The Jim McDonnell Memorial Scholarship will be given to a student or students who are seeking a career in either a Conservation or Wildlife field, or a Teaching field.
Scholarship Details
- Supports students pursuing conservation, wildlife, or teaching careers
- Award amounts vary with a minimum of $500
- Funds are paid after completion of the first semester directly to the student through their college or university
- Recipients selected by a committee
- Scholarship sponsored by the Jim McDonnell family
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicant must be accepted to a two or four year accredited college or university
- Applicant must be a high school senior in good standing at school and in the community
- Scholarship consideration based on financial need and overall student qualities
Application Process
- Confirm acceptance to a two or four year accredited college or university
- Prepare documentation demonstrating good standing in school and community
- Submit the scholarship application and required materials for committee review
- Await notification of selection and receive funds after completing the first semester
Jim McDonnell, The Fishing Professor, was a committed community leader and successful teacher and girls coach in the Clay Central School system for 35 years. Jim had a prolific career in coaching girl’s sports at Clay Central. He was a member of the Girls Basketball Advisory Board, a Jerry Golden award winner, member of the Northwest Iowa Coaches and Officials Association Hall of Fame, and the Iowa Girls Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2012). He also held true to his outdoor passions throughout his life, including fishing, hunting and trapping. He founded the Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club and was still serving as its President after 44 years. The club is still active to this day. He was inducted into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in 2020. He had extensive knowledge of the outdoors and was an active outdoor writer for numerous newspapers, as well as an avid outdoor expert on both national and local television and radio programs. He ran a successful fishing guide business for 44 years on the Iowa Great Lakes. Jim would sign off every newspaper column by saying “Enjoy every sunrise, keep your line tight, and may your aim be straight.” He lived by these words everyday.
