University Southern California Trojans
Photo by: Bryce Dechert
Maggie Johnson Named 2026 Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award Recipient
March 08, 2026 | Women's Water Polo
Johnson becomes the first Trojan to receive Big Ten Conference honor
INDIANAPOLIS - Senior captain Maggie Johnson has been selected as one of two recipients of the Big Ten Conference's Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award. All 18 Big Ten Conference member institutions were asked to nominate one female and one male student-athlete for the 2025-26 school year. The two honorees selected were each awarded a $10,000 scholarship for their achievements in academics, athletics, extracurricular activities, and leadership.
Johnson was elected captain during her sophomore season, becoming only the third sophomore in program history to hold the role. She helped guide the Trojans to the NCAA Women's Water Polo Tournament final in both 2023 and 2025 while pursuing her undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering and simultaneously completing coursework toward a master's degree in engineering management. She has maintained a 3.6 undergraduate GPA and a 3.85 graduate GPA. Johnson has been recognized as both an MSPF Scholar-Athlete and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, while also earning ACWPC All-Academic honors on three occasions. She has additionally received Academic All-Big Ten and MPSF All-Academic honors. On the international stage, Johnson represented the United States on the U.S. Youth National Team, winning gold at the 2022 Junior Pan American Championships and claiming the title at the Youth World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. Johnson also serves as a Student-Athlete Leader for the USC Shoah Foundation, where she participates in initiatives that promote empathy, historical understanding, and moral courage.
The Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award is named for the late Big Ten Conference commissioner who served from 1971 to 1989. While leading the conference, Duke spent much of his time working to improve academic standards and graduation rates for students competing in conference athletics.
Johnson was elected captain during her sophomore season, becoming only the third sophomore in program history to hold the role. She helped guide the Trojans to the NCAA Women's Water Polo Tournament final in both 2023 and 2025 while pursuing her undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering and simultaneously completing coursework toward a master's degree in engineering management. She has maintained a 3.6 undergraduate GPA and a 3.85 graduate GPA. Johnson has been recognized as both an MSPF Scholar-Athlete and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, while also earning ACWPC All-Academic honors on three occasions. She has additionally received Academic All-Big Ten and MPSF All-Academic honors. On the international stage, Johnson represented the United States on the U.S. Youth National Team, winning gold at the 2022 Junior Pan American Championships and claiming the title at the Youth World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. Johnson also serves as a Student-Athlete Leader for the USC Shoah Foundation, where she participates in initiatives that promote empathy, historical understanding, and moral courage.
The Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award is named for the late Big Ten Conference commissioner who served from 1971 to 1989. While leading the conference, Duke spent much of his time working to improve academic standards and graduation rates for students competing in conference athletics.
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ATT
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