Why Waldorf?

Student Profile KATIE CHAPMAN ’21—WHY WALDORF?

Waldorf University was a top choice for me ever since I started my college journey at North Iowa Area Community College. I grew up in a medium sized town called Cresco, Iowa. I graduated from Crestwood High School. I lived with my father Harold, my mother Julie, and my older sister Jessica. Both my mom and dad as well as my sister went to college and got degrees so I knew that was something I wanted to push for as well. Out of high school I was not sure what degree path I wanted to pursue and I also knew I wanted to continue my athletic journey of playing softball so I chose North Iowa Area Community College to start at. Once my community college journey was coming to an end it was time for me to finalize what degree I wanted to chase and where I would like to do that at. I chose to pursue Elementary Education.

Waldorf was a top choice for me for a very long time and I knew Waldorf had an amazing Education program. I first talked to the softball coach, Lexy Determan and she was very welcoming to the college campus and made it feel like home for me. Once I had my first visit I decided Waldorf was the place for me. I am so thankful for many things at Waldorf and at the top of the list are the professors and coaches. Every professor that I encountered was very helpful. Waldorf has the best of the best faculty hands down. Waldorf gives you the opportunity to get to know your professors on a deep level because of the smaller class sizes as well as they push you to be your very best. My advisor was so wonderful to work with as well and I never had a doubt that she was going to do the best for me.

On the softball side of Waldorf, I couldn’t have asked for better coaches. Waldorf’s coaches care much more than wins and losses. They care about the growth of each athlete and they want the best from each athlete. One thing that I will forever remember and it exemplifies how amazing Waldorf is, was my softball team made it to the championship day at the conference tournament in softball and that meant us seniors were going to miss graduation. So our president was so kind and held a mini ceremony for us the next day. That truly shows how community-like Waldorf is.

One of my favorite memories from Waldorf was being awarded the Champion of Character for the 2020 season and 2021 season. I also was awarded the Lions Club Sportsmanship award. The reason those are just a few of my favorite memories is because I owe it all to my coaches, professors, and teammates for making me a better person. I feel as if I can proudly walk away from Waldorf saying I am a better person.

I just recently graduated in December of 2021 with an Elementary Education degree and endorsements in reading and coaching. I am currently in the process of finding a job and feel very confident that once I do, I will have success because Waldorf prepared me for it. Waldorf will forever be a huge stepping stone in my life and I will always call it home.