COLUMBUS - The Colum - bus Education Foundation (CEF) honored retiring Superintendent Jim Connor with a plaque in rec -
ognition of his steady support for efforts that have expanded oppor -
tunities for CISD students.
Connor was an early support - er of the work that became CEF. As scholarship support for CISD students grew, he recognized the importance of having a transpar -
ent and trusted way to manage those gifts. With the involve - ment of community leaders like Dr. Thomas Hancher and Patsy Hodge, that effort grew into the independent foundation CEF is today.
Hodge, the foundation's im - mediate past president and cur -
rent advisory board member, said that after studying similar orga - nizations, foundation leaders saw an opportunity to do even more for students by offering support before graduation through class - room grants that help teachers
bring special projects and mean -
ingful learning experiences to life.
"Columbus Education Foun -
dation was born to make futures brighter through these two dis - tinct avenues," Hodge said.
Connor also helped shape one of CEF's most beloved fundrais - ing traditions: the annual Duck Derby. By introducing the idea of racing rubber ducks on the Colo - rado River, he helped spark a fun, community-centered event that has grown into a joyful tradition supporting local education year after year.
"Jim repeatedly went the extra mile as a CEF Advisory Board representative," Hodge said. "Since the initial concept, we've watched the activity grow expo - nentially over the past three years as a generous community put their money where it quacked the loud - est-supporting the Columbus Duck Derby." This school year alone, CEF administered $150,500 in schol - arships and raised more than $30,000 through Duck Derby sponsorships and ticket sales. Foundation leaders said those accomplishments reflect not only the generosity of the community, but also the lasting momentum of the vision Connor helped champi - on.
"On behalf of CEF, we would like to thank Jim for his time, sup -
port and dedication to CEF and CISD," said Phillip Garcia, cur - rent president of CEF. "Through his leadership and guidance, we were able to establish, develop and grow our combined vision of pro - viding scholarships to our CHS students and classroom grants that would encourage teacher innova - tion and special projects at all grade levels-Pre-K through 12." Hancher, the foundation's initial board president who lat -
er served on its advisory board, also reflected warmly on Con - nor's support. "Superintendent Jim Connor was supportive of the Columbus Education Foundation from its inception," Hancher said. "I will never forget his commit -
ment to the foundation."
