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t the 2025 NAIOP SoCal Orange County Real Estate Challenge, Chapman University's MSRE students made a lasting impression by claiming top honors for the third time since the competition's inception. This remarkable achievement was fueled by the ingenuity of five graduate students - Isabella Gonzalez Webster, Alexander de Brito, Asi Ansari, Evan Chevalier, and Evelyn Aguirre - who presented an ambitious redevelopment plan for a 37-acre site in Santa Ana.

    Their vision centered around transforming the underutilized Civic Center and Santa Ana Stadium area into a thriving hub of community activity. A multi-use soccer stadium was at the heart of their proposal, accompanied by a comprehensive development strategy aimed at revitalizing the space and fostering social cohesion.

    Impressed by the students' creativity, economic acumen, and potential for long-term impact, judges awarded them first place among a field of talented competitors. The team's success was met with pride from Matt Lightner, assistant director of Chapman's MS in Real Estate program, who acknowledged the crucial role played by staff, professors, and mentors in shaping the next generation of real estate leaders.

    This Orange Cup victory solidifies Chapman University's reputation as a force to be reckoned with in the NAIOP SoCal chapter's annual competition.