Grateful Threads A spirit of support and gratitude weaves throughout Chapman Celebrates, the University's signature event raising funds for student scholarships.

One is a founding member of the Grateful Dead, another an Emmy-winning television producer. And two are among Southern California’s most dynamic philanthropists. But at Chapman University’s signature fundraiser, they were all proud Panthers in support of a singular mission – student scholarships that change lives.

“I love this school, and I love that this is a scholarship event,” said rock legend and Chapman parent Bob Weir, who on Nov. 3 received the University’s Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award during the 37th Annual Chapman Celebrates Gala Night.

“Music from the Silver Screen” was the motif of the festivities and Broadway-style revue performed by students at Musco Center for the Arts. But generosity was the overriding theme of the evening, which raised nearly $2 million in scholarship support.

Chapman Trustee Zeinab H. Dabbah, M.D., (JD ’12), and Daniel Temianka, M.D., were named the University’s Citizens of the Year. The couple’s passionate involvement at Chapman touches every corner of campus, including at the Hall-Musco Conservatory, where they established the Henri Temianka Professorship in Music and Scholarship in String Studies. The professorship is named for Daniel’s father, founder of the famed Paganini Quartet.

Casey Kasprzyk ’01 received the 2018 Alumni Achievement Award during Chapman Celebrates Opening Night. Kasprzyk, producer of the CBS daytime drama series “The Bold and the Beautiful,” said the significance of the fundraiser hits home for him. As a Chapman student, he received a Provost Scholarship.

“That scholarship made it possible for me to attend Chapman, which resulted in me being able to achieve my dream of working in television,” he said.

Jasmine Johnson ’15 also shared a message of gratitude. She found support at Chapman after a life of homelessness.

“The scholarships I received gave me a new life. It showed me that I wasn’t alone, and I will forever be grateful for that,” Johnson said.

Major gifts are not the only source of scholarship support, noted Chapman President Daniele Struppa.

“Last year alone, Chapman received more than 13,000 gifts, amounting to more than $100 million in support. That’s unbelievable, right? What’s even more remarkable is that the majority of those gifts were less than $1,000. It demonstrates the importance of each and every gift and how much impact each gift can make,” Struppa said.

In the spotlight at Chapman Celebrates 2018 were, from left to right, Chapman Trustee Zeinab H. Dabbah, M.D., (JD ’12) and Daniel Temianka, M.D., honored as Citizens of the Year by Chapman President Daniele Struppa; Chapman parent Bob Weir, founding member of the Grateful Dead who received the University’s Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award; and Casey Kasprzyk ’01, producer of “The Bold and the Beautiful” who earned the Chapman Alumni Achievement Award. Among the show’s featured performers was dancer Hvrmony Adams ’19.