Winter 2025 Inside Cox magazine | The Jim Kennedy Scholarship Fund For Children of Cox Enterprises Employees

DREAMS WITHIN REACH

The Jim Kennedy Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance for high school graduates as they continue their educational journey at colleges and universities across the country.

The students’ dreams for the future are as impressive as they are varied. Recipients of the 2025 Jim Kennedy Scholarship Fund — which is personally funded by Jim Kennedy, chairman emeritus of Cox Enterprises and chairman of the James M. Cox Foundation — are embarking on the next stage of learning to become a dentist, nurse, entrepreneur, wildlife veterinarian, biologist, forensic psychologist, physician assistant, environmental manager, orthotics/prosthetics specialist and forensic investigator. And with assistance from The Jim Kennedy Scholarship Fund, these dreams are all within reach.

“I’ve always known I wanted to be a nurse, but I feel especially called to support survivors of assault during one of the most vulnerable and traumatic times of their lives,” said Leila Nester, a scholarship recipient who is pursuing her studies at Rappahannock Community College. “My goal is to create a safe environment where survivors feel seen, heard and believed.”

Another scholarship recipient, Max Richardson, is setting out to revolutionize the field of orthotics and prosthetics using assistive technology. “My personal journey living with a disability and relying on orthotics has provided me with invaluable insights into the shortcomings of existing solutions,” said Max.

The Jim Kennedy Scholarship Fund was created to help students like Leila, Max and so many others pursue their academic goals. Established in 2008, the scholarship fund offers financial assistance to children of Cox employees. Each scholarship provides $10,000 annually toward college tuition for up to four years and is open to any high school senior whose parent has worked at a Cox company full time for at least three years.

Each year, an independent selection committee awards 15 scholarships based on financial need and commitment to personal growth. This year’s scholarship recipients were selected from 170 applicants across our family of businesses. Since its inception, The Jim Kennedy Scholarship Fund has awarded 200 scholarships, providing more than $8 million in aid.