De La Salle Award Winner Kathryn Magee ’21 Advises Students to Find Their Mission

Kathryn Magee ’21 has been chosen as the winner of Saint Mary’s highest honor, the De La Salle Award, which is given annually to the graduating senior with the highest record for scholarship and general excellence. Magee’s dedication to the College and Lasallian mission set her apart from the many dedicated students nominated for the award.

Magee is a Physics major with Mathematics and Theology & Religious Studies (TRS) minors, and is passionate about bringing her faith, science, and justice together. At Saint Mary’s, she served as president of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and captained the Debate Team. After graduation, she is excited to serve college students across the Bay as a campus staff minister. 

Honored to be named the reward’s recipient, Magee eagerly shared her appreciation for her time at the College. “Lasallian was a foreign word to me before I came to Saint Mary’s, but I am so grateful it has become a part of who I am over the past four years,” she said. “I am blessed to have learned alongside my fellow graduates how to love and serve my community well. In my fellow Gaels, I have found that being Lasallian can mean a variety of things. Standing against racism in the classroom and the streets, fighting food insecurity by working with the Gael Pantry, and engaging in sustainable living practices are all ways I’ve witnessed Lasallians at work. I am touched to be recognized with this award, knowing that I am not alone in this mission.”

And Magee is filled with gratitude: “I would like to thank my family, especially my mom, who taught me to love and serve others from a young age; my dad, whom I owe my passion for science and music; and my aunt, who not only took me in while I struggled with midterms in a pandemic, but did so with love. They stood by my side and raised me to be Lasallian before any of us knew what that word meant,” Magee continued.

“I owe much of who I am to the families I found at SMC, particularly the Debate Team and InterVarsity Christian fellowship. To my teammates: Thank you for pushing me to realize that justice is more than a theory that wins arguments, and for pursuing it together—even when injustice was closer than we bargained for. I’ll forever be your TW. To my InterVarsity fam: Thank you for teaching me that my faith, my major, my friendships, and my passions are all part of who I am created to be. You grew with me all these years, and I can’t wait to see where God takes you next. To my professors: Thank you for pushing me to unapologetically pursue what I love. Finally, to Arzella, Jazmin, Sarah and Juls: Thank you for your love and support through thick and thin. I could not have made it without you by my side.”

Magee also imparted advice to other students pursuing their education at Saint Mary’s. “My advice to younger Gaels is this: Find what God breaks your heart for, and lean in. It may be a person, a place, or even a broad social justice movement. For me, recognizing who I was made to serve sent me right back to where I am, taking a job in college ministry. If your heart is longing for justice, follow it. You are at Saint Mary’s for a reason; don’t overlook the possibility that the community you are sent to serve is already around you. They’ll tell you that you Enter to Learn and Leave to Serve, but if you do it right, you’ll realize you were serving all along. Find your corner of campus, and love it well. De La Salle saw a need in his community for education and food, but he didn’t become who he was meant to be overnight. He leaned in with small actions, following his heart. You don’t need to solve the world’s problems; you just need to find the community your heart is broken for and lean in, one step at a time.”

Biology Professor Vidya Chandrasekaran, who serves as chair of the Undergraduate Educational Policies Committee (UEPC), praised Magee’s accomplishments and dedication. “The committee had a tough choice this year selecting from an amazing group of graduating seniors,” she said. “The committee was particularly impressed by Kathryn’s academic accomplishments as a Physics major, TRS and music minor, her leadership of the Macken Debate Team, and her reflections on what it meant to be a Lasallian leader.”

The award is named in honor of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, the founder of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and patron saint of teachers. It is awarded in the memory of J.A. Graves of the Class of 1872.

Saint Mary’s congratulates Kathryn Magee and looks forward to hearing about her future.