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International Club: Oliver Chapman Award

The Tufts University International Club administers The Oliver Chapman Leadership and Community Service Award. This award is unique because the achievements of a Tufts student are recognized by his/her peers. The committee who selects the recipient consists of I-Club officers and leaders from different cultural and ethnic organizations at Tufts as well as the Director of the International Center.

The award was established in the spring of 1993 in memory of Oliver Chapman. Oliver was an undergraduate student from Panama who passed away in May of 1992. Oliver had many friends within the international community, was loved by all who knew him and he was always ready to help others. Olivers openness to other cultures allowed many people to learn from each other through their interactions with him. Oliver is also remembered by his friends as having an incredible smile!

Oliver was very well-liked by his peers. While at Tufts he had been involved with the International Orientation Program and served as an International Student Host Advisor. Oliver warmly greeted and welcomed new international and American students to Tufts. Additionally, he was an executive officer of the Latin American Society.

In considering nominees for this award, the committee is looking for a senior who has been active with the international community either on the Tufts campus or off-campus in the local community. Ideally, the nominee should be a person who has reached out to others and who has had an impact on the lives of Tufts students or to a group or community outside of Tufts. The nominee should demonstrate a love for humanity through his/her involvement in extracurricular activities.

One previous Chapman Award recipient was given this honor based on her initiative to create a cross-cultural peer support group for Tufts students who faced cultural adjustment issues to American college life. Another recipient was one of the primary individuals who brought to the campus an awareness of the needs of Latino students at Tufts. One volunteered, working with a local immigrant population, teaching English as a Second Language. Another dedicated his time to raising awareness of, and fundraising for, financial aid to international students. In all of the above examples, the most striking characteristic of each student was his/her ability to give unselfishly to others while never expecting to receive any recognition for his/her efforts.

In considering nominees for the Oliver Chapman Leadership and Community Service Award, the committee asks you to think about the qualities described above when making your nomination.

The recipient will be honored by the International Club at the annual Parade of Nations Cultural Extravaganza on Sunday, March 9, 2008. The recipient will receive an individual plaque recognizing his/her award and his/her name will be inscribed on a permanent plaque listing all previous recipients that hangs in the International Center. The recipient will receive a gift certificate of $100.

Click here for a list of all Oliver Chapman Award recipients.
Click here to fill out the Oliver Chapman Award nomination form.

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