NW Valley Times

Grand Canyon University recently held its annual Homecoming weekend, drawing nearly 500 alumni from as far back as 1989 to as recent as 2024. The event offered a variety of activities, including social gatherings and sporting events.

Nicole Johnson, Alumni Marketing and Communications Specialist, highlighted the unique opportunity for graduates to revisit their campus. “A lot of events we do with (the Office of) Alumni Relations are off campus, but what is really sweet about homecoming is that people get to come back to campus for this,” she said.

Alumni participated in various activities such as a family-friendly social event at Chicken and Pickle and Breakfast with Thunder on Saturday morning. Reflecting on the university's growth, Lisa Wakefield, a 1989 graduate, shared her experience: “This place just had 2,000 students when I was here, and it was still Grand Canyon College.”

Wakefield credited GCU for influencing her career path significantly. “GCU totally impacted my career and changed the trajectory of it greatly,” she stated.

The event also celebrated alumni achievements through the induction into GCU’s Alumni Hall of Fame. President Brian Mueller joined college deans and families in honoring individuals like Lori Horn Bustamante and Brent Cannon for their professional accomplishments.

In addition to reunions, alumni enjoyed an enthusiastic tailgate on the Quad before attending a men's basketball game. Luke Light from the class of 2024 expressed his appreciation for maintaining connections through such events: “Homecoming is significant because...we still get to meet up here, catch up and share a good time.”