Grand Canyon University Athletics and Phoenix Visitor’S Guide
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GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS AND PHOENIX VISITOR’S GUIDE WELCOME TO LOPE COUNTRY Welcome to GCU! On behalf of Grand Canyon University President Brian Mueller and the entire GCU Athletics Department, we’d like to welcome you to one of the fastest-growing campuses in the country! This guide will highlight our beautiful campus, GCU Athletics and all that the city of Phoenix and its surrounding areas have to offer. As we enter our fourth and final year of transition to Division I, our 21 athletic teams are in a great position to be able to compete for WAC Championships and postseason play right away. We’ve already had so many fantastic accomplishments in both competition and the classroom. The university is currently undergoing a $1 billion campus expansion that includes the construction of 10 new athletic facilities within the next two years. With all of the excitement around our continued growth, there is truly no better time to be a Lope! We hope you enjoy this guide and your visit to Phoenix. If you need any further assistance, members of GCU Athletics are always available to help out. Go Lopes! Mike Vaught Vice President of Athletics OUR MISSION: STUDENT-ATHLETE EXCELLENCE The mission of the Grand Canyon University Athletics Department is to use intercollegiate sports as a platform in developing Christian role models and embodying the highest standards of excellence in the overall development of our student-athletes. We are integrated within the university community and inclusive of all students to promote the personal growth of our student-athletes. We prepare men and women to be student- athletes distinguished by academic and athletic excellence, integrity and Christian conduct. We expect our student-athletes, coaches and staff to emulate Christ in all aspects of their lives, including their academic and athletic endeavors. CHAMPIONSHIP PERFORMANCES As GCU Athletics emerges with great success, our student-athletes have demonstrated greatness and showcased their talents on and off the field. 2016 Olympians We’re proud of GCU student-athletes Tarasue Barnett and Jade Howard for their athletic achievement of competing in the 2016 Olympics. Barnett represents her home country of Jamaica in Baseball — WAC Champions track and field for women’s discus. Howard represents Zambia in swimming and diving for women’s 100-meter freestyle. First-Team Academic All-America®, Men’s Basketball GCU guard Joshua Braun was named to the 2015-16 CoSIDA first-team Academic All-America® Division I men’s basketball team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). A native of Anthem, AZ, Braun carried a 3.83 GPA in business management and was GCU’s first-ever, first-team selection in men’s basketball. A first-team All-WAC selection, Braun emerged as one of the top players in the conference. He led the WAC in free throw percentage (86.8), ranked second in scoring (16.5) and third in three-point field goal percentage (.392). Braun was named Academic All-WAC for the last two years and he was a two-time WAC Player of the Week. In January 2016, Braun was named to the Lou Henson Award Watch list, given annually to the top Division I Mid-Major Player. First-Team Academic All-America®, Women’s At-Large Beach volleyball’s MacKenzie Phelps was named to the 2015-16 CoSIDA first-team Academic All- Men’s & Women’s Indoor Track and Field — WAC Champions America® Division I women’s at-large team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). A native of Prescott, AZ, Phelps carried a 4.0 GPA at the completion of her master’s degree in accounting. She finished her bachelor’s degree in 2015 with a 3.93 GPA and was beach volleyball’s first-ever selection. A two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) honoree, Phelps was one of the program’s most prolific talents. She advanced to the semifinals of the AVCA Sand Volleyball National Championship in 2015 with partner Shannon Dugan. In 2016, the No. 1 pair not only won 21 of their 26 individual matches, they also led the Lopes to an 18-8 overall record, the best mark in program history. WAC Coach of the Year Behind our student-athletes are dedicated coaches and staff. 2015-16 was highlighted by WAC Coach of the Year recipients Tom Flood, for men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field, and Greg Pudhomme for men’s and women’s tennis. Jade Howard — 2016 Olympian, Zambia, Women’s 100m Freestyle Tarasue Barnett — 2016 Olympian, Jamaica, Women’s Discus Greg Prudhomme — WAC Coach of the Year, Men’s and Women’s Tennis Tom Flood — WAC Coach of the Year, Men’s and Women’s Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field GCU Havocs Joshua Braun — First-Team Academic All-America®, Men’s Basketball MacKenzie Phelps — First-Team Academic All-America®, Women’s At-Large LOPEY Awards 2016 Basketball Practice Facility GCU Stadium WORLD-CLASS FACILITIES Lopes Performance Center Expansion As part of our continued campus expansion, Grand Canyon University has unveiled a campaign highlighting 10 new athletic facilities being built on campus within the next two years. 1. GCU Stadium 6. Beach Volleyball Stadium 2. Basketball Practice Facility 7. Equipment Room 3. GCU Baseball Stadium 8. Student-Athlete 4. GCU Softball Stadium Development Center 5. GCU Championship Golf 9. Tennis Facility GCU Championship Golf Course Course Practice Facility 10. Lopes Performance Center Expansion Beach Volleyball Stadium Basketball Practice Facility GCU Baseball Stadium Lopes Performance Center Expansion Beach Volleyball Stadium GCU Softball Stadium Tennis Facility Student-Athlete Development Center Lopes Performance Center Practice Court Equipment Room The Sanctuary Media Room GCU HAVOCS The GCU Havocs are the most spirited, energetic and disruptive student section in the Western Athletic Conference. They support and encourage all GCU athletic teams, promote school spirit and build Lope pride and tradition – while upholding the four pillars and values of GCU. GCU Havocs are known for their constant energy, support and pride for GCU Athletics. They strive to create a spirited community and sense of camaraderie for all students. “The Havocs represent the best of college basketball. They truly provide a home court advantage that is one of the best in all of college athletics.” — Dan Majerle, Head Basketball Coach “The biggest party in college basketball.” — “One of college basketball’s rowdiest environments.” — Brittany Holen, Women’s Golf CHAMPIONS IN THE CLASSROOM We continue to strive for athletic and academic excellence as we enter the Students-athletes also attended our Welcome Back event with featured Other events include Canyon Cares Easter and Canyon Cares Christmas next generation of GCU Athletics. The new GCU Student-Athlete Development speaker Jason Pannell on “Mindset of a Champion,” and throughout the for the community to celebrate the holidays as well as the Lopey Awards— Center in GCU Stadium is where student-athletes receive academic support season, GCU Athletics teams support one another as part of our Athletes- GCU’s formal event to recognize the academic and athletic achievement of to excel in the classroom. We believe demanding excellence of our student- for-Athletes initiative. student-athletes. athletes off the court creates champions on the court. Spring 2016 Academic Highlights Fall 2015 GCU Athletics is proud of our 169 student-athletes for the 2015-16 GCU Athletics was excited to welcome Aaron Trolia, former professional Along with developing the Student-Athlete Handbook and UNV-107: academic year. Leading the WAC with a total of 97 student-athletes named baseball player, who spoke on overcoming adversity and substance abuse. University Success for Student-Athlete course, GCU Athletics also to 2016 Academic All-WAC was also an achievement for Athletics. We also developed the following policies: developed and implemented programs to enhance student experiences. We completed 2015-16 with the following: These include our: • Injury and Illness Emergency Protocol with Sports Medicine outlines procedures students should follow if they’re sick or injured • The average annual department GPA is 3.33 • S.P.A.R.K. Summer Bridge program: Assists student-athletes in The GCU Athletics Department also participated in these exciting events: • 18 teams had a 3.0 or higher annual team GPA transitioning to GCU and assesses their preparedness for achievement • 74.8% of student-athletes had a 3.0 or higher GPA • Specialized Learning Services program: Provides support for academi- • WAC SAAC – Life After College Conference: WAC schools sent two repre- cally at-risk students or those with learning difficulties sentatives to gain leadership and personal development skills (hosted by GCU) • L.O.P.E.S. program: Focuses on overall student-athlete development in leadership, ownership, purpose, excellence and service • WAC SAAS One Shirt, One Body Initiative: GCU led this WAC- sponsored event with partner Big Brothers, Big Sisters to help the less fortunate in the community A WORD FROM OUR PRESIDENT GCU is committed to excellence—striving to help students become global citizens, critical thinkers, effective communicators and responsible leaders. By making a private education affordable, we create new opportunities to elevate higher learning and contribute to the future. At GCU, we think about the future every day. Ours is an atmosphere of constant innovation with more than 200 academic programs across nine colleges and next-generation online learning platforms. Our visionaries collaborate with industry leaders to develop programs in high-demand fields, such as STEM, business, education and health care. We also offer unique degree specializations to help students gain a competitive advantage in tomorrow’s workforce. Academic integrity is at the heart of our values. We help our students develop practices that support academic integrity and embrace integrity as a personal, lifelong commitment.