If you would like to nominate a Chapman Alumnus for the Schweitzer Rising Star Award, please complete the nomination form.
2017 Schweitzer Rising Star Award Winner is Sarah Nininger, Class of 2013 and president of Action in Africa.
Today Action in Africa is a recognized non-profit organization (both in the USA and
Uganda), with a mission to “Educate, Inspire, and Empower” people in Uganda by focusing
on education and community development, with the goal of helping community members
to reach their full potential and to foster economic growth by becoming the next leaders,
innovators, and entrepreneurs in their country.
At 27, Sarah Nininger is the president of Action in Africa and this year’s Chapman University Schweitzer Rising Star award recipient. Action in Africa is a non-profit organization and Nininger lives and works on-site at The Center in Nakuwadde, Uganda. Action in Africa operates on about $150,000 a year. Judging from photos on the Action in Africa website, much of Nininger’s pay comes in the form of hugs, smiles, empowered women and happy kids.
For more information about the Schweitzer Rising Star Award, please contact us.
Shauna Parisi, formerly Shauna Fleming, is an Orange County native and 2011 graduate
of Chapman University and the Dodge College PR & Advertising program. At 15 years
old, Shauna started a small service project in Orange County to collect and distribute
cards and letters of appreciation to U.S. military stationed around the world. She
called the project "A Million Thanks", with the initial goal of collecting one million
letters. What began as a local campaign turned into a non-profit organization with
national recognition within a matter of weeks. Shauna was invited to a private meeting
in the Oval Office with President Bush to recognize the efforts of A Million Thanks
and partnered with companies like General Motors and Southwest Airlines to raise awareness
for military support. Shauna authored a book chronicling her journey with A Million
Thanks and travels the country speaking to groups on the importance of servant leadership.
To date, A Million Thanks has sent over seven million letters to our troops around
the globe. To celebrate the organization's 10th anniversary in 2014, Shauna expanded
the mission of A Million Thanks to also include granting wishes of injured veterans
and providing higher education scholarships to children of fallen military. Shauna's
husband, Matt, is the Executive Director of A Million Thanks, while she sets and oversees
the annual direction of the organization. Shauna has pursued a full-time career as
the Director of Marketing for the Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour restaurant group and
lives in Newport Beach, California. 
