Jeanette Shelly Atkins ’78 (MS ’84) 

My Chapman journey began in 1976 when I received a postcard announcing a new program/major for nurses. It was a BS degree in Health Sciences. An RN could receive credit for prior coursework and professional experience. I was able to transfer in as a junior and began my classes at the REC at El Toro in the evening, part-time while I worked full-time. Fall 1977, I left my full-time job as a Paramedic Instructor and started full-time on campus at Chapman College! Thanks to financial aid and scholarships, I could finish in 1 more year, getting my BS degree in 1978. The Master’s in Health Sciences program started and, thanks to Buck and Joni Smith, I was able to attend part-time while working. They saw to it that I received a grant and a Graduate Assistantship. A couple of “detours” postponed my graduation until 5/84 and they were able to “hood” me. Somewhere between ’78 and ’84, I worked part-time as the Director of old the Student Health Center in a house on Center Street, I believe. Thanks to my MS Degree, with a minor in Counseling, I was hired by the County of Orange Health Department/ Epidemiology division, to be their first AIDS Investigator. After 4 years, ’84-’88,

I returned to Nursing in Alzheimer’s research, then back to the ER.

Meantime, my son, Dr. Mark Shelly, was granted a Presidential Scholarship in 1989. He graduated in 1993. From 1991-1993, I again worked as the Director of the Student Health Center and taught classes part-time in the Health Sciences program. Somewhere in the 90’s, I also served on the Alumni Board of Directors.

When I heard about Town and Gown, I wanted to give back to Chapman College/University for all they did for me and my son.  I was thrilled when my friend and “sister”, Kathleen Shelly Barker, asked me to join the Board of Directors. It has been an honor to serve these last 6 years.

On another personal note, I married my “college sweetheart”, Van Atkins, and we are both members of Town & Gown. Van, grew up in Orange on Lemon Street. He used to ride his bike by “the small school” named Chapman. In addition, he went to Holy Family school K-8  and we were married at Holy Family Church on 12/21/2020.

Professionally, I retired from Nursing in 8/20 after 54 years of an incredible career thanks to the great education I received from Chapman.

Judy Crum ’59

My boyfriend and I came to Chapman College in 1956 from Campbell Christian Church in Phoenix, AZ. Our CYF leaders, Bill and Donna Wallace, were Chapman Alumni from the LA Campus. They brought our group to visit Chapman every year for the Chapman Open House. They sold us! We attended Chapman from 1956 through 1959 when we graduated. When we attended Chapman College, students were on the Single Subject Plan. A new class every 6 weeks. We never had more than 10 students in our classes. Both Jim and I had student work positions on campus from 1:00-5:00 each day. We didn’t receive an actual check for those jobs until we had worked off any remaining amount due on our tuition. I worked my 3 years as secretary for the Chaplain, Willard Learned. Jim worked his 3 years as an assistant from Mrs. Barbree in the cafeteria.

We were married in Phoenix at Capitol Christian Church in 1958.  Kathy Dunlap sang at our wedding! Following graduation, Jim became a 6th grade and Special Education teacher in Anaheim City School District. I became a 6th grade teacher in Orange Unified School District.

T&G is important to me because it awards Scholarships each year. Scholarships are very personal to me. I was fortunate to have a ½ Tuition scholarship from Woman’s Campus Club (Predecessor of T&G) my three years and ½ tuition from the Kay Welsh Home Economic Scholarship. Jane Perkins Winterorth was in charge of the three of us with scholarships from Campus Club. She made sure we were young ladies at all times around the Campus Club meetings. We had to earn our scholarships by washing the dishes used for teatime at each meeting, and every special event they held. Two that I can remember were at the Carbon Dobbs estate on the top of the hill, and the wonderful home of Florence Smiley on Smiley Drive in Cowan Heights. We had to maintain a B average to keep the scholarship. Great motivation. I loved Jane. She was so caring and kind to us.

 

 

Anna Draper ’72

I am a Chapman Alumni (1967-1972) took me an extra year to finish.  I was fortunate to have wonderful roommates from living in the dorms, who have turned into lifelong friends.  I still see 10 of them on a regular basis for dinner once a month.

During my time at Chapman I had some fabulous teachers, just to name a few.  Mr. Miller in history, Dr. See, Sociology, Dr. Kakis, Chemistry.  I graduated with a Sociology/ Social Welfare degree.

After Chapman I went to work for the Orange County Probation Department, but quickly found out that was not the right place for me.  After a few other jobs in Human Resources. I decided to get my teaching degree.  I started teaching in Irvine but was offered a permanent placement with the Orange County Department of Education teaching in the court schools in 1994. I had found my perfect place to make a difference. I taught in their different small school locations throughout Orange County, many of their locations were one or two rooms only, mostly to avoid gang related problems.  All of my students had Probation Officers so my time with the Probation Department came in handy.   I taught for the country until I retired in 2017.

I met my husband, Gary in 1977 after I returned from living in Amman Jordan for a year.  We were married in 1978 and have two children.  Garison who lives with his wife in Orange and Jana, his twin sister who lives in England with her husband and 2 daughters.