This spring, the Thomas F. Chapman Leadership Scholars Class of 2025 celebrated the 15th anniversary of the program with Tom ’65 and Karen Chapman at the annual Chapman Medallion Ceremony. The Chapmans presented graduates with their medallions at the Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center. Nine graduating seniors who completed the three-year academic leadership program were each recognized and awarded the Chapman Leadership Scholar medallion.
After a few remarks from Provost Jones, Tom Chapman spoke about how the Chapman Leadership Scholars were prepared and ready to make the world a better place. Many of the scholars said being part of the program was transformative for them, including Sammy Gress, a senior biomedical engineering major. “The program is so much more than I ever imagined. I had some of the best experiences that I never knew I had in me, which helped me grow a lot as a person. The program really, truly changed my entire life. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman mean a lot to us. They always come around and are a model for us to be, act, and give back in some way.”
Mary Anne Raymond, Chapman Distinguished Professor of Leadership and professor of marketing, said the impact the Chapmans have on the Scholars and the program is amazing. “ Mr. and Mrs. Chapman play such an important role in preparing our future leaders. They serve as mentors and role models for the Chapman Leadership Scholars and professors, actively participate in the program, and truly care about each person. As every Scholar mentioned, being in the Thomas F. Chapman Leadership Scholars Program and the opportunity to learn from the Chapmans has truly been life changing. The Chapmans have established a legacy that has and will continue to make a difference in the lives of others and make the world a better place.”
The Chapman Leadership Scholars Class of 2025 made a significant impact on campus and in the community during their time at Clemson. Throughout the year, the graduating class contributed by addressing food insecurity on campus and in the broader community, partnering with military organizations to honor veterans, volunteering at local retirement communities, supporting individuals affected by domestic violence and providing mentorship and tutoring for local students.
Many Thomas F. Chapman Leadership Scholars are in the Clemson University Honors College and also include a National Merit Scholar. Multiple Scholars have won academic awards and have been selected for prestigious organizations such as Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) and Blue Key.
Chapman Leadership Scholars, Class of 2025
Kellan Fenegan
- Served as Clemson University’s undergraduate student body president
- Serving as a Press Assistant for the U.S. House of Representatives
Alex Sauer
- Served as President of the Student Senate
- Department of Management Academic Achievement Award recipient
- Delegate to the ACC Leadership Symposium
- Vice Chair of the Year Award recipient
- Attending Colorado University School of Law
Cat Iverson
- Served as President of her sorority
- Works for Amgen, a biotech company
Sophia Manav
- Served as a teaching assistant
- President and owner of Fe + C Art
- Department of Management Academic Achievement Award recipient
- Department of Management Academic Excellence Award for International Management recipient
- Attending University of Virginia for Master’s in Global Commerce Program
Parker Le
- Served as a University tour guide
- Works for Stryker, a medical device company
Josh Goldston
- Attending the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University
Ammi Zimmerman
- Accepted into the Divinity Program at Duke University
Will McKinney
- Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army
Sammy Gress
- Continuing bioengineering education at Clemson
- Completed internships in medical technology at KLS Martin and the Medical University of South Carolina
In addition to their academic accomplishments and honors, the Thomas F. Chapman Leadership Scholars helped organize an alumni reunion to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the program. Joined by the Chapmans, President Clements and Max Allen, senior vice president and chief of staff, scholars from across the country and different cohort groups networked and talked about their leadership challenges and successes. The impact alumni are having in their communities shows how they are making the world a better place.
When asked about this year’s graduating Thomas F. Chapman Leadership Scholars, Raymond said, “The knowledge, courage, heart, initiative and leadership ability, as well as the accomplishments of the Chapman Leadership Scholars, continue to amaze me. They are an incredible group of young people who do so much for so many people. I am honored to have had the opportunity to get to know and work with them. They truly made a difference at Clemson University and will make the world a better place. I am also grateful to Tom and Karen Chapman for their time and support, which truly makes this program the experience of a lifetime. I look forward to seeing the class of 2025 this fall and hearing about their accomplishments.”
About the Thomas F. Chapman Leadership Scholars
The Thomas F. Chapman Leadership Scholars program is the flagship leadership program at Clemson University dedicated to developing leadership skills in America’s future leaders. Founded in 2009, the Thomas F. Chapman Leadership Scholars serves as the only University-wide scholarship leadership program for students. The three-year program focuses on knowledge, courage and heart, three core values of leadership.
