The Association of Fundraising Professionals in Cincinnati named Connor Thomas their 2015 Outstanding Youth Philanthropist and he attended a banquet at The Duke Energy Center to receive the award. Connor was nominated by United States Army Captain Phillip McDonald and United States Army Captain David Fletcher. Connor was able to address 900 people at the conference that are either philanthropists or invited honorees. There were opportunities before the awards ceremony to meet with fundraising professionals who deal with millions of dollars, while we were only dealing with tens of thousands of dollars. 

The recognition was well appreciated and only inspired Connor to continue along a path celebrated on a much greater scale in 2020.

Connor learned very quickly that he enjoyed public speaking on a grand scale, which is in part why he studied both Political Science and Government & International Relations at the Citadel.

This was a great honor bestowed at such a young age, but there would be so many more.