James and Zoe Connor scholarship to assist Whitewater High School graduates
Released: May 9, 2003
A new $100,000 endowed scholarship, funded by an emeriti UW-Whitewater chancellor and his wife, has been established to assist a local high school graduate who intends to enroll at the university.
The James R. and Zoe E. Connor Scholarship will be given to the Whitewater High School student who has the highest grade point average and who is a member of the National Honor Society. If the student maintains a grade point average of 3.0 or better while at UW-Whitewater, the scholarship will be renewable for up to three more years.
The endowment has been established through the UW-Whitewater Foundation and will be distributed beginning fall 2003.
As residents of Whitewater for 30 years, the Connors want to show their support for the community with this gift at both the secondary and higher education levels.
Connor served as chancellor from 1974 to 1991. He was actively involved in the interests of both students and faculty. During his administration, more students graduated than under all 11 previous administrations combined. After his retirement, Connor became the executive director of the James S. Kemper Foundation based in Long Grove, Ill., which provides scholarships to students and provides them with hands-on business experience in the Kemper offices. He also established the James R. Connor Student Leadership Grant in 1992.
"James and Zoe Connor have always had an extraordinary commitment to students at UW-Whitewater," said Chancellor Jack Miller. "During 17 years as chancellor, the Connors treated the university community as an extended family. This gift is a great extension of that legacy."
- Jane Provorse ,provorsj@uww.edu
