History

A legacy built on values

Indiana University would be a very different place without the generosity of donors like Jesse and Beulah Cox. Today they remain responsible for the largest gift IU has ever received by an individual: $92 million.

Their legacy rests on a foundation of unshakable values and it lives on thanks to continued support from generous Cox alumni and friends.

Today, the Cox Scholars Program remains dedicated to embodying the enduring values championed by Jesse and Beulah through hardwork, perseverance, and generosity.

Strong Work Ethic: Diligence, responsibility, and excellence, characterized by qualities such as dedication, discipline, and persistence to achieve goals.
Determination and Drive: A strong commitment and motivation to achieve goals, often characterized by perseverance, resilience, and a focused pursuit of success.
Intellectual Curiosity: Desire and eagerness to explore, learn, and understand the world, driven by a desire to expand your knowledge and a genuine interest in problem-solving, broadening perspectives, and uncovering new insights.
Confidence: Having trust in your own skills and knowledge, which helps you navigate challenges, make informed choices, and successfully participate in various activities or subjects you're involved in.
Leadership: The ability to inspire, guide, and influence individuals or a group towards a common goal, fostering positive change and growth.
Potential: The ability that someone has to develop, improve, or achieve something significant in the future, often under-developed but waiting to be activated by opportunity, effort, or circumstance.
Community Awareness/Philanthropic Spirit: Selflessness and a generous mindset focused on improving the well-being of others, characterized by a commitment to contribute positively to society.

Where the Cox work ethic was born

The story of Jesse and Beulah Cox begins in high school, where the two met and became sweethearts. The Great Depression was in full swing by the time they graduated. Work was hard to find. They couldn’t afford to marry.

But Jesse was familiar with hard times long before the economy crashed. He was only four when his family returned home to Indiana after a failed expedition to the West. His mother passed away soon after. He grew up living and working on his grandparents’ farm.

I look back at those days on the farm without electricity, as being introduced to hard work.
Jesse Cox

The get-it-done attitude in action

After high school graduation, Jesse worked hard and saved in order to attend night school. He knew if he continued to invest in his own success, and he approached people with confidence and sincerity, it would pay off.

Eventually he moved to Bloomington, and this is where his entrepreneurial spirit took flight. He started his first business.

Though he faced multiple failures in those earlier days, he achieved even greater successes. By 1939, not only had he earned enough money from his own business to enroll at IU, but he was also able to marry his love, Beulah.

Over the years his business holdings continued to expand and he turned his eye toward philanthropy. His generosity allowed for the creation of the Jesse H. and Beulah Chanley Cox Arboretum and Pavilion in the heart of the Indiana University Bloomington campus. In addition, he and Beulah gave the largest single gift ever received at IU, which established the Jesse H. and Beulah Chanley Cox Scholarship endowment for Indiana's hardest working students.

Jesse Cox’s experiences in life, especially working his way through college, led him to believe that it takes special determination, special drive, and special ambition, to realize the dream of a college education.
Indiana University Foundation President Emeritus Curt Simic

Do you have the spirit of a Cox Scholar?

If you’re a self-motivated learner who’s trying to better yourself, with a proven work ethic and an eagerness to impact your community, we encourage you to apply!

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