Couple Establishes Scholarship Endowment for Military Spouses at APSU

The Valen A. Cox Scholarship Endowment will support military spouses and dependents at Austin Peay State University.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 2:54pm

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Austin Peay State University has received a generous gift from Terry and Valen Cox to establish the Valen A. Cox Scholarship Endowment. The endowment will provide annual scholarships for military spouses of U.S. Army active-duty soldiers, and second preference for dependents of U.S. Army active-duty soldiers. The scholarship will begin in Fall 2027.

Why it matters

The endowment honors Valen's determination as a military spouse who earned her degree over the course of 40 years, all while raising five children through 16 moves across two decades of Army life. The scholarship aims to support military families who often face unique challenges in pursuing higher education due to frequent relocations.

The details

To qualify for the scholarship, students may be enrolled full-time or part-time and must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA. The scholarship is non-renewable, allowing the endowment to support more students over time. Terry and Valen Cox both come from military families, with over 200 years of combined service between them.

  • The scholarship will begin in Fall 2027.

The players

Terry Cox

Terry earned his teaching degree from Austin Peay and calls the university the genesis of his career and professional success. He met Valen at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and after they married, they became APSU students, living in married student housing.

Valen Cox

Valen attended five universities while managing a growing family and finally completed her education degree—which she started at Austin Peay—40 years after beginning her college journey, becoming an inspiration to their children.

Austin Peay State University

Austin Peay State University serves one of the largest populations of military-affiliated students in Tennessee, with proximity to Fort Campbell making it a natural choice for Army families seeking higher education.

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What they’re saying

“'APSU took a hometown boy and put him out into the world. I'm proud to call it my alma mater—it's the foundation of everything that came after. We're in a place and time in life where we want to give back, and to be able to support military-affiliated students at my alma mater means everything.'”

— Terry Cox

“'We wanted to create an opportunity for military families who often face unique challenges in pursuing higher education. Military spouses frequently relocate, which can interrupt their education while they support their soldier's service. This scholarship is our way of honoring their commitment and helping them continue investing in their own futures, no matter how long it takes.'”

— Valen Cox

“'Don't quit. It took me 40 years to complete the degree I started at Austin Peay. If this scholarship helps you on your way, we are so happy to support you. You can do it, too.'”

— Valen Cox

What’s next

The scholarship will begin accepting applications in Fall 2027.

The takeaway

The Cox family's personal experience as a military family has inspired them to establish a scholarship that will help support military spouses and dependents in pursuing their educational goals, even in the face of the unique challenges that come with military life.