Cynthia 
Mote Elliott
College of Nursing Inductee
2008 Master of Science in Nursing, 2006 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)
Cynthia Mote Elliott, BSN, MSN, FNP-C graduated from Grand Canyon University with her Bachelors of Science in Nursing in 2006 and her Masters of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner in 2008. After graduation, Cindy and a colleague from Tucson took a leap of faith to open their own Nurse Run clinic: Abundant Health Family Practice. Abundant Health Family Practice has a foundation based in Christ centered leadership and service where all walks of life are welcome. The mission is to promote the health and well-being of families by meeting the healthcare needs of those in the local Tucson community and surrounding areas.
Melissa 
Holdaway
Ken Blanchard College of Business Inductee
2008 Executive Master of Business Administration
Melissa Holdaway is the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Arizona Charter Academy where she oversees the accounting, human resources, marketing, facilities, strategic planning, legal, community development and technology. She is a veteran in the charter school industry with almost 20 years of leadership experience in for-profit and non-profit enterprises, with the last 12 years in charter school operations and management. Arizona Charter Academy has received numerous awards including one of the Valley’s “Best Place to Work” from Phoenix Business Journal, Top 25 Workplaces for Women, and has been recognized as one of Arizona’s Most Admired Companies for the last three years by AZ Business Magazine. Melissa holds an Executive MBA from Grand Canyon University and in 2010 was appointed by the Governor to the Commission for Postsecondary Education. Melissa serves as Commissioner for the General Plan Commission for the city of Surprise, Chairs the Arizona State Charter Association Advisory Board Business Committee and serves on the West Valley Youth Leadership Council.
Steve La
ube
College of Theology Inductee
1981 Bachelor of Arts in Bible
Steve Laube, a literary agent and president of The Steve Laube Agency, has been in the book industry for over 32 years, first as a bookstore manager where he was awarded the National Store of the Year in 1989 by the Christian Booksellers Association. He then spent over a decade with Bethany House Publishers rising to the position of editorial director of non-fiction and was named the Editor of the Year in 2002. He later became an agent and has represented over 800 new books and was named Agent of the Year in 2009. His office is in Phoenix, Arizona.
Glenn M. Ramey
College of Arts and Sciences Inductee
1959 Bachelor of Arts in English
Pastor Glenn M. Ramey transferred to Grand Canyon College in 1957. During his time at GCC, he served as president of the campus ministerial association and was co-editor of GCC’s literary magazine, Shadows. In 1966, Pastor Ramey was called to assume the pastorate of West Dunlap Baptist Church, a former mission of the First Southern Baptist Church of Glendale (now Cross-Connection International Fellowship). He would spend the next four decades there. Through the 60s and into the new millennium, Pastor Ramey served a faithful, committed group of believers at the little church on the corner of Dunlap and 39th Avenue in Phoenix. He has spearheaded, with the help of his church, the ministry to Burmese refugees in his community. What started with just one Burmese refugee has grown into a full church with its own pastor and services, and members in the hundreds.
Kimberly Rimbey
College of Education Inductee
1988 Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
Kimberly Rimbey, a 1988 GCU graduate, is passionate about equipping teachers to maximize their potential for impacting student learning. A recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, Kim has authored many publications, gleaning from her years as a kindergarten and first-grade teacher, elementary mathematics coach, district mathematics coordinator, and a sought-after professional developer. Currently, Kim works for the Rodel Charitable Foundation of Arizona, whose aim is to raise student achievement at schools in high-poverty communities. Presently a Ph.D. Candidate, Kim plans to graduate from ASU this May with a Ph.D. in Mathematics Education.
Amber Wagner
College of Fine Arts and Production Inductee
2006 Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance
American soprano Amber Wagner is a winner of the 2007 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Grand Finals and was featured in the documentary film “The Audition” which opened to audiences nationwide in 2009. Chosen by OPERA NEWS as one of twenty-five artists poised to break out and become a major force in classical music in the coming decade, Amber Wagner begins the 2012/13 season with a return to the Metropolitan Opera as Amelia in Un Ballo in Maschera conducted by Fabio Luisi. This past season, Amber Wagner triumphed in the title role in Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos at Lyric Opera of Chicago, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis. Highlights from past operatic seasons included Ms. Wagner’s European debut with the Prague State Opera performing Brangäne in Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde with conductor Jan Latham Koenig and performances with Lyric Opera of Chicago as Elsa in Lohengrin conducted by Sir Andrew Davis.
Paul Westphal
Athletics Inductee
1986-88 GCU Men’s Head Basketball Coach
Paul Westphal Men’s Basketball Coach (1986-88) In just two seasons as head coach of the Grand Canyon men’s basketball program, Paul Westphal took a short-term stay and made longterm impact. Paul’s Grand Canyon basketball teams won more games in a two-year span than any other consecutive years in school history. The 1987-88 season was record-setting, wining the schools’ third NAIA National title and tying the record for most national championships by a single school. The #11 seed in the 32-team field, most figured the Antelopes wouldn’t be around long. But on March 22, 1988 they had completed their improbable run with an 88-86 overtime win over Auburn University-Montgomery at Kansas City’s Kemper Arena. Grand Canyon set a new NAIA scoring record for points in a season (4,093) and averaged 95.2 points per game over their 43 games. The ‘Lopes set 12 single-season school records in 1987-88. In two seasons, Westphal’s teams were 63-18 (.778 winning percentage).
Dr. Robin Baker
College of Arts and Sciences Inductee
1980 Bachelor of Arts in History
Dr. Robin Baker has made an extensive contribution to the university setting. Baker is currently the president of George Fox University, after serving as provost for 8 years. He has held other prominent administrative positions including Senior Vice President of Grand Canyon University, Assistant Professor of History at John Brown University, and Assistant Professor of History at Wheaton College. Baker speaks frequently on integrating faith and learning in a Christian university setting. Baker and his wife Ruth married in 1980 while he was a student at Grand Canyon University, and have three children.
Marci Salmon
College of Education Inductee
1989 Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
Marci Salmon has made signifi cant contributions to the community, including serving on the Laurel House Board, Family Matters Board, and Changing Lives in Costa Rica Board. She taught Kindergarten and 2nd grade in the Paradise Valley School District. Salmon helped establish the Tim Salmon Foundation and the Tim Salmon and Marci Salmon Scholarship at GCU. Salmon has spent countless hours volunteering with Neighborhood Ministries, Maggie’s Place, Scottsdale Christian Academy, and Scottsdale Bible Church. Salmon has been devoted to serving those around her and raising her four children.
Jared Stauffer MBA
Ken Blanchard College of Business Inductee
1999 Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies, 2008 Master of Business Administration in Executive Master of Business Administration
Jared Stauffer is a Phoenix native and met the love of his life, Christine, while attending Grand Canyon University. Together they have four wonderful children. Stauffer began his fi rst company, Ad World, in 1995, a classified ad and auction website. In 1997 Stauffer shifted his focus to consulting and worked with such companies as Intel and Lehman Brothers. In 1999 Stauffer and Christine founded Brinkster, a managed and Cloud hosting company in their New York City apartment. Today, Stauffer is still CEO of Brinkster, employing 35 people with 50,000 customers in 200 countries. Brinkster donates 1% of its revenues to charities and missionaries.
Shirley Righi MSN, RN, NEA-BC
College of Nursing Inductee
1995 Bachelor os Science in Nursing
Shirley Righi has excelled in building a thriving nursing practice throughout her career. She currently is a Clinical Director for Scottsdale Healthcare, where she has served for over twenty-years in multiple roles. Righi also serves as Director for the Home Health Department, Professional Nursing Education, and the Magnet Project Director. Under Righi’s leadership, Scottsdale Healthcare recently received the prestigious recognition of Magnet status for excellence in nursing care. Her clinical interests are in the elderly and functional status. Her management interests are in building excellence in nursing practice.
Christine Weidinger
College of Fine Arts and Production Inductee
1970 Bachelor of Science in Music Education
Christine Weidinger has enjoyed a distinguished career as an operatic soprano, starring in most of the world’s major opera houses. The Arizona native made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera. She has shared the stage with the likes of Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Montserrat Caballe and Marilyn Horne. Her wide-ranging repertoire includes works by Verdi, Mozart, Donizetti and Wagner. The German press celebrated her as “the miracle soprano”; equally enthusiastic, the Italian press described her as “a genuine prima donna in full measure.” Ms. Weidinger teaches voice in Durham, North Carolina and heads the Triangle Opera Studios, an organization founded to provide performance opportunities for singers seeking to begin professional singing careers.
Kevin Warren JD
Athletics Inductee
1986 Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Kevin Warren holds three 4th place GCU basketball records: 1,120 points scored over a two-year career at GCU, 23.3 points averaged his senior year, and has GCU’s 4th best single scoring game against Concordia College in 1984 with 42 points. Warren earned GTE/CoSida Academic All-America as a senior along with NAIA Academic All-America honors and NAIA All-District VII honors as both a junior and senior. Warren worked with the international law fi rm of Greenberg Traurig, the Detroit Lions and the St. Louis Rams. Currently Warren is in his 8th year with the Minnesota Vikings as Vice President of Legal Affairs & Chief Administrative Officer. This begins his 14th season in the National Football League.
