David Waldram

Class Year: 2004
Degree: B.F.A. Film and Television, M.A. Education (In Progress)
Profession: Administrative Assistant, Fish Interfaith Center; Chaplain, Town & Gown; Producer and Founder, First Vision Entertainment

David Waldram embodies one of the core values of Chapman: to live a life of service to others. After David graduated from Chapman with a BFA in film and television in 2004, he returned to campus as the administrative assistant of the Fish Interfaith Center and to serve as chaplain for Town & Gown, a traditional support group for the campus community.

“I came back to campus as an employee not because of the pay, trust me on that one, but because I believe in the values of Chapman’s four pillars of educating the whole self,” David explains. “In particular, I felt my service could be best used in promoting the spiritual pillar of our lives.”

David believes that it is important to give Chapman both gifts of time and money. In addition to his hard work and time, David also gives a modest annual donation to the school. These gifts are opportunities for things to be accomplished on campus. David sees Chapman as a symbol of opportunity: “Chapman means opportunity to discover and grow, make impacts on people, and seek truth and apply it.”

Monetary gifts, whether small or large provide the resources for the people who believe in Chapman and work to give students the ability to achieve their biggest dreams on campus. “Without financial gifts, we would only be left with good ideas,” David attests. “However, without gifts of time, there would only be beautiful buildings without people to attend programs, events, educational discussions and lectures; the life-blood of the university.” Thus, it is the marriage of the two kinds of gifts that bring Chapman’s vision to fruition.

Making a gift, whether financial or personal, is about staying connected with the university. David advises students to: “Enjoy the community you spent four years creating and enjoy being a part of building on that bond into something bigger.”

In addition to working on campus since graduation, David started a video/film production company called First Vision Entertainment, specializing in commercial video/marketing/web and family video services along with documentary and film ventures. He also has a radio talk show on interfaith relations and politics at 88.9 FM KUCI. He is currently working on his M.A. in education at Chapman. Otherwise, he enjoys the beach and the California sun as often as he can.