NW Valley Times

GCU alumna Alexis Ruiz is making her mark both as a pediatric nurse at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and as a world champion archer. Ranked No. 5 globally among women competing in compound bow, Ruiz balances her dual careers with dedication.

Ruiz's journey to becoming a pediatric nurse began when she was a patient at Phoenix Children’s Hospital due to a shoulder injury. She recalls, “My mom would tell me, when I was really little and someone got hurt, I was always the first one to go help.”

Her commitment to healthcare led her through the rigorous nursing program at Grand Canyon University (GCU), from which she graduated in 2023. Alongside her medical aspirations, Ruiz has spent seven years representing Team USA on the international archery stage.

What started as family hunting trips turned into an athletic career for Ruiz. She recounts being placed in a local tournament for practice at age 10 and discovering her love for competition. Her achievements include winning the Argentina Junior World Championship in 2017 and becoming the youngest person to win the Vegas Shoot in 2018.

Ruiz explains that archery involves significant mental focus: “It’s about figuring out what hasn’t been working or what is working... After so long, there are no big changes to your equipment, but more so those fine movements.”

In 2019, after winning the Archery World Cup, Ruiz achieved the No. 1 ranking worldwide in women’s compound archery—a discipline not included in the Olympics.

Faced with choosing between nursing school and an invitation to compete in another Archery World Cup in Russia, Ruiz chose archery initially but returned to complete her nursing studies during COVID-19 when tournaments were paused.

Despite challenges balancing both careers, Ruiz remains committed: “Initially, this sport came second for me, and nursing came first; but now they are equal. I cannot imagine not doing one or the other."