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Chapman Alumni News - June 2015

Welcome, Class of 2015! We're thrilled to welcome 2,393 new members to our alumni community. Several alumni speakers and guests participated in Commencement Weekend (May 22-24), including Jimmy Blalock (JD '09), president of the Chapman University Alumni Association, who spoke at Senior Convocation, reassuring graduates that "...no matter where you are in the world, Chapman University will always be your home, your alma mater and a place where you belong." Read on to learn more about the many ways you can stay active and involved as a Chapman graduate.

Class Notes and Alumni Headlines

  • Mike Drummy '74 is retiring after 40 years in Chapman's Office of Admissions. Read more »
  • Laina Babb '04 was promoted to head of tailoring for the Los Angeles Opera's Costume Shop. Her first show will be the 2015-2016 season opener Gianni Schicci, directed by Woody Allen. Read more »
  • Several Chapman alumni were involved in creating the music video for Snoop Dogg's "California Roll" (featuring Stevie Wonder and Pharrell Williams). Byron Werner '98 was the cinematographer, Raffi Adlan, Class of '02 was the producer and Ben Dynice, Class of '04 was the dimmer board operator. Check out the video »

Want to be featured here, on the alumni blog and Twitter, or in Chapman Magazine? Submit a class note online »

Benefit of the Month: Chapman Night at Angel Stadium

Take me out to the ballgame! Join us for Chapman Night at Angel Stadium and take advantage of our exclusive $26.50 discounted ticket price to watch the Angels take on the Seattle Mariners. Chapman Night attendees will receive a special Chapman-themed Angels hat (pictured at right)

More than 600 tickets have been sold so far, making this one of the largest off-campus Chapman Family events ever!

Friday, June 26, 2015 
Game time: 7:05 p.m. 
Purchase tickets »

Chapman Panther Pre-Game Party

Make sure to arrive early for our pre-game celebration located just inside the stadium at Gate 5. The fun starts at 5:30 p.m. with games, giveaway items, photo opportunities with Pete the Panther, and of course, time to mix and mingle with the Chapman Family. 

Visit angels.com/ChapmanNight to get your tickets today!

Alumni Schweitzer Award Winners

Congratulations to Cara Lawler '11 (pictured at left) for receiving the 2015 Schweitzer Rising Star Award in recognition of her efforts to invest her humanity for the betterment of humankind and the world through Someone A World Away, a nonprofit she founded that is dedicated to enriching and protecting the lives of orphans in Kenya.

Rita Nakashima Brock '72 received the 2015 Schweitzer Award of Excellence. Rita exemplifies Albert Schweitzer’s ethics of reverence for life and his dedication to a life of service through her work with Soul Repair Center, an organization she co-founded that serves veterans, especially from the Iraq War.

Watch a recording of Cara accepting her award at Senior Convocation (at approximately the 43 minute mark) »

Alumni Summer Bash

Catch up with friends and make new ones at the Alumni Summer Bash. We invite alumni of all ages and graduating classes to join us to welcome the Class of 2015 and share Chapman memories under the warm summer skies.

Thursday, July 16, 2015
6 p.m.
Marvin W. Meyer Faculty Athenaeum Patio
Argyros Forum 

Your $25 ticket includes dinner, two drink tickets for beer or wine, non-alcoholic beverages and a gift to the Chapman Fund that helps future students have the same life-changing experience at Chapman that you had. ($20 tickets are available for those who don't plan on drinking beer or wine.) Purchase a ticket »

Calling all alumni wine connoisseurs!

He climbs mountains, he runs marathons, he hosts a cooking show and now Chapman University President Jim Doti can add lending his name to an award-winning wine to his resume.

The Doti-Sodaro Estate 2008 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon took home the gold medal for wines $60 and over at the 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Learn more »

Our alumni wine aficionados and enthusiasts can now enjoy the second vintage of the Doti-Sodaro Cabernet Sauvignon, which is available for purchase online. For each bottle sold, $25 is donated to the Chapman Scholarship Fund.

Purchase Doti-Sodaro Estate 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon »

Chapman50 Member Wins Emmy Award

Casey Kasprzyk '01, a member of Chapman50, received the Emmy for Outstanding Original Song in a Drama at the recent Daytime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. Casey is the producer of The Bold and the Beautiful. Read more »

Chapman50 comprises alumni under the age of 50 who are dedicated to strengthening University and alumni programming by utilizing their professional networks and leadership expertise. Learn more about Chapman50 »

Dodge College Professional Certificate Program in Screenwriting

Are you still holding on to that one great idea you’ve always had for a movie, but not quite sure how to go about it? Or maybe you thought about taking a screenwriting class, but don’t have the time or the flexibility?

Dodge College is now offering a one-year, online Professional Certificate Program in Screenwriting and Chapman alumni can take advantage of a special discounted rate. The application deadline is Wednesday, July 15.

Learn more about the Professional Certificate Program in Screenwriting »

Join us at Summer Welcome Receptions

Alumni, join us in welcoming the incoming Class of 2019 at our Summer Welcome Receptions across the country. We are looking for alumni to share Chapman stories, perspectives and advice with incoming freshmen and families.

View the schedule of 2015 Summer Welcome Receptions »

If you’d like to participate or learn more, contact Mahri Barnes 10 via e-mail or (714) 997-6558 for more information.