Annual Philosophy Scholarship Recipients Announced

The Department of English and Philosophy is pleased to announce that two undergraduate students have been awarded Philosophy scholarships for the 2023-24 school year. The students are Bayden Sayer and David Fedaie.

Bayden Sayer is the recipient of the Carl A. Levenson Scholarship. He is a senior at ISU majoring in philosophy, economics, and marketing. Bayden is also a winner of one of the program’s Outstanding Essay in Philosophy prizes this year for a paper that he has presented at two undergraduate philosophy conferences this spring. 

“I was able to present my paper and listen to the incredible work of many of my peers,” Bayden said. “It has been one of the most worthwhile experiences I’ve had in college and it showed me just how amazing the philosophy community is.” 

After graduating from ISU, Bayden plans to pursue a Ph.D. in philosophy with an eye to an academic career. The Levenson scholarship was created in 2021 by ISU alumnus Tom Neel, a former student of Dr. Levenson, who taught philosophy at ISU for 35 years before retiring in 2016.

David Fedaie is the recipient of the William L. King Scholarship. Fedaie is also a senior at ISU majoring in philosophy and mathematics. Fedaie says it was his curiosity for philosophical questions that drew him to add the second major in philosophy. 

“Everyone in the Philosophy Program here is so intensely intellectually curious that you can’t help but feel that voracious appetite for knowledge yourself when you’re around them! There’s a certain beauty to all these tough questions both big and small,” Fedaie said.  

After graduating, Fedaie says he wants to stay connected to academia and to philosophy, especially to ongoing work in philosophy of language and aesthetics.

This scholarship was established in 2022 by the family of Dr. King to honor his 34-year career as Professor of Philosophy at ISU. He was instrumental to the survival and growth of the Philosophy Program from the 1960s until his retirement in 1994.

“David and Bayden are great examples of the sort of talented and intellectually curious students we are hoping to attract to our program," 'said Jim Skidmore, Director of the Philosophy Program. “It’s great to be able both to provide them with some financial support and also recognize their outstanding work. We are also glad that these scholarships honor Bill and Carl, who both made such important contributions as faculty members in our program over so many years.”

More information about these scholarships, and about the Philosophy Program at ISU, is available at www.isu.edu/philosophy.