Grand Canyon University (GCU) offers opportunities for you to grow within the classroom and beyond. Our business college hosts exciting events throughout the year, and our students, alumni and faculty have been recognized for their outstanding achievements in the fields of business. See what is new at GCU, from events and blog features to our latest accolades.
CCOB Awards and Acknowledgements
We are proud of the impact our Lopes are making in the local business landscape. Learn about our latest accomplishments:
- Storage Together Named "Best Solution" in Smart City App Hack Competition
Storage Together, a small business created by Colangelo College of Business students, was named champion and declared the "Best Solution" at the Smart City App Hack international finals competition in Barcelona. Storage Together is the creation of alumnus Luke Amargo, along with current students Josh McGuire, Jedidiah Woods and Braeden Scheer. One of the group's top advisors, Colangelo College of Business Assistant Professor Tim Kelley, said of the students: "Kids that engage like this is why we're here. That's what we do."
- Student Entrepreneurs Win Big at the Arizona Collegiate Venture Competition
Three GCU teams of student entrepreneurs were awarded with prizes during the Arizona Collegiate Venture Competition (ACVC). This is GCU's first time participating in ACVC - and the results were a big success. Storage Together was a Silver Level Winner and earned $3,500. Two other GCU teams, Near and TailSpace, were Copper Level Winners, earning $1,500. During this entrepreneurial event, participants give a four-minute oral presentation among more than 100 angel investors, influencers, community leaders and students in attendance.
- GCU Alumni Launch Entrepreneurial Businesses
Proud of our GCU alumni, we praise three alums who launched entrepreneurial businesses. Daniel Black, who graduated in entrepreneurial studies, and his wife, Tiffany, created Prayer Packages, which delivers keepsake Christian gifts and services to fill hearts of friends and family with God's love. Shica Little, EdD, who earned her teaching doctoral degree in 2013, developed Dr. Shica's Incredi-Whip, a healthy dessert topper, fruit dip and coffee creamer. Kyle Dubay, a graphic design graduate, launched Woodward Throwbacks. This social entrepreneurship collects discarded wood and crafts it into collectibles.
- DECA Students Excel in International Career Development Conference
DECA, an international student association, sponsored the 55th annual International Career Development Conference (ICDC). At this event, 1,500 students had 30 - 60 minutes to prepare a response to a case study before presenting it to judges. Maya Hinojos won first place in professional sales and third in the International Sales Challenge. Jacky Briseno placed third in Sales Management Meeting. Briseno, Erika Navarrete and Sabrina Cross advanced as a finalist team in the Entrepreneurship Challenge. Chase Broz and Craig Langille, a finalist team in the Entrepreneurship Challenge, placed second and earned a $1,000 scholarship.
- New Pegasystems Class Offers Students Real-World Experience
The new Pegasystems software class, a 300-level undergraduate course, introduces students to Pegasystems Inc. software, increasingly used by organizations for business-process and customer-relationship management. This adaptable system manages workflow and interacts with customers for businesses. In partnership with Pegasystems, GCU offers hands-on learning and real-world troubleshooting experiences to prepare students to fill industry demand. Colangelo College of Business instructor Elissa Torres, PhD, teaches this course to help students land paying internships, attract recruiters upon graduation and become systems or solutions architects.
- GCU Business Students Shine in DECA State Competition
As host of the DECA State Conference competition, the GCU DECA club had eight of its 14 entrants finish in the top three in their respective categories. The top GCU finishers were Whitney Rossi (first) and Judith St. Hilaire (second) for hotel and lodging, Maya Hinojos (second) for professional sales, Sarah Johnson (second) and Sabrina Cross (third) for fashion merchandising and marketing, Chase Broz and Craig Langille (team of two) for sports entertainment and marketing, and Erika Hernandez for restaurant and food services. These eight students (plus four others) qualified to compete in the DECA Collegiate Championship at the International Career Development Conference in Washington, D.C.
- Psychology Club President Wins the 2016 Canyon Challenge
Katalina Inzunza, psychology student and president of the Psychology Club, won the 2016 Canyon Challenge entrepreneurial competition sponsored by the Colangelo College of Business IDEA Club. Alongside her business partner Erick Roman, Inzunza designed Raffle Boss to help raffles become more profitable and accessible for philanthropic organizations and nonprofits. Chosen by an esteemed panel of judges including GCU President Brian Mueller, Raffle Boss won the $7,000 first prize and possibility of partnering with GCU. The first place win provides the new startup with opportunities for networking, investment, more capital and filling a need within the philanthropic market.
Colangelo College of Business Blog
BusinessBuzz provides insight into the 21st century business world, with original posts written by faculty, staff and students. Explore our virtual forum of business perceptions and experiences, developed by GCU students, faculty and colleagues.
