The Honors College at Grand Canyon University

It’s hard to believe it’s already been almost a year since I graduated from Grand Canyon University —I miss it every single day. But last week, speaking at the Next Generation Leadership Conference: Visionary Summit reminded me that no matter where life takes me, The Honors College at Grand Canyon University will always feel like home. The event was a beautiful reminder of the power of community and mentorship. I had the privilege of seeing the culmination of 6 months of hard work from co-directors Ainsley Plucker and Kaylee Aschbrenner, as well as their outstanding Professional and Leadership Development Committee. The dedication they poured into making this event a success was evident in every moment. It was an honor to join fellow alumni Vincent Indelicato and Aaryanna N. on an alumni panel in front of over 200 Honors students. I shared my journey—one that’s been imperfect, beautiful, and constantly evolving. I encouraged the students to speak their truth, be courageous in seeking out mentors, advocate for themselves always, and trust their intuition and purpose—no matter how many times that might require reshaping their plans along the way. I’m deeply grateful for the experiences I’ve had with these yearly conferences, from helping plan the Next Generation Leadership Conference: Permission to Fail in 2023, to advising on the Next Generation Leadership Conference: Breaking Barriers in 2024, and finally, seeing the Next Generation Leadership Conference: Visionary Summit in 2025 through a whole new lens. It’s amazing how the opportunities to grow and reflect continue to shape my perspective. I left the event filled with gratitude and inspiration, and I’m excited to carry the lessons I learned with me as I continue to navigate my path. The Honors College at Grand Canyon University, thank you for inviting me to speak at this amazing event, shaping who I am today, and always encouraging me to grow, learn, and become the best version of myself.

3,000 days ago:? I walked across that stage, diploma in hand, feeling like the world was my oyster. The future was bright, full of possibilities! 3,000 hours ago: I was drowning in a job that sucked the life out of me. I was burnt out, exhausted, and questioning everything. 3,000 minutes ago: I was slapped in the face with rejection – my 10th in two weeks. They said I was "overqualified." So much for that bright future. Time is a funny thing, isn't it? It can make you feel like you're stuck in a rut, but it can also be a powerful force for change. That's what I realized when I spoke to 250+ students at Grand Canyon University's Visionary Leadership conference. These young minds were radiating hope and ambition, and they were eager to learn. They asked about overcoming challenges, about facing fears, about bouncing back from mistakes. And I realized, in that moment, that my journey, though filled with ups and downs, had given me a unique perspective. I shared my story, my struggles, and my triumphs, and I saw the spark of recognition in their eyes. These students, with their unwavering optimism and determination, reminded me of the power of resilience. They reminded me that even when life throws you curveballs, you can still find your way. Thank you, The Honors College at Grand Canyon University, for another cherished opportunity! It was a reminder that we all have a story to tell, and that sharing those stories can inspire others to overcome their own challenges.

We are incredibly proud to see our Arizona Alpha Chapter featured in the latest issue of "Kalo." This issue highlights our numerous national scholarship recipients and celebrates our prestigious President’s Cup accolade from the 2024 Alpha Chi National Convention. Congratulations to our dedicated board members and student members for their outstanding efforts in strengthening and expanding our local chapter at #GCU. Your hard work and commitment continue to drive our success! The Honors College at Grand Canyon University Grand Canyon University Alpha Chi National College Honor Society https://lnkd.in/gEcPes82

Over the course of the past 6 months I have gotten to work with an incredible team of individuals to put on The Honors College at Grand Canyon University's annual Next Generation Leadership conference which occurred last Saturday. This event helped 200 GCU undergraduate students discover what it means to be a Visionary leader in all fields of work. Thank you to our Keynote speaker John Iannarelli, ESQ, CSP? for taking the time to come and speak to our attendees. Your talk on leadership in all scenarios from your perspective as a FBI agent left everyone feeling inspired to lead by example and be prepared for opportunity no matter where it may come from.? Another big thank you to our breakout speakers Juan de Dios Hernandez, Brandy Labinjo MBA, MSA, Dana Drew Shaw, and Pamela Bonilla, MSPC, LPC, ITR-CTT for sharing your insights and experience with visionary leadership in your respective fields. We are so grateful you were willing to share your stories with us.? Thank you to our alumni panelists Ashley L., Vincent Indelicato, and Aaryanna N. for sharing your post-grad experience and inspiring our students to keep moving forward, and overcome the challenges post-grad life brings.? A huge thank you to my team on the Leadership in Action Fellowship and all of the honors staff who played a role in executing this event. Our marketing team: Emma Kreuzwiesner, Shaneille Ramos, and Abigail Ludwig. Our logistics team: Logan Theis, Paul Escarcega, Judah Floyd, Jasmine Shelton, and Paige Prentice. Our public relations team: Asher Batt, Jean Hunt, Chanel Henning, and Jozy Kairu. And also, Jennifer DeVries, our beautiful student advisor! You guys have been incredible this year. I am so grateful to be your director.? Finally, thank you to my co-director Ainsley Plucker. We got to work this year under the direction of Marette Hahn, PhD to plan, manage and execute the Visionary Summit with the help of our Professional and Leadership development taskforce (listed above). I could not have led this team without her, and am endlessly grateful to her for all she did throughout this process. ‘Lopes up!!

It feels so surreal that this year’s GCU Honors Next Generation Leadership Conference - The Visionary Summit has come to an end. I could not be prouder of our Professional and Leadership Development team. Leading this group through this process has been the biggest blessing, and they’ve taught me so much. A special thank you to our speakers - John Iannarelli, ESQ, CSP?, Brandy Labinjo MBA, MSA, Juan de Dios Hernandez, Pamela Bonilla, MSPC, LPC, ITR-CTT, Dana Drew Shaw, Ashley L., Aaryanna N., and Vincent Indelicato - thank you for sharing your wisdom and inspiring us to embrace the leadership journey. Your presence meant the world to us. To the Grand Canyon University students - thank you for showing up, engaging, and committing to growth. The world needs more visionary leaders like you! To the PLD team - Emma Kreuzwiesner, Shaneille Ramos, Abigail Ludwig, Paul Escarcega, Logan Theis, Judah Floyd, Paige Prentice, Jasmine Shelton, Jean Hunt, Asher Batt, Chanel Henning, and Jozy Kairu - you are incredibly talented and resilient. I can't thank you enough for all your dedication over the past year, I’m so proud of you all! To the admin at The Honors College at Grand Canyon University - Marette Hahn, PhD, Kendall Smith, Anya Cofrancesco, M.S., and Breanna Naegeli, PhD - and LIA Leadership - Isabel Abbott and Keerthana Krishnakumar Juttu - thank you for the endless encouragement and support. You pushed us to be our best while continuously supporting us throughout the whole process. Finally, to my co-director - Kaylee Aschbrenner - thank you for your constant dedication to our team and this conference. Having you to lean on was invaluable during this season. I can’t wait to see all the amazing things you accomplish in the future. Feeling: proud, grateful, and beyond excited for what’s ahead ??

Had a fantastic time last night at Culinary Dropout with The Honors College at Grand Canyon University alum Elisha Fronda and his colleagues from Whatnot! It was great to hear firsthand from several Whatnot employees about their favorable experiences—nothing but praise for the company, its leadership, and the incredible culture they’ve built. Even better, I got to see them again today on GCU’s campus for the Grand Canyon University Colangelo College of Business Career Fair! There were a lot of great companies in attendance!?? If you’re a student looking for opportunities in a fast-growing e-commerce marketplace organization, Whatnot is definitely one to watch. #Whatnot #ECommerce #GCU #CCOB #ROI #LopesUp #CareerServices #CareerOpportunities #Networking Breanna Naegeli, PhD Marette Hahn, PhD John Kaites Allison Mason Erin Boling Mark Petroff MBA Haley Fagerlie Aysha Bell, MA, CPRW, CEIP Marquis Scott Rebecca Belz, MOL Troy Wethe Samantha Sciascia Michelle Elliott Nicholas Wilshire Jennifer Singleton, MPsych Madison Tobin Lauren Hess GCU Career Services

It never certainly ceases to amaze me how much talent we truly have in the Gen Z group. I had the pleasure of participating in the 2025 Visionary Summit as a break out speaker. Thank you to the The Honors College at Grand Canyon University Students who were responsible for planning and putting this fantastic event together. You should be very proud of yourselves and how well you represented Grand Canyon University ?????? Remember the only time I will tell you to take L’s in your career is when it is time to Look, Listen and Learn ?????? Thank you Kaylee Aschbrenner, Asher Batt Chanel Henning and Ainsley Plucker for taking care of me yesterday. I learned just as much from you and the students that I got to interact with at the event ?????? #GCUHONORS #GCU #GOLOPES #WEHAVEMOREINCOMMONTHANYOUTHINKWEDO

?? Wrapping Up Integrity Week! ?? Integrity Week has officially come to a close, and what an impactful week it was! From thought-provoking discussions to meaningful connections, each event reminded us why integrity is such a crucial part of who we are—both as students and future professionals. A huge shoutout to Amelia Miller, Director of the Integrity, Faith, and Service Taskforce, for her leadership, and to the LIA Fellows in The Honors College at Grand Canyon University for their dedication in making this week a success. Their hard work brought these conversations to life in such an engaging way! While the week may be over, the lessons we’ve learned will stay with us. Here’s to carrying integrity forward in everything we do! #IntegrityWeek #HonorsCollege #EthicalLeadership #IntegrityMatters

Happy Integrity Week! The Honors College started our Monday afternoon in the Quad encouraging students to pledge their integrity by signing the integrity banner. This week-long initiative, spearheaded by The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS), is filled with both in-person and virtual events across GCU and other college campuses. Read the GCU News story below to see how you can get involved this week! #gcuhonors #gcunscs #integrityweek2025 #nscs https://lnkd.in/gMswb3qn

The Honors College was mentioned in GCU's most recent magazine highlighting the 75 things they love about GCU as #14! Read the whole magazine here or pick up a physical copy in the newsstand outside the GCU Arena! https://lnkd.in/g8vbcQ4z #gcuhonors #gcunews #gcu #75years