Grand Canyon University, home of the Antelopes. While that phrase may be announced at every sporting event, broadcast over television sets, plastered on billboards, and stamped on the hearts of every GCU student, it doesn't really hit home until Antelopes find themselves getting ready to graduate. "Home of the Antelopes"...but then you have to leave? Unless you're a lucky son of a Lope that joins the Game Day crew, sticks around as an Instructional Assistant, or volunteers to be Pastor/Doctor/Rockstar Tim Griffin's personal assistant, every Antelope must eventually leave. Yet while a new class of Lopes prepares to graduate from the Grand Canyon campus, one thing is clear:
You can take the Lope out of Grand Canyon, but you can't take Grand Canyon out of the Lope.
Grand Canyon Lopes are a special breed. They're a group that loves one another, beating New Mexico State, complaining about parking, feasting on Chick-Fil-A six days a week, and putting their Lopes up whenever the moment suggests it. Grand Canyon Lopes will sing "Don't Stop Believin'" at the top of their lungs, dress up in ridiculous attire, volunteer at fun runs, go to professors' office hours just for kicks and giggles, and they'll never say 'no' to free pizza. What it comes down to? The Lopes care. Grand Canyon University has installed an aspect of caring in everything that happens on campus, from classes to student events. The Lopes know that a little bit of effort, a smile to a stranger, or a hearty "Here we go, here we go, let's go Lopes!" can brighten a situation. Lopes recognize that while the world may be hectic, everyone has the ability to make a positive impact, whether it be silly or serious. That mindset doesn't go away after a diploma has been received.
Lopes will forever understand what it means to be in community. They've seen it, felt it, and been wrapped up in it during their time at Grand Canyon. The idea of community has been built up before their very eyes, and Lopes are sure to take that with them upon graduation. They know that free t-shirts draw a crowd, and breakfast is a perfectly acceptable dinner. Lopes understand that community means coming together in both prayer and good fun, commonalities and differences. The comradery that is evident on the Grand Canyon campus is sure to leave a mark on a Lope's memory and heart. Nothing beats the adrenaline that comes when thousands of purple fans rush the Arena doors for a basketball game, Lip Sync, or a male pageant with excitement matching the gender ratio on campus. Lopes know what it means to "do life" together. As the graduating class moves to a different stage of life, the community that they experienced at Grand Canyon will stay with them.
Grand Canyon Lopes know that while their time at Canyon may have been brief, it was forever. As in, they'll never be the same person they were before that first Welcome Week began. They've been through the ups, downs, and 374 construction projects of college. They've emerged stronger, wiser, and with hearts ready to love the people they interact with. While the Lopes may leave, the lessons, memories, and life changing ride that is Grand Canyon University will stay. In a sense, the Lopes will always have a little piece of home with them.
