NW Valley Times

Laura Sutton, an incoming freshman at Grand Canyon University (GCU) from Ramona, California, began her college journey early Monday morning by checking into her Acacia Hall apartment at 5:55 a.m. She was accompanied by her mother, Sharon Sutton. This marked the start of GCU's event-packed Welcome Week and its milestone 75th anniversary.

“We wanted to move in as early as possible because it’s Arizona,” Sharon Sutton said after making three trips from their vehicle to Laura's apartment.

The atmosphere was vibrant as the Thundering Heard Pep Band and the Spirit team performed on the Grove lawn. Thunder, GCU’s mascot, mingled with incoming freshmen and their families. The four freshmen apartment buildings at the Grove were filled with energy as GCU embarked on the 2024-25 academic year.

“I just think it's super, super meaningful,” said Ashley Cote, GCU student body president. “I've gotten the opportunity these past few months to learn more about the GCU history and what comes with that. I think with the 75th year, you're just going to see GCU be a campus that celebrates a lot of things, which is so special.”

GCU was established on August 1, 1949, by the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention with about 16 faculty members and 100 students in Prescott before relocating to Phoenix in 1951. It has since grown into the largest Christian university in the country.

GCU President Brian Mueller reflected on this growth during Welcome Week. “The fact that we haven't raised tuition in 16 years, the fact that our students take out less debt than the average state university student... those are things that are really attractive,” he said.

Mueller also emphasized GCU’s commitment to serving disadvantaged populations and maintaining a positive campus environment free from protests seen elsewhere.

Resident assistants at Acacia Hall were prepared for an influx of questions from parents and students moving away from home for the first time. “We’re prepared,” said Dawson Omdahl, an Acacia RA.

Laura Sutton expressed her excitement about joining GCU. “It’s just the whole environment, and the people are so friendly,” she said. “(Moving in) has been better than I thought because everyone is so nice and everything runs smoothly.”

Sutton chose GCU for its academics but was convinced after experiencing its lively environment during a campus visit in February.

Upperclassmen play a crucial role in helping freshmen acclimate to their new surroundings. Nearly 1,500 student leaders aim to make every incoming freshman comfortable.

“They're trained to look out for kids that may be on the spectrum or aren’t coming out of their rooms,” Mueller said. He praised faculty and school leaders for their dedication to ensuring every student has a great experience at GCU.

GCU News Senior Writer Mark Gonzales can be reached at [email protected]

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