I have just returned from a week of traveling in Greece with my 13-year-old nephew, KC. We also had an overnight stay in Istanbul, Turkey. Wow! This was KC’s first trip abroad, and I am confident it will not be his last. I didn’t make my first trip abroad until I was in my early thirties, and now I cannot seem to get enough travel. It really is an incredible way to gain perspective on the world, appreciate other cultures, and bring history to life through a more personal connection.

For many years, I have heard wonderful stories from alumni whose lives were forever changed by World Campus Afloat, a global travel for college credit program that was owned by Chapman in the 1960s and 1970s; it later became Semester at Sea. Are you familiar? When I was in college, I was interested in studying abroad to help me learn Spanish through immersion, but it wasn’t a financial option for me then. That’s why, when I set up my estate plan, I included a provision to create endowments in my name at my undergraduate alma mater and Chapman University. These endowments will help students with financial needs to participate in study abroad programs. The designation feels very personal and meaningful to me, so I often tell others about it to inspire them to consider their own legacy.

Chapman’s annual Charles C. Chapman Legacy Society member dinner will be held on April 10 – the same day as Chapman University Giving Day. If you’d like to learn more about either event or discuss your plan without obligation, I can be reached at (714) 516-4590 and [email protected]. To receive a copy of Planning Your Legacy, our free guide for creating or updating your estate plan, please use the convenient online form.