McConnell Award to Double to $1,000

The A. W. McConnell Principal’s Scholarship, which has been awarded to a Buena High School graduate each year since 1980, will be doubled to $1,000 this year to honor the late principal, officials said. Arleigh W. McConnell, who was principal at Buena High School for 19 years, passed away in March.

A scholarship fund was established when McConnell retired from Buena in 1980, but McConnell had donated the yearly $500 scholarships from his own money, said Dorothy Graham, chairwoman of the A. W. McConnell Scholarship Fund Committee.

This year, McConnell’s wife, Mary, decided to increase the scholarship to $1,000 and is contributing her own money for the award, Graham said.

When McConnell graduated from high school, he was awarded a $30 scholarship, Graham said. “He told us that he would not have been able to attend college, earn his degree and go on to a teaching career if it hadn’t been for this award,” Graham said.

Buena Principal Jaime Castellanos will select this year’s scholarship winner. The scholarship fund has received more than $5,000 since McConnell passed away, Graham said. Interest generated by the fund will be used to finance future scholarships, she said.

Additional contributions can be sent to the A. W. McConnell Scholarship Fund, c/o Jaime Castellanos, Buena High School, 5670 Telegraph Road, Ventura, Calif. 93003.