Chapin and Chapin

Who was Drew Chapin? (a.k.a. Andrew, Andres Chapin)

drew chapin stands before the Mirida Roman ruins in Spain, spring, 2005

Drew Chapin spent all his school years in Grayslake, graduating among lifelong friends in 2003. Known as Mr. Hustle to his soccer and basketball teammates, Drew attacked music, acting, academics, service projects, sports, and goofing off with equal intensity.

Drew lived his life consciously and in the present moment. He believed strongly that “less was more,” and was committed to the following fundamentals of living:

1. Maintaining strong relationships with friends and family
2. The ruthless pursuit of knowledge
3. Respecting the inherent worth and dignity of every person and every culture
4. Participating in non-violent activities promoting issues of peace and social justice
5. Choosing a healthy, low-impact lifestyle
6. Celebrating life through dance, music, and being barefoot as much as possible.

The recipient of a full-tuition academic scholarship to Hanover College in Indiana, Drew spent his two years there fiercely pursuing his academic, interpersonal and spiritual goals. Though he participated in a broad range of offerings, his greatest energy went to social activism. Drew was the President of People for Peace, a member of Love Out Loud and International Club, and a devoted International Pal.

Study abroad took Drew on a service project to Calnali, Mexico in February 2004. That summer he arranged a job teaching English to 4th and 7th graders in Istanbul, Turkey. By spring semester 2005 Drew was one of only two Americans studying at the Universitie Castille de la Mancha in Ciudad Real, Spain. At the time of his death he was fluent in English and Spanish, conversational in French, and had learned quite a lot of Turkish and Italian. You’d never know this young man began his school career a year late due to a speech impediment!

Drew was killed when an unconscious driver hit his bicycle August 21, 2005, less than a month after his 21st birthday.  His last hours were spent at his beloved alma mater playing tennis with his best friend. He is buried adjacent to those Grayslake North tennis courts.

Drew wanted to change the world one person at a time. This scholarship is a small attempt toward fulfilling his dream of doing just that.