MBWA Establishes College Scholarship in Memory of Jim O’Connell

12/9/2018 4:15:37 PM

 
Links: MBWA Oc Scholarship Award Criteria • MBWA Oc Scholarship Award Application Form

NEW YORK (Dec. 9, 2018) --- The Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association has announced that it is inaugurating an annual college grant to a Met area student in sports journalism, communications or management which will be named in memory of Jim O’Connell, the longtime Associated Press national college basketball editor who passed away in July at the age of 64.

Oc, as he was known, was a member of the MBWA Executive Committee as well as the Naismith Hall of Fame. For many years he served as co-chair and a presenter at the association’s annual NIT-MBWA Haggerty Awards Dinner.
 
Details about the eligibility criteria for the “Oc Award,” which will amount initially to $3,000 annually, will be announced shortly, along with logistics about the application process, including deadlines.
 
“Oc was such a great friend and mentor to everyone, but particularly to young journalists and others getting started in the sports communications field, that the MBWA is honored to be able to create this scholarship award in memory of Jim O’Connell,” said Chuck Stogel, MBWA president. “Oc provided a key hand in helping the Met Basketball Writers in all its activities, in providing judicious counsel to the executive committee and in helping us succeed in many of our endeavors.”
 
The first MBWA Oc Scholardship Award is to be presented at the 86th Haggerty Awards dinner scheduled for Tuesday, April 30, 2019, at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown, NY.
 
The MBWA has established a sub-committee to administer the Oc Award, chaired by executive committee member Linda Bruno.