Distinguished Alumni Awards

2009 – John McKay

            From 2001 to 2007, John McKay served as United States Attorney for Western Washington. He then joined the faculty of Seattle University School of Law, where he now teaches Constitutional Law of Terrorism and National Security Law.

Mr. McKay received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Washington in 1978 and his law degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska in 1982. He has been a partner at the Seattle firms Lane Powell and Cairncross & Hempelmann. He has also served as a White House Fellow and as President of the Legal Services Corporation in Washington, D.C. In 1995, the Washington State Bar Association named Professor McKay Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year. In 2001, he received the Associations Award of Merit, and following his controversial dismissal as U.S. Attorney in 2007, its Courageous Award. In 2008, the Legal Foundation of Washington awarded Professor McKay, along with his brother Mike, the Charles A. Goldmark Award for Distinguished Service for his contributions to equal access to justice for all.


2008 – Maralyn Chase

            Maralyn Chase represents the 32nd Legislative District in the Washington State House of Representatives. In 2007, she was named Legislator of the Year by the Washington Public Employees Association. She also received the 2007 Legislative Excellence Award from the Washington State School Retirees’ Association. She serves as a board member on the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce, Shoreline Solar Project, and the Peace and Justice Alliance. Chase received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Washington in 1972, and an M.A. in Political Science in 1974.


2007 – Bruce A. Harrell

            Since his election in 2007, Bruce Harrell has served as a councilmember on the Seattle City Council. He chairs the Energy and Technology Committee, is vice-chair of the Public Safety, Human Services and Education Committee, and is a member of several council and external committees. Previously, he acted as an attorney and community volunteer. He is a member of the UW Alumni Board of Trustees. He received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Washington in 1979 and a J.D. from the Law School in 1984.



2006 – John E. Carlson

            John E. Carlson is a popular conservative talk radio host on KVI, a Seattle talk radio station. He worked as the Communications Director for the state Republican party and co-founded Washington Institute Foundation. He served as president of that organization from 1985-1994. He has been listed as one of the University of Washington’s most influential graduates of the century. He received a B.A. in political science from the University of Washington in 1981.


2005 – Gary D. Gayton

            Gary Gayton is an executive with the investment Bank of Siebert, Brandford Shank & Co. Gayton has a long history of fighting for civil rights; he was the first African-American student-body president at Garfield High School in Seattle, Washington, and he was the first African-American captain of a varsity sports team at the University of Washington. After graduating from law school, Gayton served as assistant U.S. attorney under Robert F. Kennedy, and went on to found his own law firm in Seattle that fought for civil rights. Gayton received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Washington in 1955.


2004 – Robert D. Kaplan

            Robert D. Kaplan is prominent Seattle lawyer that works on cases involving small business, charitable organizations, artists, and authors. He serves on numerous boards of non-profit and community organizations that deal with health care for underserved communities and the arts. In 1996, he was recognized by the American Bar Association, Business Law Section, for his pro-bono work. He and his wife, Margaret Levi, have amassed a substantial collection of Australian aboriginal art, which is on loan to the Seattle Art Museum. Kaplan received his B.A. in political science from the University of Washington in 1966, and a J.D. from the Law School in 1969.


2003 – Michael S. McGavick

            Michael S. McGavick is the Chief Executive Officer of XL Capital Ltd. Previously, McGavick served as the President of CEO of Safeco Corporation from 2001-2005. In 2003, McGavick was named the Puget Sound Business Journal’s Executive of the Year, and in 2005 he was the 2005 winner of the prestigious Charles E. Odegaard award for his efforts to promote diversity at the University of Washington. McGavick received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Washington in 1983.


2002 – Bobbe J. Bridge

            In 2008, Bobbe Bridge became the first president of the Center for Children and Youth Justice, which was created by a five-year, $10 million grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change Initiative. This Center will fund juvenile justice reform programs in Benton, Clark, Franklin, King, Pierce and Spokane Counties. Bridge served as a Washington Supreme Court Justice from 1999 to 2007. Bridge received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Washington in 1966, and she received a J.D. from the Law School in 1976.