Saturday, January 24, 2015 was a great day for me; the weather was beautiful, and I, along with former referee Rich Riley and a wonderful crowd of spectators, saw our 15
th
ranked Chapman University Panther basketball team handily defeat the University of Redlands Bulldogs by a score of 83-63 at the Harold Hutton Sports Center. Congrats to Coach Mike Bokosky and the team on their victory. Here’s to Chapman winning the league title!

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As I sat in the bleachers, I reflected back to when I was playing basketball for the Panthers. When I was on the team, we were Division II and I was attending Chapman on an athletic scholarship. My time at Chapman provided me with a foundation which has supported my personal and professional endeavors ever since. The professors were extremely dedicated and devoted much of their time to teaching their students both in and out of the classroom setting. I subsequently attended Claremont Graduate University and earned my master’s degree in public administration, but it’s my years at Chapman about which I have the fondest memories.

I was excited to be asked to serve on the
Alumni Association Board of Directors
as it gives me the opportunity to give back to the university. I am starting my second year as a board member, and I have enjoyed expanding my friendship with the officers and fellow board members. As one who has a little grey in his hair (well, almost all grey), it is great to see all the energy provided by President Jimmy Blalock and the board; they create a great synergism with their enthusiasm for assisting current students as well as recent graduates with their lives outside of academia. Additionally, the board’s mission in assisting the university grow its alumni base has been impressive. Alumni support is integral, for as a small liberal arts college, it is important we emphasize to graduates to give back to the school. Information I have received as a board member has shown the increased academic prowess of incoming students, which helps us to increase our national recognition in the ranking of schools, which in turn contributes to the continuing renown and expansion of our institution. It’s lucky I graduated 45 years ago because I may not have been admitted now!

Looking forward to my next visit to the “U” to witness the continued growth of the new buildings, such as the spectacular
Musco Center for the Arts
as well as the soon-to-be constructed
Center for Science and Technology
. Go Panthers!

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