Early Saturday morning, Nov. 1, more than 180 Grand Canyon University students traded their backpacks for paint brushes and work gloves as part of the school’s 20th semiannual Day of Service with Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona.
Their mission: to revitalize nine neighborhood homes through exterior paint and landscaping improvements in what organizers hope is a small but powerful contribution to the long-term renewal of the 85017 ZIP code surrounding GCU’s campus.
The event marks another milestone in a university-community partnership that has become one of the largest neighborhood revitalization projects of its kind in the nation.
“Our partnership with Habitat for Humanity reflects GCU’s commitment to integrating service into education through our Five-Point Plan, an initiative designed to uplift the Maryvale community and support the restoration of a strong, thriving middle-class neighborhood,” GCU President Brian Mueller said.
The project aims to provide something to both the neighborhood and students involved in the improvements, Mueller said.
“By helping families meet essential needs, improve their homes, feel safe in their community, access quality education and pursue high-wage career pathways, this work fosters sustainable change that can transform generations to come,” he said. “For our students, it is a deeply formative experience that shapes them to lead and serve with purpose and lasting impact.”
Since the program’s launch nine years ago, GCU students have logged nearly 40,000 volunteer hours, leading to hundreds of home repairs and a dramatic rise in property values — up 876% in the surrounding community since 2011.
For Todd Rogers, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona, it’s not just about the numbers. It’s about the spirit the students bring.
“One thing that never ceases to amaze me is the dedication and spirit of the Grand Canyon University students,” Rogers said. “The fact that so many of them choose to get up early on a Saturday morning — when they could easily be doing something else — to come out and serve their neighbors says so much about their character. Every time we see it, it’s inspiring and energizing — not just for our team at Habitat, but for the families we serve as well.”
That same energy has shaped how students see their role in the community.
Ellie Brown, a junior marketing and advertising major who leads GCU’s Local Outreach team, said the experience has changed how she defines impact.
“I used to think community impact meant volunteering once in a while,” Brown said. “But this showed me it’s so much deeper. It’s about showing up for people in your own community with love and kindness. To me, that’s what true community impact looks like — living every day in a way that reflects Jesus.”
Through initiatives like the Day of Service, GCU seeks to demonstrate how higher education can do more than educate students — it can equip them to transform their communities, one home at a time.
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Stacy Mantle
Education Solutions Reporter
Meet Stacy
Stacy Mantle is joining the team at Independent Newsmedia, Inc. as an Education Solutions journalist, thanks to a grant from the Arizona Community Collaborative. She has a long history in education that ranges from teaching junior high and middle school to developing curriculum and standards-based assessments.
Community: A longtime advocate for animal welfare, Stacy is deeply involved in rescue efforts and volunteers with several nonprofit organizations.
Random Fact: Once upon a time, she shared her home with a pet coyote and two wolf hybrids. The experiences were wild enough to become the subject of her first book!
Education: She holds a BA in English with a minor in Political Science, a Post-baccalaureate in Secondary Education, and an MBA with a emphasis on Marketing.
Hobbies: In her spare time, Stacy writes fast-paced urban fantasy novels, crafts small-batch artisan soap, and is always up for hiking or off-roading through the Arizona wilderness with her husband of 23 years.