Lance William Chapman

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“I envision myself working as a medical doctor in a public hospital in an underserved area. Both demanding and rewarding, there is symmetry between the callings of doctors and teachers.”

  • Program: 2009 Graduate Scholarship Recipient
  • Resides: Los Angeles, CA
  • Hometown: Woodburn, Indiana
  • Age: 26

Biography

PROFILE: In June 2007, Lance Chapman could have gone directly to medical school after he graduated from Notre Dame. But the young man who grew up in a small Indiana town just east of Fort Wayne had something else he wanted to do first – teach. Lance worked the past two years in the Watts section of Los Angeles where he taught eighth grade science at Samuel Gompers Middle School through Teach for America. It was an eye-opening, educational, and enjoyable experience for Lance who has begun his medical school studies nearby at UCLA. A triple major at Notre Dame (Spanish, math, and science), Lance also was one of eleven Southern California-area teachers who contributed to “The Homeroom,” a blog for The Los Angeles Times. “I wrote one article per week about life as a first year teacher in a school particularly known for violence and gang involvement,” Lance said. Taking on the challenge of teaching in the inner-city was nothing new to Lance, who in high school was a three-sport star, honor student, and student government leader who also found it necessary to work part-time. If it’s true that first-year med students are sleep-deprived, Lance will be ahead of the game as he survived on four hours a night throughout high school and college.

INSPIRATION: Lance looks up to Dean Ava Preacher from Notre Dame as the first person that really believed in him. “She saw potential in me and really encouraged me to apply for fellowships and special opportunities.” Lance admitted that he had self-esteem issues, “but Dean Preacher truly amplified my sense of self. For that, I am forever grateful.”

ASPIRATION: He hopes to be a doctor because “I truly do believe the dignity of every life is worth fighting for.” He said his commitment as a physician will be to “fight tirelessly for each life that enters my care.” 

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: He’s already made a difference in the lives of each and every student in his classes at Samuel Gompers Middle School. Earlier, at Notre Dame, he helped establish at scholarship fund for the local homeless shelter.

ACCOLADES: He graduated summa cum laude from Notre Dame and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Delta Pi (National Spanish Honor Society). He also was the recipient of the Institute for Scholarship in the Liberal Arts Summer Fellowship.

INTERESTING FACT: Lance appeared in a “Milk Mustache” ad in Sports Illustrated (Recipient of the Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year Award in 2003) - based on athletics, academics, leadership, and community service.

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