Meet the 2025 Jim Kennedy Scholarship Fund Recipients

07/07/2025

Each year, the Jim Kennedy Scholarship Fund selects 15 new scholarship recipients based on financial need and demonstrated commitment to personal growth. Established in 2008 and personally funded by Jim Kennedy, chairman emeritus of Cox Enterprises and chairman of the James M. Cox Foundation, the program is open to any high school senior whose parent has worked at a Cox company full-time for at least three years.

The scholarship provides $10,000 annually toward the cost of tuition for up to four years if students maintain eligibility requirements for renewal.

Our 2025 winners were selected by an independent panel of judges from nearly 170 applicants across the Cox family of businesses.

We're proud to introduce this year’s winners:

Abdulahi Ali
Parent: Fuad Ali, Cox Communications
School: Arizona State University — Tempe
Major: Biological Sciences

Taylor Brady
Parent: Donald Brady, Cox Communications
School: Kennesaw State University
Major: Criminal Justice

Benjamin Brown
Parent: Richard Brown, Cox Communications
School: The University of Rhode Island
Major: Neuroscience

Noah Butas
Parent: Dave Butas, Cox Communications
School: Kent State University
Major: Conservation Biology

Aryanna Carter
Parent: Brandon Carter, Cox Automotive
School: Georgia State University
Major: Biology

Todd Charbonneau
Parent: Laura Charbonneau, Cox Automotive
School: University of Vermont
Major: Business Administration

Erin Dineen
Parent: Brian Dineen, Cox Communications
School: Ohio University
Major: Psychology

Challen McCulley
Parent: Chastidy Jones, Cox Automotive
School: Temple University
Major: Biology

Adrian Navarro
Parent: Gerardo Navarro, Cox Communications
School: Arizona State University — Tempe
Major: Nursing

Leila Nester
Parent: Steve Nester, Cox Communications
School: Rappahannock Community College
Major: Nursing
Ethan Putman
Parent: Clint Putman, Cox Communications
School: Northern Arizona University
Major: Environmental & Sustainability Studies / Wildlife Biology

Jade Queen
Parent: Tony Queen, Cox Communications
School: Arizona State University — West Valley Campus
Major: Nursing

Max Richardson
Parent: Mitch Richardson, Cox Automotive
School: Georgia Institute of Technology
Major: Biomedical Engineering

Logan Smith
Parent: Darcy Smith, Cox Communications
School: Allen Community College
Major: Business

Tessa Whiteside
Parent: Matt Whiteside, Cox Automotive
School: California Polytechnic State University — San Luis Obispo
Major: Environmental Management and Protection

About the scholarship 
Established in 2008 and personally funded by Jim Kennedy, chairman emeritus of Cox Enterprises and chairman of the James M. Cox Foundation, the scholarship fund offers financial assistance to children of Cox employees to pursue their academic goals. Since its inception, the Jim Kennedy Scholarship Fund has awarded 200 scholarships, providing more than $8 million in aid.

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