Passing on the flame of the Chapman experience Alumni welcome incoming freshmen to the Chapman Family

Alumni from across the decades came back to campus last week for the annual Orientation Candle Lighting Ceremony to welcome the Class of 2019 to our Chapman Family. Prior to the ceremony, alumni gathered for a reception in the Leatherby Libraries’ Allred Entrada where they were greeted and welcomed back to their alma mater by Charlene Baldwin, dean of the Leatherby Libraries, and
Brady Hogan ’92 (MBA ’14)
, director of alumni engagement.

The Candle Lighting Ceremony brought back fond memories for alumni participants, a few of which are shared below. We can’t wait to hear about the stories and connections this timeless tradition will create next year! If you’re interested in participating in the 2016 Candle Lighting Ceremony, keep an eye out for information next summer. (Make sure to
keep your contact information up to date
so you don’t miss out on special alumni invitations and events.)

The candle lighting tradition came full circle for Brendan Le ’14. He was eager to participate in the Candle Lighting Ceremony as an alumnus because his orientation candle lighting experience was truly memorable. When he told his mother he would be coming to the ceremony as an alumnus, she reminded him of when his candle was lit by 50 Year Club alumna Shirley Lapier ’55 when he was an incoming freshmen. 

To Brendan’s surprise, Shirley was still participating in the ceremony. Brendan introduced himself to Shirley and explained that she had lit his candle just five years prior. In his words, “It was meant to be.”

Brendan and Shirley are pictured at left at the Candle Lighting Ceremony in 2010, when Brendan was a freshmen, and at the 2015 ceremony on the right.