Vaughn Paape’s Pickleball Success: Vaughn Paape, a recent mechanical engineering graduate from Grand Canyon University, has excelled in both his academic pursuits and his love for pickleball. This summer, Paape will begin his career as a nuclear engineer at the Pearl Harbor naval base in Oahu, Hawaii, but his journey to success also includes winning pickleball championships and medals.
A Unique Start in Pickleball
Paape’s pickleball journey began during the summer after his freshman year at GCU when he was living with his older brother in Tucson, Arizona. With no homework to keep him busy, he noticed there were pickleball courts just five minutes away. Intrigued, Paape decided to give it a try and quickly fell in love with the sport. “I really liked it. I told my brother, you’ve got to check it out – it’s so fun. We ended up going almost every night for the entire summer,” Paape said.
Encouraged by his new hobby, Paape joined the GCU club sports pickleball team during his sophomore year. Along with his family friend, Steven Kryk, Paape won the first GCU pickleball intramural championship, defeating 219 teams. His passion and dedication to the sport continued, and Paape went on to earn a gold medal in the mixed doubles amateur division at the Professional Pickleball Association’s tournament in Mesa, Arizona, this year.
Leadership and Academic Achievements
Paape’s involvement in pickleball also reflected his leadership and teamwork abilities, traits that carried over into his engineering studies. Kryk, who later became one of Paape’s professors, described Paape as a natural leader in the classroom. “I saw a natural leader in the classroom … His understanding of course material was immediate,” Kryk said.
Paape’s academic journey at GCU was marked by a series of internships that helped him secure his future job at Pearl Harbor. He also gained practical experience working with AutoCAD through GCU Facilities, showcasing his engineering skills both inside and outside the classroom.
Pickleball on the Resume
When Paape applied for his job with the U.S. Department of Defense, he included pickleball on his resume as a unique talking point. “The funny thing is, I put on my resume, pickleball. … They saw that and were asking me about it. I guess they must have really liked that,” Paape said. His love for pickleball even helped him stand out during his interview, contributing to his success in landing the job.
News in Brief: Vaughn Paape’s Pickleball Success
Vaughn Paape, a Grand Canyon University engineering graduate, will begin his nuclear engineering career at Pearl Harbor this summer. Alongside his academic success, Paape has also won pickleball championships, including the first GCU pickleball intramural championship and a gold medal at the Professional Pickleball Association tournament in Mesa.
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