RSM US Foundation Announces the RSM Danielle (Jackson) Connell Memorial Scholarship Endowment

CHICAGO – (February 14, 2023) – The RSM US Foundation, a tax-exempt public charity dedicated to building tomorrow’s middle market leaders, is pleased to announce the formation of the RSM Danielle (Jackson) Connell Memorial Scholarship endowment at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. The endowment honors Danielle (Jackson) Connell, an RSM colleague who lost her battle to cancer in 2022.

With funds raised by RSM’s people and from family and friends of Connell, and the dollar-for-dollar match from the RSM US Foundation, the foundation donated $134,140 to establish the RSM Danielle (Jackson) Connell Memorial Scholarship endowment at Loras College.

“Danielle, who was based out of our Cedar Rapids office for four years, was an integral part of our tax team,” said Doug Opheim, chief financial officer with RSM US LLP and chairman of the RSM US Foundation. “She started as an intern and worked her way up to tax supervisor. Among other things, Danielle’s colleagues, clients, family and friends remember her for her positive attitude, dedication and her incredible efficiency. She will be missed by many but memorialized through this scholarship.”

The RSM Danielle (Jackson) Connell Memorial Scholarship will benefit outstanding accounting or business students at Loras College. A focus will be on students in their junior or senior year with a GPA of 3.2 or higher who are already pursuing an accounting major or management information systems major or minor in the Francis J. Noonan School of Business as determined by the Office of Financial Planning at Loras College. The first student(s) recipient(s) will be awarded in the 2024-2025 school year.

“The Loras community mourns the passing of our alumna, Danielle,” said Jim Collins, Loras College president. “It is evident that this sadness extends beyond Danielle’s alma mater. What her family, friends, Loras alumni and RSM community have done to honor her impactful life is beyond inspiring. This scholarship will honor Danielle’s beautiful life and transcend the incomprehensible loss we have experienced upon her all too early departure of this earthly life. We are grateful to Danielle’s family, the RSM Foundation, Loras alumni and RSM colleagues who have helped to establish this formidable scholarship.”

The RSM US Foundation’s University Match program matches dollar-for-dollar of all funds donated. Since the program started in 2016, the RSM US Foundation has given more than $3.6 million to 19 universities, providing support for the next generation of professionals.