The Club and Community Fair at Grand Canyon University (GCU) saw a record turnout this year, according to Clubs and Organizations Coordinator Jacqueline Nguyen. The event, held at the Canyon Activity Center, featured 95 of the university’s 110 active student clubs, 40 club sports teams, and 20 vendors and businesses. Thousands of students attended to explore extracurricular opportunities.
Nguyen said, “We are happy to see the student body being lively and active.” She noted that participation continues to grow each year, with about 20 new clubs typically added annually.
The fair showcased a wide range of interests. Among them was Girl Gains, a weightlifting club for women that meets twice weekly for lifting sessions and classes on nutrition and technique. Amanda Miller, the club’s events coordinator, encouraged women not to be intimidated by gym culture. “The gym is very much dominated by men. Don’t be intimidated by it. Get in there and take your space,” Miller said. She described lifting weights as productive and stress-relieving.
Another group present was the Henry Van Dyke Carter Club, which focuses on drawing the human body in GCU’s cadaver lab—a blend of art and science that appeals especially to pre-med majors like club president Nathaniel Brink.
Some clubs focus on career development or social causes. Women in Business and Student Nursing Association are among the largest academic clubs. The International Justice Mission raises awareness about human trafficking; its vice president Mackenzie Purdy shared her personal motivation: “My dad is a cop. I heard a lot about it,” she said.
Recreational groups also drew interest. Lopes Outdoors organizes trips for students to destinations such as Sedona, Payson, and Death Valley. President Kyleigh Howell said these outings offer flexible itineraries compared to university-sponsored trips: “My favorite is Death Valley. It feels unreal,” she said.
Hobby-based clubs attracted many inquiries from students looking for common interests outside academics or athletics. The GCU Cubing Club challenges members with puzzles similar to Rubik’s Cube but in various sizes and complexities. Club president Ryan Morrison explained their approach: “Muscle memory is key,” Morrison said. “I don’t even have to look.” He added that even beginners are welcome at tournaments.
Music was another prominent theme at the fair, represented by cultural organizations like the Latino Student Union—playing traditional music—and creative groups such as Songwriters Guild. Senior Melody Henry recounted her experience joining: “When I was a freshman, I was so scared of everything… Then I went to this club and we’re all writing a song together.” Participation led her into worship arts studies.
One of GCU’s largest clubs is American Kids Country Swing; last year nearly 500 students attended its Welcome Week event.
Newly formed organizations were also present, including The Common Thread—a crafts club focused on embroidery and knitting that aims to build manual dexterity skills useful for future careers in medicine or dentistry. Officer Sebastian Salazar explained its value: “He wants to be a heart surgeon, and I want to be a dentist… If you want to work on a heart, you want to be able to work well with your hands on small things.”
Students interested in more information can find related coverage through GCU News regarding Havoc leaders’ plans for Mountain West games or GCU News coverage of Welcome Programs.
