The Mary Jane Stewart Magnum P.I. Scholarship

For fourteen years, Mary Jane Stewart was a well-known and beloved figure around the Shippensburg University campus, cheerily delivering mail to administrators and staff in Old Main. Her favorite part of her job was in the mailroom. Although Mary Jane had special needs, she always inspired others to seek ways to overcome their personal challenges. At home, one of her lasting joys was watching Tom Selleck as Magnum P.I.. Selleck’s character embodied qualities she admired: integrity, loyalty, kindness, and camaraderie. Plus, she loved Magnum’s mustache!

The Stewart family has a long history with Shippensburg University. Mary Jane’s parents, John and Mary Stewart, were professors at Ship; her brother, Thomas, received an MA in English; and her sister, Frances, completed her MEd in special education and teaching certification, both at Ship. Her other siblings, William and Campbell, attended many cultural events and activities at the university.

This scholarship recently was established by Frances Steggles Stewart. “It is in memory of my sister who was an example of perseverance, optimism, and self-assurance,” she said. “It is also a way of giving thanks to Shippensburg University and Magnum, P.I. for enriching Mary Jane’s life. The scholarship will help students with disabilities with demonstrated need to achieve their academic and personal goals.”