James Cooper Memorial Scholarship

A conversation with Margaret Walker
Why did you choose to create a scholarship at Auburn University?
It was a memorial my mother and friends established for my dad, because he was an Auburn alum who worked for 30 years as an extension farm agent, and he loved Auburn.

What would you want recipients of this scholarship to know about you or the person(s) for whom it is named?
James Cooper grew up on a farm in Tuscaloosa County. He graduated from Auburn in 1935 and spent 30 years working as a farm agent in Tuscaloosa County. Early on, his focus was 4-H work, where he helped 40 boys win national awards. In later years his concentration was urban horticulture. He won many state, regional, and national awards for his work, including the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents.
What do you hope your recipients gain through receiving this scholarship?
I hope they take the opportunity to gain the skills to become outstanding professionals and a credit to Auburn University.