. We spun and just started rolling. It (the SUV) stopped on all four tires. … It wasn’t even a hard landing. It was so soft.”
That’s when “the sound turned back on,” Jennifer said, remembering the accident, in Quartzite, as something happening in silence.
In slow motion.
An out-of-body experience.
She also remembers the frenzy afterward. All the people that had gathered around. The panic. The chatter. The sounds. The worry.
“The first people that really caught my eye were two girls. They were young. They had long, blonde hair and purple scrubs. … They said ‘GCU Nursing.’ They were really good. They kept everyone calm. They stayed there with us until fire and police got there.”
It was odd, she said, that, “In this sea (of people), there were a lot of men. But all I saw was these girls.”
Among the chaos, Jennifer said: “I didn’t even get their names.”
GCU nursing students Carrie Dean, left, and Riley Arnold were on their way home to California on Labor Day weekend when they saw a rollover accident and stopped to help.As it turns out, Jennifer’s mother, Sandra Florez, works as an oncology resource nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix and graduated from Grand Canyon University. “So it kind of came full circle for us,” Jennifer said of that connection to GCU.
So Sandra wrote a letter to GCU, calling the two students “angels,” that ended up in the hands of Dr. Lisa Smith, Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions. Smith, in turn, found the two students – they are Carrie Deanand Riley Arnold, both Level 4 nursing students set to graduate in December.
“We’re actually from California. … We were just driving home, to go back to California, on the weekend when we saw this big dust cloud,” Dean said. “I thought, ‘Oh my God!’ … We didn’t even know what we were going to run up to.”
Arnold said, “I knew that with rollovers … I knew there was a potential they could have hit their heads. … We were really concerned because there were no airbags.”
She added, “The mom was bleeding a little bit on her head,” but otherwise, everyone seemed OK. They waited with the family until emergency personnel arrived.
By chance, Dean and Arnold will be heading to St. Joseph’s, the same hospital where Jennifer’s mom works, for one of their clinicals this semester. When they get to St. Joseph’s, the first thing they want to do is contact Sandra.
“I’ve got chills right now,” Arnold said of the connection.
“I’m just happy we were there, in the right place, and glad everything turned out OK, and thank you for the sweet letter,” Dean said.
The family, who escaped the ordeal with minor injuries, just hopes to be able to thank the students who helped them.
Seeing those purple scrubs, and those girls with the long blonde hair, Jennifer said, “I felt everything would be OK.
“We’ve all grown up in the church. We have faith in God. … He played His hand in everything. … I thought, ‘If my mom’s not here, they’re here,’” Jennifer said, trying to hold back her emotions.
Sandra said, “The nursing students made sure they were all OK and did not let them out of the car until the paramedics got there. … It was really good to hear her say those were the first people she saw.”
In her letter, Sandra wrote, “I believe that God has angels camped around us, and on that day, He happened to send two GCU nursing students to help my child and grandchildren at what could have been a very bad situation. My children are all well, a bit banged up, but I know that my God was in control.”Contact Lana Sweeten-Shults at (602) 639-7901 or lana.sweeten-shults@gcu.edu
.>> READ MORE
Dan Majerle is undoubtedly a Hall of Famer.
His alma mater, his native state, the Mid-American Conference and the Phoenix Suns already had said so with past Hall of Fame inductions, but the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame further affirmed Majerle's legacy Wednesday.
Majerle will become the first Lopes coach to be an Arizona Sports Hall of Fame member and the only member with a GCU affiliation other than Lopes baseball great Tim Salmon. The notice came near his birthday for a humbling gift to be part of a class featuring Arizona Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill, columnist and Arizona State sports journalism professor Paola Boivin, Arizona Coyotes 21-year playing legend Shane Doan and ASU All-American wrestler Anthony Robles.
"It's a great group, so I'm very honored," Majerle said. "I'm now in the Michigan and Arizona hall of fames. So it means I'm getting old. I'm very fortunate to be drafted here and move here, and I fell in love with Phoenix and Arizona. It's a great honor. I love this place and this state."
Majerle was drafted No. 14 overall by the Phoenix Suns in 1988, when he was an Olympian out of Central Michigan. He played eight of his 14 seasons for Phoenix and was part of Dream Team II in 1994. He earned three All-Star Game selections and went on to be a broadcaster and assistant coach for the Suns, who inducted him into their Ring of Honor.
Majerle now has put another significant impact on the Arizona sports scene by leading the men's basketball program's first shot at Division I competition, compiling 81 wins over his first four seasons at the helm.
"I fell in love with the Suns," Majerle said. "The fans took to me. I played for some great teams and was able to be a broadcaster and coach and have restaurants (Majerle's Sports Grills). Then to move 20 minutes away and be a part of this great university as a coach, I'm very fortunate to be able to do the things that I've been able to do and to get the support that I've had from a lot of people in this state."
Majerle and Doan are the pro athlete representatives in the class and share a similar superstar status in Arizona.
"He's a Valley icon for what he's been able to do and a great guy," Majerle said. "To be in the same group as him says a lot because I have a lot of respect for what he's done, what he has meant to Phoenix and Arizona and what type of person he is."
Majerle enters a Sports Hall of Fame, founded in 1957, that also includes Jerry Colangelo, the architect of the Phoenix sports scene who has become a major part of GCU with a special affinity for the Colangelo College of Business and Majerle's program. The Jerry Colangelo Museum will open on campus Sept. 21.
The Arizona Sports Hall of Fame includes several of Majerle's Suns colleagues -- Colangelo, Alvan Adams, Dick Van Arsdale, Charles Barkley, coach Cotton Fitzsimmons and broadcaster Al McCoy.
"You don't think about that stuff," Majerle said. "You just do your job and those kind of honors just come out of nowhere. Once you sit down and think about it or you get a call for something like that, it puts it in perspective. You're very grateful. It doesn't happen unless you're surrounded by great people who helped you. It's just a testament to everyone around you. It's a great honor."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.>> READ MORE
His alma mater, his native state, the Mid-American Conference and the Phoenix Suns already had said so with past Hall of Fame inductions, but the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame further affirmed Majerle's legacy Wednesday.
Majerle will become the first Lopes coach to be an Arizona Sports Hall of Fame member and the only member with a GCU affiliation other than Lopes baseball great Tim Salmon. The notice came near his birthday for a humbling gift to be part of a class featuring Arizona Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill, columnist and Arizona State sports journalism professor Paola Boivin, Arizona Coyotes 21-year playing legend Shane Doan and ASU All-American wrestler Anthony Robles.
"It's a great group, so I'm very honored," Majerle said. "I'm now in the Michigan and Arizona hall of fames. So it means I'm getting old. I'm very fortunate to be drafted here and move here, and I fell in love with Phoenix and Arizona. It's a great honor. I love this place and this state."
Majerle was drafted No. 14 overall by the Phoenix Suns in 1988, when he was an Olympian out of Central Michigan. He played eight of his 14 seasons for Phoenix and was part of Dream Team II in 1994. He earned three All-Star Game selections and went on to be a broadcaster and assistant coach for the Suns, who inducted him into their Ring of Honor.
Majerle now has put another significant impact on the Arizona sports scene by leading the men's basketball program's first shot at Division I competition, compiling 81 wins over his first four seasons at the helm.
"I fell in love with the Suns," Majerle said. "The fans took to me. I played for some great teams and was able to be a broadcaster and coach and have restaurants (Majerle's Sports Grills). Then to move 20 minutes away and be a part of this great university as a coach, I'm very fortunate to be able to do the things that I've been able to do and to get the support that I've had from a lot of people in this state."
Majerle and Doan are the pro athlete representatives in the class and share a similar superstar status in Arizona.
"He's a Valley icon for what he's been able to do and a great guy," Majerle said. "To be in the same group as him says a lot because I have a lot of respect for what he's done, what he has meant to Phoenix and Arizona and what type of person he is."
Majerle enters a Sports Hall of Fame, founded in 1957, that also includes Jerry Colangelo, the architect of the Phoenix sports scene who has become a major part of GCU with a special affinity for the Colangelo College of Business and Majerle's program. The Jerry Colangelo Museum will open on campus Sept. 21.
The Arizona Sports Hall of Fame includes several of Majerle's Suns colleagues -- Colangelo, Alvan Adams, Dick Van Arsdale, Charles Barkley, coach Cotton Fitzsimmons and broadcaster Al McCoy.
"You don't think about that stuff," Majerle said. "You just do your job and those kind of honors just come out of nowhere. Once you sit down and think about it or you get a call for something like that, it puts it in perspective. You're very grateful. It doesn't happen unless you're surrounded by great people who helped you. It's just a testament to everyone around you. It's a great honor."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.>> READ MORE
College Corner Faculty book aims to inspire student teachers by Jeannette Cruz, GCU News Bureau
As student teachers at Grand Canyon University prepare their classrooms for the new year, the College of Education also is preparing them with insightful and spiritual reflections about teaching that aim to encourage and inspire them.
Dr. Marjaneh Gilpatrick, Executive Director of Educational Outreach
The 48-page book, which includes passages on dealing with conflict, having students with different behaviors and acknowledging the isolation that can creep into a teacher’s life, is called “Living Your Purpose: A Devotional for Educators” and brings together an inspiring array of true-to-life stories and Bible verses to provide teachers with daily spiritual nourishment. Each one begins with a relevant Scripture passage, followed by a story and experience, and concludes with a reflection question.
The idea, was to continue creating “learners, leaders and servants,” said Dr. Marjaneh Gilpatrick, Executive Director of Educational Outreach.“I think this collaboration of administrators, staff, full-time faculty and alumni models what we expect all of our future graduates and students to be able to do, which is to be unified and to create a product that impacts people’s lives,” she said.
In “Treat All Students with Respect,” Gilpatrick reminds teachers to carefully monitor their behavior and interactions with all students.
Speaking of a previous experience with a student with challenging behavior, Gilpatrick writes: “I treated her with all the fruits of the Spirit I could – love, patience, kindness and gentleness. When that occurred, Melissa totally transformed her approach in my classroom.”“Students come with all kinds of experiences to classrooms,” Gilpatrick said, “so being able to read about veteran or seasoned teachers who have gone through various experiences will help these student teachers realize that they can get through teaching. This is a blueprint on how to make it work so that they can self-advocate and make a difference in someone else’s life.”
She added, “I believe that kids can learn if you are kind to them and if you respect them. They will rise to the challenge no matter where they are coming from or what their background is, as long as you validate them. I would hope that students would not have challenging experiences, but I think my story shows that through resilience and perseverance there will ultimately be winning moments.”
In “Comprehensible Input Matters,” Dr. Lisa Bernier refers to the biblical passage of Nehemiah, in which Nehemia and other Israelites work to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, immediately followed by Ezra’s reading of the law.
Dr. Lisa Bernier“The Bible says they got men, women, children and anyone who could understand and they sat them in groups of 50,” said Bernier. “Ezra assigned people to be teachers of these small groups to make sure they understood what God’s word said because it was that important to God. It wasn’t enough to just say it once. As teachers, we get students from all nations and backgrounds, and it is important that what we are teaching is comprehensible to them.”
She added, “I hope our students see that God is in everything and that He has called them out to be teachers. He is the ultimate teacher, and so His word is applicable to them as teachers.”
In the story “In His League,” Paul Danuser recognizes that teaching is a special calling. While having grown up with a passion for baseball and dreaming to become a major league baseball player, Danuser realized he wanted to be a teacher when he heard an “odd” voice calling him to teach in college.
Paul DanuserDanuser referred to a scene in the iconic baseball film, “Field of Dreams,” where in the movie (just like in real life) “Moonlight” Graham played in only one MLB game and never got a chance to come to the plate. Once his baseball career was over, he became a doctor.
In the film, when main character John Kinsella (played by Kevin Costner) tells Graham (played by Burt Lancaster) that it was a tragedy he only got to be a baseball player for one inning, Graham responds, “If I’d only gotten to be a doctor for five minutes, now that would have been a tragedy.”
It is in that moment that the character reveals that his dream is medicine, not sports – and a moment that Danuser thinks about at the start of each school year, he said.
“If I had been a major league baseball player, I would not have the 6,000 students that I’ve had. I wouldn’t have had the chance to be ‘Professor D.’ I’m glad it worked out this way.”
Gilpatrick added, “Everybody thinks that teachers are experts in education, but really, teaching has an art and science behind it. Teaching is also the only profession that teaches all other professions … we teach future engineers, physicians, lawyers, journalists … and that’s really gratifying. We get to have a small part in how they are going to serve their community.”
Contact Jeannette Cruz at (602) 639-6631 or jeannette.cruz@gcu.edu.>> READ MORE
Lopes on the Road - Men's Soccer
Saturday, Oct. 8; San Jose State University at 3 pm>> MORE INFO
Saturday, Oct. 22; Air Force Academy at 3 pm
>> MORE INFO
Friday & Saturday, Oct. 27 - 28; GCU Arena
>> MORE INFO
New family leads Morris Demos to GCU by: Paul Coro
Story Links
The serendipitous series of surprises in Musa Morris Demos' life were unimaginable to a small boy playing soccer at a refugee camp in Nigeria.
Musa lost his birth parents to the Liberian civil war as a toddler but wound up spending his grade-school years within a few corner kicks of GCU Stadium, where he will make his Grand Canyon home soccer debut Thursday night against Evansville.
Musa grew up playing informal games in a park, where another player's parent took notice of him and told Christ's Church of the Valley sports pastor Harry Demos about a prospect for the church's club team. Harry did not realize he was being introduced to his fifth child.
An outside look at Musa's life shows turmoil. After his parents died, Musa lived with his stepmother in a Nigeria refugee camp. At age 8, he moved to a west Phoenix apartment with four other children. Six years ago, he resettled in the suburbs with a new family but was struck by tragedy, when his brother died two years later, and travails, when he lost his first GCU soccer season to injury.
Through all of that, Musa sees an abundance of blessings. He escaped Liberia. His stepmother sought asylum in America and found ways to provide for her three daughters, Musa and his brother. Soccer remained in his life at every stop and led him to Harry and Fran Demos, who became his family and established his faith to set a path to GCU.
"When I think about that, I've been blessed so much," Musa said. "I'm never going to forget that. There's a story behind everything. Maybe I'm supposed to, in turn, do this for someone else one day or show that God can do so many wonderful things.
"We made it out. There's a lot of people who would want the same opportunity I got. There's a lot of people from Africa who could be chosen to do the same path. I was blessed with that chance."
A shielded memory
The death details of Musa's birth parents are murky. He was told little except that they died as a result of the Liberian civil war, perhaps in an attack on Monrovia, and that he has his father's first name.
Musa's stepmother (Musu Morris) took him, his older brother (Viddy) and three stepsisters (Peace, Janet and Boo Boo) to a Nigerian refugee camp. Musa recalls playing soccer there but has no other vivid memory until his trip to America. The journey began with his first visit to an airport and ended with U.S. immigration officials buying them groceries at Food City before moving them into an apartment at 27th Avenue and Indian School Road, less than two miles from GCU.
The family later moved just north of GCU to an apartment off 27th Avenue and Bethany Home Road, where he made friends who invited him to an informal soccer league of mostly older players.
It was just recreation for him then. His stepmother never watched him play. He never had heard of club soccer until a teammate's parent recommended a "special player" to Harry .
"He was dirty," Harry said of their first meeting. "He didn't have a uniform that was coordinated. He looked like a street kid. But he was a good player and seemed like a good kid."
However, Musa wanted to show off with tricks while being secretly dazzled by the nicest neighborhoods and equipment he had ever seen.
"Are you going to be a clown or a footballer?" Harry told the seventh-grader. "If you want to be a clown, you can join the circus. If not, you can do things to benefit the team."
Harry, a longtime, well-regarded club coach, told Musa to text him if he wanted to abide by rules and return for another practice.
"Even for a new guy, he wouldn't give me a chance to slack off," Musa said. "I was like, 'Why is this guy on me? It's my first practice.' I'd never had anyone challenge me."
Musa answered the challenge, texting Harry that he wanted to return and fall in line with the club's regimen.
"He always had something a little bit special," Harry said. "He liked to be challenged if you respected him. Respect was always important to him. Right away, we knew we had a connection. He knew my interest in him went far beyond soccer."
Forging family
Musa was a star for CCV Stars. Because his stepmother did not have a car, Musa needed to be picked up for each of the club's practices or games. Eventually, Harry offered to host him on weekends with his family, which had the last of its four children at home.
"We thought we were going to be empty nesters, but God had a bigger plan," Harry said.
A year later, Harry was asking the stepmother if Musa could stay two summer weeks with his family. She told her stepson to pack his belongings.
"The next day, he was living with us for life," Harry said. "That's how God works. Initially, we thought we were doing the kid a favor. The blessing was turned on us."
A year later, Harry and Fran became legal guardians to Musa. With new rules and regimen, Musa became a U.S. citizen and matured into a straight-A student at Sandra Day O'Connor High School, where he was Arizona's Gatorade state player of the year and founded a youth Bible study group.
The move could not keep him from heartbreak. As a sophomore, he learned that Viddy died from a fall in Las Vegas after an adulthood battling alcoholism. It devastated Musa, but he still had a support system with guardians and his four Demos siblings, who now range from 25 years old to 34 years old.
He also had the support of then-club and now-GCU teammates Jackson Jellah, who often stayed with the Demos family, and Evan Waldrep. Jellah (Portland) and Waldrep (Creighton) each started their collegiate careers elsewhere but returned to Phoenix to join Musa at GCU.
"Harry and Fran didn't know what kind of baggage I had," said Musa, who still visits his stepmother. "They didn't know what kind of life I had. They didn't know what kind of kid I'd be. They just loved me unconditionally."
Onto GCU
Musa originally committed to Portland with Jellah, but his intention changed once that program's coach was fired and Lopes coach Schellas Hyndman was hired. Musa committed to GCU, where President Brian Mueller was inspiring him with a vision to transform the same neighborhood around campus where Musa lived for his first five years in Phoenix.
His four-year Lopes playing career is just beginning although the redshirt freshman already has spent a year on campus. While injured, he learned to go without soccer for the first time and to value his relatives' and coaches' support. He is returning to form, starting two games this month but knowing more progress is to come.
Musa is driven to improve as a player, but his goals do not rely on soccer. He wants to graduate, have a family and work in a job that provides for it, just as Harry and Fran Demos did for him.
As he makes his GCU Stadium debut on Thursday night, Musa can look at the Africa tattoo inside of his right wrist to remind him of his roots, and he can look into the stands at his Demos family to remind him of how he branched out.
"God sent them as angels to be part of my life," Musa said. "I could've never put this together when we were suffering."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
Musa lost his birth parents to the Liberian civil war as a toddler but wound up spending his grade-school years within a few corner kicks of GCU Stadium, where he will make his Grand Canyon home soccer debut Thursday night against Evansville.
Musa grew up playing informal games in a park, where another player's parent took notice of him and told Christ's Church of the Valley sports pastor Harry Demos about a prospect for the church's club team. Harry did not realize he was being introduced to his fifth child.
An outside look at Musa's life shows turmoil. After his parents died, Musa lived with his stepmother in a Nigeria refugee camp. At age 8, he moved to a west Phoenix apartment with four other children. Six years ago, he resettled in the suburbs with a new family but was struck by tragedy, when his brother died two years later, and travails, when he lost his first GCU soccer season to injury.
Through all of that, Musa sees an abundance of blessings. He escaped Liberia. His stepmother sought asylum in America and found ways to provide for her three daughters, Musa and his brother. Soccer remained in his life at every stop and led him to Harry and Fran Demos, who became his family and established his faith to set a path to GCU.
"When I think about that, I've been blessed so much," Musa said. "I'm never going to forget that. There's a story behind everything. Maybe I'm supposed to, in turn, do this for someone else one day or show that God can do so many wonderful things.
"We made it out. There's a lot of people who would want the same opportunity I got. There's a lot of people from Africa who could be chosen to do the same path. I was blessed with that chance."
A shielded memory
The death details of Musa's birth parents are murky. He was told little except that they died as a result of the Liberian civil war, perhaps in an attack on Monrovia, and that he has his father's first name.
Musa's stepmother (Musu Morris) took him, his older brother (Viddy) and three stepsisters (Peace, Janet and Boo Boo) to a Nigerian refugee camp. Musa recalls playing soccer there but has no other vivid memory until his trip to America. The journey began with his first visit to an airport and ended with U.S. immigration officials buying them groceries at Food City before moving them into an apartment at 27th Avenue and Indian School Road, less than two miles from GCU.
The family later moved just north of GCU to an apartment off 27th Avenue and Bethany Home Road, where he made friends who invited him to an informal soccer league of mostly older players.
It was just recreation for him then. His stepmother never watched him play. He never had heard of club soccer until a teammate's parent recommended a "special player" to Harry .
"He was dirty," Harry said of their first meeting. "He didn't have a uniform that was coordinated. He looked like a street kid. But he was a good player and seemed like a good kid."
However, Musa wanted to show off with tricks while being secretly dazzled by the nicest neighborhoods and equipment he had ever seen.
"Are you going to be a clown or a footballer?" Harry told the seventh-grader. "If you want to be a clown, you can join the circus. If not, you can do things to benefit the team."
Harry, a longtime, well-regarded club coach, told Musa to text him if he wanted to abide by rules and return for another practice.
"Even for a new guy, he wouldn't give me a chance to slack off," Musa said. "I was like, 'Why is this guy on me? It's my first practice.' I'd never had anyone challenge me."
Musa answered the challenge, texting Harry that he wanted to return and fall in line with the club's regimen.
"He always had something a little bit special," Harry said. "He liked to be challenged if you respected him. Respect was always important to him. Right away, we knew we had a connection. He knew my interest in him went far beyond soccer."
Forging family
Musa was a star for CCV Stars. Because his stepmother did not have a car, Musa needed to be picked up for each of the club's practices or games. Eventually, Harry offered to host him on weekends with his family, which had the last of its four children at home.
"We thought we were going to be empty nesters, but God had a bigger plan," Harry said.
A year later, Harry was asking the stepmother if Musa could stay two summer weeks with his family. She told her stepson to pack his belongings.
"The next day, he was living with us for life," Harry said. "That's how God works. Initially, we thought we were doing the kid a favor. The blessing was turned on us."
A year later, Harry and Fran became legal guardians to Musa. With new rules and regimen, Musa became a U.S. citizen and matured into a straight-A student at Sandra Day O'Connor High School, where he was Arizona's Gatorade state player of the year and founded a youth Bible study group.
The move could not keep him from heartbreak. As a sophomore, he learned that Viddy died from a fall in Las Vegas after an adulthood battling alcoholism. It devastated Musa, but he still had a support system with guardians and his four Demos siblings, who now range from 25 years old to 34 years old.
He also had the support of then-club and now-GCU teammates Jackson Jellah, who often stayed with the Demos family, and Evan Waldrep. Jellah (Portland) and Waldrep (Creighton) each started their collegiate careers elsewhere but returned to Phoenix to join Musa at GCU.
"Harry and Fran didn't know what kind of baggage I had," said Musa, who still visits his stepmother. "They didn't know what kind of life I had. They didn't know what kind of kid I'd be. They just loved me unconditionally."
Onto GCU
Musa originally committed to Portland with Jellah, but his intention changed once that program's coach was fired and Lopes coach Schellas Hyndman was hired. Musa committed to GCU, where President Brian Mueller was inspiring him with a vision to transform the same neighborhood around campus where Musa lived for his first five years in Phoenix.
His four-year Lopes playing career is just beginning although the redshirt freshman already has spent a year on campus. While injured, he learned to go without soccer for the first time and to value his relatives' and coaches' support. He is returning to form, starting two games this month but knowing more progress is to come.
Musa is driven to improve as a player, but his goals do not rely on soccer. He wants to graduate, have a family and work in a job that provides for it, just as Harry and Fran Demos did for him.
As he makes his GCU Stadium debut on Thursday night, Musa can look at the Africa tattoo inside of his right wrist to remind him of his roots, and he can look into the stands at his Demos family to remind him of how he branched out.
"God sent them as angels to be part of my life," Musa said. "I could've never put this together when we were suffering."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
Men's Baseball
Stankiewicz, USA bring home gold at World Cup
Stankiewicz's club outscored its opponents 61-5
Amid the construction to a new Brazell Stadium, Grand Canyon baseball's Tim Salmon Clubhouse will have a shiny new addition upon head coach Andy Stankiewicz's return this week.
Stankiewicz earned a gold medal Sunday as manager of Team USA's dominant entry in the Under-18 World Baseball Cup in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
The seventh-year Lopes head coach guided the team of top American high school seniors to a 9-0 record at the World Cup, including shutouts in its final three games. The U.S. entered the tournament seeded second in its group but downed Korea, 8-0, in Sunday's championship game. It was the Americans' fourth consecutive World Cup championship to tie a record Cuba held (1984-87).
"Anytime you win a gold medal in a World Cup and anytime you get a chance to put a USA jersey on your back and represent your country with a gold medal, that's top of the world," Stankiewicz said.
Stankiewicz helped form the U18 team in late June and early July, when a field of 100 players was narrowed to 40 finalists. At team trials in August, his staff chose the 20-player roster, which included two Phoenix-area players.
"We got better as the tournament rolled along," said Stankiewicz, who also managed an undefeated gold medal U18 team in the 2014 COPABE Pan American Games. "It was good to see the guys keep pushing. We saved our best game for last."
As the U.S. players dogpiled near the Port Arthur Stadium mound after Sunday's final out, Stankiewicz turned to thank his coaching staff. Their team outscored a worldwide field of qualifiers, 61-5, over nine games in the 10-day tournament.
"I miss home," Stankiewicz said. "I miss GCU. I miss our players. I am excited to win a gold medal with these guys. But at the same time, I'm excited to get home and get back to GCU to work with the Lopes."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
Stankiewicz, USA bring home gold at World Cup
Stankiewicz's club outscored its opponents 61-5
Amid the construction to a new Brazell Stadium, Grand Canyon baseball's Tim Salmon Clubhouse will have a shiny new addition upon head coach Andy Stankiewicz's return this week.
Stankiewicz earned a gold medal Sunday as manager of Team USA's dominant entry in the Under-18 World Baseball Cup in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
The seventh-year Lopes head coach guided the team of top American high school seniors to a 9-0 record at the World Cup, including shutouts in its final three games. The U.S. entered the tournament seeded second in its group but downed Korea, 8-0, in Sunday's championship game. It was the Americans' fourth consecutive World Cup championship to tie a record Cuba held (1984-87).
"Anytime you win a gold medal in a World Cup and anytime you get a chance to put a USA jersey on your back and represent your country with a gold medal, that's top of the world," Stankiewicz said.
Stankiewicz helped form the U18 team in late June and early July, when a field of 100 players was narrowed to 40 finalists. At team trials in August, his staff chose the 20-player roster, which included two Phoenix-area players.
"We got better as the tournament rolled along," said Stankiewicz, who also managed an undefeated gold medal U18 team in the 2014 COPABE Pan American Games. "It was good to see the guys keep pushing. We saved our best game for last."
As the U.S. players dogpiled near the Port Arthur Stadium mound after Sunday's final out, Stankiewicz turned to thank his coaching staff. Their team outscored a worldwide field of qualifiers, 61-5, over nine games in the 10-day tournament.
"I miss home," Stankiewicz said. "I miss GCU. I miss our players. I am excited to win a gold medal with these guys. But at the same time, I'm excited to get home and get back to GCU to work with the Lopes."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
PHOENIX -- The Grand Canyon men's and women's swimming and diving program is suiting up for yet another successful year with three home meets scheduled for the 2017-18 season, which will now take place in the Fr Edward J. Reese Aquatic Center on the campus of Brophy Catholic College Prepatory. The team is looking forward to being just a short 15 minute drive from campus after making the move from the Southwest YMCA in Goodyear. But, that's not all they are excited about.
This season marks the first in program history that the Lopes are eligible to compete in the NCAA Championships. "Our team is ready and willing to do what it takes to reach our goal of becoming an NCAA Division 1 Top 25 team," Assistant Coach Stacey Siekman said. The Lopes will go up against some of the best swimmers and divers in the country on Mar. 14-17 in Columbus, Ohio (women) and the following weekend, Mar. 21-24, in Minneapolis, Minn. (men).
Until then, Head Coach Steve Schaffer and the team are in the water preparing for the FIU Invitational in Miami, Fla. on Oct. 6-7 to kick off the upcoming season. The swimmers will head to Los Angeles, Calif. on Oct. 20-21 for a dual meet against Seattle and Loyola Marymount before hosting their first home meet on Nov. 3-4 against Air Force Academy and Idaho. On Nov. 17-19, the swimmers will once again compete in the Northwestern TYR Invitational in Evanston, Ill. while the divers are in Flagstaff, Ariz. for the NAU Diving Invitational.
The Lopes will open the second half of the season with two home meets back to back against Cal Baptist/NMSU/Rice on Jan. 6 and BYU on Jan. 13. The team hits the road for the remainder of the schedule, including a UNLV/Wyoming meet on Jan. 27 and another diving invitational hosted by the Air Force Academy on Feb. 2-3 before concluding the regular season in Houston, Texas for the 2018 WAC Championships.
The post-season lineup for the men and women outside of the NCAA Championships includes the NCAA Zone Diving Championships on Mar. 5-7 closely followed by the CSCAA National Invitational on Mar. 8-10 and USA Swimming's Arena Pro Meet in Mesa on Apr. 12-14.
The Lopes will practice their season debut this Saturday, Sept. 23 at the Fr Edward J. Reese Aquatic Center in Phoenix for the Alumni Day Time Trials at 4 p.m.
>> READ MORE
This season marks the first in program history that the Lopes are eligible to compete in the NCAA Championships. "Our team is ready and willing to do what it takes to reach our goal of becoming an NCAA Division 1 Top 25 team," Assistant Coach Stacey Siekman said. The Lopes will go up against some of the best swimmers and divers in the country on Mar. 14-17 in Columbus, Ohio (women) and the following weekend, Mar. 21-24, in Minneapolis, Minn. (men).
Until then, Head Coach Steve Schaffer and the team are in the water preparing for the FIU Invitational in Miami, Fla. on Oct. 6-7 to kick off the upcoming season. The swimmers will head to Los Angeles, Calif. on Oct. 20-21 for a dual meet against Seattle and Loyola Marymount before hosting their first home meet on Nov. 3-4 against Air Force Academy and Idaho. On Nov. 17-19, the swimmers will once again compete in the Northwestern TYR Invitational in Evanston, Ill. while the divers are in Flagstaff, Ariz. for the NAU Diving Invitational.
The Lopes will open the second half of the season with two home meets back to back against Cal Baptist/NMSU/Rice on Jan. 6 and BYU on Jan. 13. The team hits the road for the remainder of the schedule, including a UNLV/Wyoming meet on Jan. 27 and another diving invitational hosted by the Air Force Academy on Feb. 2-3 before concluding the regular season in Houston, Texas for the 2018 WAC Championships.
The post-season lineup for the men and women outside of the NCAA Championships includes the NCAA Zone Diving Championships on Mar. 5-7 closely followed by the CSCAA National Invitational on Mar. 8-10 and USA Swimming's Arena Pro Meet in Mesa on Apr. 12-14.
The Lopes will practice their season debut this Saturday, Sept. 23 at the Fr Edward J. Reese Aquatic Center in Phoenix for the Alumni Day Time Trials at 4 p.m.
>> READ MORE
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27)
Grand Canyon University
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