Educators band together to accelerate the dissemination of goodwill among group members
In the digital realm of Grand Canyon University (GCU), a unique character education initiative, Lopes Lead with Character, is making waves. Co-founded by Dr. Crystal McCabe and Kimber Underdown, the group has become a beacon of community engagement and character development for online students.
The duo, who met on their first day of work at GCU in 2013, have since grown close, spending holidays and vacations together. Despite their different personalities - Dr. McCabe being introverted and Underdown extroverted - they complement each other well, creating a dynamic presentation duo that speaks at conferences across the country and writes textbooks together.
The Lopes Lead with Character group began as an in-person meeting and has since expanded to other colleges and online platforms in September 2023. The group's mission, supported by a three-year grant from the Kern Family Foundation, is to showcase the virtues that can be taken on vacation and the lessons that can be learned from different venues.
Recently, the group presented videos and discussions about virtues from five travel hot spots: Greece, Japan, Brazil, Kenya, and Hawaii. For instance, Kimber Underdown shared the word for joy in Brazil, "alegria." The group's meetings, run like a podcast, engage students in conversation and discussion.
The success of the Lopes Lead with Character group lies in its ability to create a sense of community for online students. By encouraging easy banter and interaction, the group aims to provide a place for growth, reflection, and fun. This community spirit was evident after hearing from a student from Kenya, who introduced the word "ubuntu" (I am because we are). The group experienced a surge in community spirit, with over 80 participants in the last two monthly meetings.
Students participating in the group emphasize the need for empathy and understanding when encountering others, stating, "We don't know what they woke up to." This sentiment reflects the group's focus on fostering virtues such as patience, empathy, and understanding, which are particularly important in professional settings, especially when dealing with difficult situations such as inspecting homes and taking children away.
Emily Farkas, CCEE program director, credits the impactful presence of the group's leaders, Dr. Crystal McCabe and Kimber Underdown, for encouraging students to focus on personal growth and the betterment of others. As character education programs like Lopes Lead with Character continue to evolve, they play a crucial role in fostering a supportive and ethical community across GCU's online platforms.
- Grand Canyon University's unique character education initiative, Lopes Lead with Character, is led by Dr. Crystal McCabe and Kimber Underdown, who met on their first day at GCU in 2013.
- The duo, despite their different personalities, have collaborated on conferences, textbooks, and the expansion of Lopes Lead with Character to other colleges and online platforms.
- The group's mission, supported by a three-year grant from the Kern Family Foundation, aims to showcase virtues learned from various locations, such as Greece, Japan, Brazil, Kenya, and Hawaii.
- Students actively engage in the group's discussions and conversation, learning about words like "alegria" from Brazil and "ubuntu" from Kenya.
- The group fosters a sense of community for online students, promoting personal growth, reflection, and fun, as shown by the surge in participants after hearing from a student from Kenya.
- Students emphasize the importance of empathy and understanding in dealing with others, reflecting the group's focus on virtues like patience, empathy, and understanding, crucial in professional settings.
- The impactful leadership of Dr. Crystal McCabe and Kimber Underdown encourages students to focus on personal growth and the betterment of others, making Lopes Lead with Character a crucial part of fostering a supportive and ethical community across GCU's education-and-self-development programs.
