Paul J. Lowery Endowment | Hilja Lowery Memorial Endowment

Paul is known forever in DMACC’s history as the founding President of Des Moines Area Community College, established in 1972. This scholarship was established in his honor upon his resignation from DMACC. Paul J. Lowery was born on September 10, 1923 in North Cove, NC. He graduated from North Cove High School and joined the CC Camp immediately. He joined the Air Force in 1942 and was in service for eight years. He was a veteran of WWII serving as a Flight Engineer on a B-17. Following an airplane crash in Tokyo, he spent eleven months in Valley Forge Hospital in Pennsylvania. He met his first wife, a nurse named Hilja Aho, who died in 1983. A scholarship was established in her name, also with the DMACC Foundation. Paul earned his B.S., MA, and PhD in Ed. Administration. He received the Outstanding Educator Award of America, served on the Board of Directors for the American Association of Community Colleges, and was a Commissioner on Higher Education of North Central Accreditation Association. From 1992 to 1998, he was Scottsdale’s representative on the East Valley Institute of Technology Governing Board. Paul was a member of Scottsdale Baptist Church for 20 years and a deacon. He was also a member of Scottsdale Bible Church.