The Ryan James Kieffe Memorial Scholarship in Philosophy

Ryan Kieffe was a philosophy undergraduate at UC Santa Cruz who graduated in 2010. He was raised in Tehachapi, a rural mountain community in Southern California, and transferred to UC Santa Cruz after deciding to study philosophy while at Bakersfield College. Sadly, Ryan passed away shortly after earning his degree. The Ryan Kieffe Memorial Scholarship was established by Becky and Phillip Smith in 2011. 

This scholarship is awarded to an exceptional transfer student majoring in philosophy.

Austin French

Philosophy

2022-23 Kieffe Memorial Scholar

I am a junior level philosophy major who will be starting my senior year upon completion of summer classes. I care deeply about marginalized groups and am looking forward to being able to fight for them both overseas and in the courtroom. When I'm not attempting to understand an indecipherable philosophy assigned reading, you can find me watching Lakers games, hanging with friends, crying after Lakers games, or playing with my dogs.