NATCHITOCHES – The Northwestern State University campus holds many memories for Maryalyce and Erik Cox.
 
The place the couple met now will be part of their legacy with the establishment of the endowed Walsh-Cox Family Scholarship, which will benefit a member of the Northwestern State track and field team.
 
"As a former athlete, I always wanted to give back," said Maryalyce, a 2013 N-Club Hall of Fame inductee who owns school records in the 3,000 (10:22.16), 5,000 (17:45.86) and 10,000 (37:05.93) meters. "Now we are in position to do it. It is our hope that this scholarship helps multiple track student-athletes reach their full potential both academically and athletically."
 
The Coxes met as undergraduates at Northwestern. While Maryalyce's career continued to take off, Erik graduated and remained at NSU as a graduate assistant in sports information, calling it a chance to earn a master's degree while continuing to date his future wife.
 
Those deeply built ties led the two to remain involved with their alma mater in the years following graduation and the beginning of their respective careers.
 
"We have both tried to stay engaged since we graduated," Erik said. "As you go out into the real world, you don't have the money to make those donations right away. We've been thinking about doing this for quite a while. Now just seemed like a good time."
 
The Coxes have been loyal donors to their alma mater -- both directly to the university and to the Northwestern Athletic Department.
 
The parents of a college student-athlete who have settled in Houston, the pair made sure to introduce their children to Natchitoches and to the NSU campus.
 
"Erik and I are both proud alums," said Maryalyce, who was the first Lady Demon competitor to reach the USA Cross Country Championships, finishing third in the 1991 junior nationals in Boston.
 
"We love Natchitoches. We love Northwestern. We visit as much as we can. That's where we met. We both had great experiences. We loved our time there. We brought our kids there so they could see and experience Natchitoches and see how important it is to us."
 
The Walsh-Cox Family Scholarship joins more than 85 other endowed athletic scholarships at Northwestern. Those grant-in-aids total more than $2.3 million in funds, which help offset the cost of athletic scholarships. Athletic scholarships are endowed at a minimum of $10,000.
 
"The Walsh-Cox Family Scholarship is an example of two dedicated alumni who have poured their passion into a gift to Northwestern State Athletics," Director of Athletics Kevin Bostian said. "Our championship-winning track and field program will benefit from Maryalyce's and Erik's generosity. The bedrock of any successful athletic program begins with an engaged alumni base, and Maryalyce and Erik have embodied that definition. The dedication to their alma mater has been consistent and already has impacted Northwestern State. This scholarship will continue their legacy of giving back to NSU."
 
For more information on endowed athletic scholarships at Northwestern, click here.