Ahead of Friday night’s graduation ceremony in Mt. Airy, Habersham Central High School presented its featured guest speaker with the school’s annual Lifetime Achievement Award. The ceremony was attended by more than 50 people, including family, friends, educators, coaches, and school administrators.
The award was started four years ago to recognize Habersham Central graduates who have excelled in their careers and communities. It’s also meant to inspire current students by showing them what has been and can be achieved.
HCHS Principal Dr. Jonathan Stribling described LTC McConnell’s achievements since graduating high school 32 years ago.
An exemplary student who lettered in football, LTC McConnell graduated from HCHS in 1991. He received an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy, where he also lettered in football and earned a degree in civil engineering. He earned his Master of Science degree in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Colorado.
After completing his education, McConnell trained to become a pilot and became an accomplished A-10 fighter pilot and instructor, earning the elite status of “Top Gun” in the A-10 Air Force community.
LTC McConnell’s Air Force career has taken him around the world. He was deployed to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom and to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. McConnell has logged more than 400 hours of combat time, more than 3,500 hours of A-10 flight time, and more than 1,000 hours as an instructor.
His colleagues describe him as “a legend in the A-10 community” and as among “the best of the best, top 1% of all A-10 pilots in the Air Force.”
McConnell excels in other areas of his life as well, including faith, family, leadership in his community, and professionalism in his career, Stribling said.
In introducing him, Stribling stated, “The entire Raider Nation is proud to welcome home this year’s recipient of the Habersham Central High School Lifetime Achievement Award, LTC Preston McConnell.”
In accepting the award, McConnell said, “It’s not really what you’re doing at work that matters but how you raise your kids and how they serve God. That’s the only thing that truly matters.”
He thanked his wife for keeping him grounded and thanked everyone for the recognition.
“Every American, every Habersham Countian should feel real proud of him for what he has done and how he has represented our county – and now, not only our county but going on and representing our country and protecting it every day,” said former classmate Trent Demoor. “He’s just a true blessing of what somebody has been able to overcome and continue to move forward.”
Another former classmate, Justin Payne, said, “Preston epitomizes leadership. It takes events like this, and you realize what all Preston’s done. What a great person he was and how he influenced us on into life.”
McConnell called the recognition and award “an extreme honor,” one he says “I don’t feel worthy of.”
“This place has always been special to me. The people that have poured into me here and helped develop who I am. I’m trying to pass that on to the next generation,” he said. “So being able to be awarded from this place is really special, and being able to come back and seeing a lot of the people that have impacted my life, it’s encouraged me to try to impact others.”
LTC McConnell is currently stationed in Missouri with the Air Force Reserve. Asked what’s next for him, he said, “I’m going to keep raising my kids, and I’m going to keep flying until they tell me I can’t.”
McConnell is the fourth alumnus to receive the HCHS Lifetime Achievement Award. Past recipients include Dr. Stacy Nicholson, Class of ’77, awarded in 2020; Dr. Emily Foster Howell, Class of ’96, awarded in 2021; and Marlan Wilbanks, Class of ’79, awarded in 2022.
