Students who major in philosophy, or who show a serious commitment to philosophy as an academic discipline, are eligible for the Magee Scholarship. The criteria for selection are (1) academic promise and achievement in courses in philosophy; (2) a thorough grounding in the arts and sciences; and (3) personal characteristics exemplified by Professor Magee, including caring for others, concern for justice, respect for dissenting opinions, spiritual awareness, and an instinct for peacemaking.

History

Dr. John Magee joined the faculty of the University of Puget Sound in 1947 as a professor of philosophy and religion. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate in literature from the University of Washington, he completed a degree at Boston University School of Theology and then attended Harvard University, where he received a Ph.D. in Sociology in 1950, writing a thesis on Asian religion under the directorship of Talcott Parsons. He became Chair of the Philosophy Department in 1965, and led it until his official retirement in 1982. He went on teaching in the department until his death in 1994. He wrote several books including a widely used textbook in the philosophy of religion, entitled The Religious Meaning of Being Human, and a guide to meditative Christianity, entitled Reality and Prayer. His last project, left incomplete at his death, was a book on the relation of science, philosophy, and religion.

Kathryn Rose Allan Magee was a lifelong supporter of the disadvantaged and marginalized, and a lover of nature, wildlife, and the beauty of the Northwest. From her cabin at Salmon Beach she kayaked and regularly swam in the Tacoma Narrows. With her husband, John Magee, she nurtured Puget Sound students and traveled to Vienna on the first Puget Sound Semester Abroad. She was a gifted letter writer and a sparkling conversationalist. Of her four children and five grandchildren, at least five have graduated from University of Puget Sound, one has served on the Board of Trustees, one was ASUPS Vice-President, and one was married to a much-admired professor in the chemistry department.

 

Recipients

Year Awardee(s)
2022-2023

J.J. Alvarez

Ember Reed

2021-2022

Logan Canada-Johnson

Hannah Stockton

2020-2021

Brian Kim

Sienna Murphy

2019-2020

Sam Kaplan

August Malueg

2018-2019 Colleen Hanson
2017-2018

Steven Baptiste

Jessica Chan-Ugalde

2016-2017

Matthew Firn

2015-2016

Brittney High

Martine Kivatinetz

Kristoffer Moody

2014-2015

Maia Bernick

Si-Won Song

2013-2014

James Oliver

2012-2013

Wade Greiten

Kate Hanniball

2011-2012

Michael Elmer

Johnston Hill

2010-2011

William Robinson

Nick Schwarzenberger

Martin Young

2009-2010

Andrew Fink

2008-2009

Justin Haruyama

Julian Stone-Kronberg

2007-2008

Liz Donaldson

2006-2007

Steven Zane

2005-2006

Tim Linnemann

2004-2005

Luke Grange

Mary Hunn

2002-2003

Ryan Miller

2001-2002

Karl Hoffman

2000-2001

Elizabeth Catlin

1999-2000

Elissa Bennett

1998-1999

Angelina Castagno

Christopher Gregor

1997-1998

William Caramella

Sean Dowling

1996-1997

Kimberly Haddix