Rick Wallace still remembers walking into a small office on the Chapman University campus more than forty years ago, the morning after hearing a friend mention “a mysterious voyage around the world.” Rick had just graduated from Pepperdine University when he learned about Semester at Sea for the first time, and, intrigued by this way to see so much of the world in a relatively short time span, he urged his friend to tell him more.
The next day, he found himself in a university office saying, “I want to do that, too.” After saving up money for around two years, he eventually signed up for the Spring 1982 voyage and set forth on a path that would tie him to the Semester at Sea program for life. Rick’s journey would eventually span decades, including two full voyages, a partial voyage as a Lifelong Learner, many alumni gatherings, three enrichment trips, his daughter’s participation, and, ultimately, a legacy gift in his estate plan as a member of The 1963 Society.
While on the ship for the first time in 1982, it didn’t take long for Rick to recognize SAS as “an incredible trip,” one that has impacted him deeply. When he returned home, he created a slideshow of his travels and presented it nearly fifty times to friends and family – a sign, even then, that this experience would stay with him for life.
He went on to organize alumni efforts in the 1980s, eventually serving as President of the Alumni Association and coordinating large reunions. In 1991, Rick sailed again – this time accompanying his then-wife, who had joined Semester at Sea as the bursar. They spent their “honeymoon” traveling the world aboard the SS Universe.
Years passed, and as his career as a real estate agent and longtime regular columnist for The Malibu Times flourished, Rick still remained connected to the SAS program. In the time span of 2012-2014, he joined several enrichment voyages and began engaging through reunion cruises in San Diego.
And, in Spring 2015, SAS came around full circle for his family: his daughter, Jalina Wallace, sailed with Semester at Sea. Rick flew to meet her mid-voyage in Cape Town, connecting his memories of his first voyage as a college-age student to his role as a father, and captured forever in an image. That image – father and daughter together with Cape Town’s Table Mountain in the background – stayed with him enough to anchor the closing frame of a travel film he created decades later.
In 2022, he sailed for a third time, this time as a Lifelong Learner for around three weeks. Now retired, Rick continues to travel the world and has already visited 64 countries. He plans to reach at least 68 or 69 – “because that’s my current and near age,” he laughed.
Rick is also remarkably active in other areas of life – he has run every LA Marathon since its founding in 1986! As such, he’s one of approximately 85 runners recognized as a “Legacy Runner” – those who have completed the marathon every year. Many Legacy Runners, he noted, have passed on or are no longer able to run, and so he is proud to still be among the few who help carry that legacy forward today.
Rick’s reverence for preserving legacy also circles back to his lifelong connection to SAS. As a member of the Semester at Sea 1963 Society, Rick has now chosen to include SAS in his estate plans. The reason for this, Rick shared, is plain and simple: “The main reason I’ve chosen to give to SAS in my estate plans is that the program was so impactful. It was terrific in my life experience, and I ultimately want to give back to the program and to see it thriving.” The 1963 Society is an honorary association established in appreciation of those alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends who have informed the Institute that Semester at Sea is included in their estate plans through a bequest or a beneficiary designation on retirement assets, insurance, or bank accounts.
He also encourages younger alumni to stay connected early on after their first SAS voyage, even if in modest ways to begin with. “Young alumni should be mindful that the friends you made on SAS really are lifelong friends,” he says. “Semester at Sea is going to be a part of them, and maybe a big part of them, for the rest of their life.” He encourages new alumni to keep in contact, stay informed, and participate in giving back to the program, however they can. “Contributing is going to be a positive experience for your entire life, and engaging with the program now is going to shape so much of what you do in the future,” he said.
For Rick Wallace, committing to Semester at Sea through The 1963 Society isn’t only an act of gratitude – it’s an act of programmatic preservation. Including SAS in his plans ensures that the same life-changing experience that opened up the world to him in 1982, and welcomed his daughter aboard decades later. With support from people like Rick, the opportunity will be there for future generations who, like him, might hear about a voyage one day and decide instantly: “I want to do that, too.”
To learn more about The 1963 Society or to discuss your estate plan options, please contact the Planned Giving Team at giving@isevoyages.org.
