History

The Jim Conner Memorial Foundation was founded in May 1977 after the tragic death of Jim Conner, a McDowell High School Sophomore. Jim was 15 years old when he died from the results of a motorcycle accident. Jim was a member of the McDowell High School swim team, he loved to ski in the winter and play tennis and sail in the summer. When Jim died his father, William Conner, created the foundation and after the first year of memorial donations Mr. Conner has privately funded college scholarships for McDowell High School seniors. Mr. Conner is Chairman of the foundation and with the help of McDowell High School’s Guidance Department he meets every scholarship student. To date over $1,000,000 has been awarded to McDowell High School Students. In June 1977 one student was given a $2,000 scholarship and now several students annually are given $10,000 scholarships. While many students awarded scholarships are some of McDowell’s highest achieving students, academic excellence is not always the deciding factor. The foundation prides itself in choosing financially deserving students who will use their education to better their lives and be productive members of their community.