Legendary Rock Star Alice Cooper and 'American Idol' Jordin Sparks Dedicate 'The Rock' Teen Music Center at Grand Canyon University

Legendary Rock Star Alice Cooper and 'American Idol' Jordin Sparks Dedicate 'The Rock' Teen Music Center at Grand Canyon University

Teen center to provide safe, productive place to socialize, make music

PHOENIX, Dec. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Rock star Alice Cooper and 2007 "American Idol" Jordin Sparks today dedicate the site of a real-life school of rock complete with a multi-use concert hall, recording studio and sound rooms.

The dedication ceremony begins with Cooper making a flamboyant entry to the site riding a backhoe to music performed live by local teen garage band "The Silent Cry." Cooper will be followed by Sparks, ensconced in a Corvette convertible, to commemorate the ground on which a 29,000-square-foot, $7 million teen center titled "The Rock" will be built at Grand Canyon University, one of the nation's fastest-growing Arizona's leading higher education institutions.

It's all an effort led by Cooper and supported by Sparks -- both Christians raised in Phoenix -- to keep teens on the straight and narrow, away from crime and drugs, and having fun and learning. Both Cooper and Sparks have ties to Grand Canyon University -- Cooper, a long-time contributor to Grand Canyon University (GCU), supports scholarships and received an honorary doctorate there. Sparks, whose grandmother is a GCU alumnus, designated The Rock as one of the charities to which she would donate a portion of her winnings.

Grand Canyon University CEO Brent Richardson will join Cooper and Sparks on-stage to ceremoniously dedicate the site to the community. A special "Thank You" banner will then be presented to Cooper by members of local community youth programs.

The Rock will offer a variety of after-school programs and special events for area youth. The facility is designed to provide a safe, fun place for area teens to gather and participate in program activities that will make a difference in their lives.

The Rock will include a coffee house with kitchen and snack bar, indoor basketball courts, rock climbing walls, computer/study rooms and a game room. Concerts from youth bands will be planned and other special events are envisioned in partnership with community and church organizations.

Grand Canyon University also plans to work with Solid Rock Foundation to help coordinate volunteer and educational opportunities, as well as youth activity programming.

"With Grand Canyon University's support, we are fulfilling a vision we've had for several years -- to provide teens and children with a central place to learn, have fun, and explore their creativity in a supportive environment," says Alice Cooper, Solid Rock's chairman. "I hope that in years to come, The Rock will be the first of many such teen centers in Arizona and around the country."

"Grand Canyon University welcomes Solid Rock Foundation to our expanding campus," Richardson says. "We look forward to supporting area youth when 'School's Out.' Not only is Alice Cooper a GCU honorary degree holder but our heritage and values-based educational approach fit well with Solid Rock's goals. We look forward to a beautiful facility and fulfilling relationship."

About Grand Canyon University

Founded in 1949, Grand Canyon University is a one of the nation's fastest- growing higher learning institutions. Based in Phoenix, the regionally accredited, private, Christian university offers online and campus-based Bachelor's and Master's degree programs through the Ken Blanchard College of Business, College of Education, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The school was ranked as having the top online education program by OEDb (Online Education Database). With a total enrollment of approximately 15,000 students, GCU emphasizes individual attention for both traditional undergraduate students as well as the working professional. More information:

www.gcu.edu.

About Solid Rock Foundation

The Solid Rock Foundation is a Christian nonprofit organization whose goal is to help to address the spiritual, economic, physical and social needs of teenagers and children in the community and make a difference in their lives. Established by entertainer Alice Cooper and his friend Chuck Savale in November 1995, the organization supports Christian and youth outreach in communities throughout Arizona. Solid Rock Foundation also hosts two major fundraisers each year, the Alice Cooper Celebrity Am Golf Tournament and Alice Cooper's Christmas Pudding music and comedy concert. More information: www.srfrock.org.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Grand Canyon University

CONTACT: Bill Jenkins of Grand Canyon University, +1-602-315-5566

Web site: http://www.gcu.edu/
http://www.srfrock.org/

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