Connor Logsdon, a newly graduated senior from Notre Dame High School with an exemplary record of leadership and community service, has been selected to receive the William F. Brown Jr. Memorial Scholarship from The Jerome Foundation.
The $1,000 award was established in the spring of 2015 in memory of Brown, noted Batavia author, broadcaster and journalist, who died in November 2014 at the age of 91.
A former owner and president of WBTA Radio and longtime correspondent for The Buffalo News, Brown also was a charter member and trustee emeritus of The Jerome Foundation, a not-for-profit association that distributes funds to benefit United Memorial Medical Center and other entities.
The scholarship is awarded annually to a 12th-grader who intends to pursue at least a four-year degree in Journalism, Communications or Public Relations. The honoree must attend a high school in Genesee County and reside in Genesee County.
Logsdon served as class president and National Honor Society president at Notre Dame, where he compiled a 91 average while completing a dozen advanced placement courses. He will be attending Fairfield University in the fall, majoring in Public Relations through the Connecticut institution’s College of Arts and Sciences.
He was awarded the Bellarmine Scholarship by Fairfield University, a tuition award of $18,000 that is renewable for four years.
Logsdon has been active outside of the classroom, most notably for his role as volunteer coordinator for the Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation, a Batavia-based organization that oversees several events throughout the year to support families dealing with cancer.
The foundation was founded in 2007 in honor of Michael Napoleone, one of Connor’s best friends, who died at the age of 8 due to an aggressive form of blood cancer.
Logsdon has been recognized for his leadership skills with awards from Assemblyman Stephen M. Hawley and Sen. Michael H. Ranzenhofer.
He also participated in drama club, and the school’s mock trial program and volunteered at his church and for other community projects. A three-sport athlete, Logsdon received the Joe Zais Memorial Award for leadership in 2015 as a member of the Little Irish varsity football team.
“Connor’s resume speaks for itself,” said Justin Calarco-Smith, president of The Jerome Foundation. “Both in the classroom and in the community, he is a proven leader.
“We wish him nothing but the best as he pursues a career in the Public Relations field. Without a doubt, Bill (Brown) would be thrilled with Connor’s selection.”
