University of Tennessee Student Recognized with Scholarship Sponsored by Durango Boots
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A student at the University of Tennessee Herbert College of Agriculture has roped in a big award. Animal science and journalism student Laurel Cox won Durango Boots’ second annual National Day of the Cowgirl Award, earning her a $30,000 scholarship distributed over the next three years.
Durango® Boots sponsors the award in partnership with the Dude Ranch Foundation.
A leader in the Western footwear industry, Durango Boots awards the scholarship to one undergraduate female student currently in their first year of college who is passionate about the “Western way of life” and plans to pursue a career in agriculture, farming, ranching, the equine industry or western sports.
The scholarship supports and celebrates young women like Cox “who embody the spirit of the American cowgirl,” displaying qualities of strength, confidence and resiliency.
Cox meets such characteristics as she plans to use her degrees to share the untold stories of those who have pushed the great American West forward. Due to the generosity of Durango Boots, she is empowered to achieve her goals without financial burden.
“The Western industry is rooted in traditions such as faith, hard work, and community, and these principles are the foundations of why we created the National Day of the Cowgirl holiday and scholarship,” shared Erin DeLong, marketing manager at Durango Boots. “Our second annual scholarship recipient, Laurel Cox, embodies these strong values and we are thrilled to be part of her journey and support system aiding her future as a cowgirl.”
Cox says, “Receiving this scholarship was such a shock and a blessing, and I’m honored and humbled to know Durango saw something special in me. I hope to give back to the agricultural industry in the future the same way it has blessed and poured into me.”
“This scholarship takes away all of the pressure of paying for college,” says Cox. “Because of this scholarship, I’m able to put my focus entirely towards my education and my future goals without worrying about how I’m going to afford my degree.”
The National Day of the Cowgirl Scholarship allows Cox to continue to pave the way for future generations of cowgirls. Applications for the annual scholarship open September 15 and close December 31, 2025. First-year college cowgirls are encouraged to apply.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is comprised of the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach, the institute touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu.
About Durango®
Founded in 1966, Durango® Boots manufactures and markets quality-crafted western and fashion footwear for men, women, and children. It is a division of Rocky Brands™, a publicly traded company on NASDAQ® under the symbol: RCKY. For more information visit www.durangoboots.com.
About the Dude Ranch Foundation
The Mission and Purpose of the Dude Ranch Foundation is to preserve the history and expand the knowledge of America’s dude ranching industry through the Foundation’s Heritage Museum, research archives, educational programs, conservation, and workforce development. The Dude Ranch Foundation is a duly incorporated nonprofit corporation under the Internal Revenue Service code 501(c)(3).