{"id":2432,"date":"2025-05-19T17:11:18","date_gmt":"2025-05-19T21:11:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/teachers-college\/?p=2432"},"modified":"2025-05-19T17:11:18","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T21:11:18","slug":"honoring-a-trailblazer-nylah-cox-jessie-nixon-award-recipient","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/teachers-college\/2025\/05\/19\/honoring-a-trailblazer-nylah-cox-jessie-nixon-award-recipient\/","title":{"rendered":"Honoring a Trailblazer: Nylah Cox, Jessie Nixon Award Recipient"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-2437 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170238\/IMG_0873-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170238\/IMG_0873-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170238\/IMG_0873-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170238\/IMG_0873-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170238\/IMG_0873-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170238\/IMG_0873-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/>As a Family and Child Life Studies major from Indianapolis, Indiana, Nylah Cox\u2019s journey at Ball State University has been one marked by leadership, service, and an unwavering commitment to making a difference. Recently honored with the Jessie Nixon Award, Nylah is celebrating the impact she\u2019s made on campus\u2014and the powerful legacy she now carries forward.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #ba0c2f\">A Home Away from Home<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Nylah transferred to Ball State after experiencing a welcoming and supportive campus community.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cI chose Ball State after visiting the campus as a transfer student because of the welcoming and supportive atmosphere I experienced,\u201d she shared. \u201cThe administration team and students made me feel truly heard, comfortable, and confident in my chosen career path.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>She felt especially drawn to Teachers College, where she found a strong foundation to pursue her passion for working with children and youth.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #ba0c2f\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-2440\" src=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170338\/IMG_8479-1024x619.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"242\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170338\/IMG_8479-1024x619.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170338\/IMG_8479-300x181.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170338\/IMG_8479-768x465.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170338\/IMG_8479-1536x929.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170338\/IMG_8479-2048x1239.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>Leading with Purpose<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Nylah immersed herself in student life, taking on multiple leadership roles during her time at Ball State. Her involvement included:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Executive Board member for the Black Student Association (BSA)<\/li>\n<li>Executive Board member for Let\u2019s Talk About It<\/li>\n<li>Member of Phi Upsilon Omicron<\/li>\n<li>Student Leader for Success in Sisterhood<\/li>\n<li>Employee at the Recreation Center<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>One experience stands out in particular:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cMy favorite Ball State memory was being a part of the Black Student Association,\u201d she said. \u201cBSA gave me opportunities to grow, educate, and cater to our students on campus. It was always fun to reflect and see the impact made upon our attendees and students.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-2434\" src=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170141\/25_MC-74183_2063-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170141\/25_MC-74183_2063-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170141\/25_MC-74183_2063-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170141\/25_MC-74183_2063-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170141\/25_MC-74183_2063-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170141\/25_MC-74183_2063-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #ba0c2f\">Carrying on Jessie Nixon\u2019s Legacy<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Jessie Nixon Award honors a graduating senior who has broken barriers and made a positive, lasting impact on campus. Named after Jessie Nixon\u2014the first African American student to graduate from Ball State in 1925 and a proud member of Teachers College\u2014the award holds deep meaning for Nylah.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cIt felt so amazing to not only share a similarity with her but also to represent her long-lasting legacy! Once I was announced as the recipient of this award, I knew that others had seen what I showcased and demonstrated around campus. For me, it was an honor to accept something as special to the history and achievements of Jessie Nixon.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Nylah was formally recognized as the 2024 Jessie Nixon Award recipient during the Spring Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 3, where her contributions and leadership were celebrated in front of fellow graduates, faculty, and family members.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #ba0c2f\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-2436\" src=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170217\/IMG_0541-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170217\/IMG_0541-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170217\/IMG_0541-682x1024.jpg 682w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170217\/IMG_0541-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170217\/IMG_0541.jpg 1009w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>A Calling to Serve<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Inspired by educators in her own family, Nylah was drawn to a career in education from a young age. Being a witness to the changes they made to many students\u2019 lives made her want to follow in their footsteps. Now that she has graduated, Nylah is continuing her path of service.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cI plan to work with Firefly Children and Family Alliance in the Community Partners for Child Safety program, while building my experience and knowledge in the Child Life field to eventually become a Child Life Specialist.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #ba0c2f\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-2439 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170319\/IMG_5197-300x151.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"151\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170319\/IMG_5197-300x151.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170319\/IMG_5197-1024x516.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170319\/IMG_5197-768x387.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170319\/IMG_5197-1536x774.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170319\/IMG_5197-2048x1032.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Words of Gratitude<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>As she reflects on her time at Ball State, Nylah is quick to acknowledge the mentors who helped her succeed.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cI want to give special thanks to the amazing professors who have helped me throughout my time at Ball State\u2014especially Robin Box, Anneliese Bowers, Dr. Jill Walls, and Ben Peak!\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-2435\" src=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170211\/25_MC-74183_2165-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170211\/25_MC-74183_2165-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170211\/25_MC-74183_2165-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170211\/25_MC-74183_2165-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170211\/25_MC-74183_2165-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170211\/25_MC-74183_2165-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #ba0c2f\">Finding Joy in the Everyday<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Outside the classroom and her many leadership roles, Nylah finds balance through simple pleasures.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cI love to read books, go on walks, workout, or cook in my spare time and hang out with family and friends!\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Nylah Cox leaves Ball State not only with a degree but with a legacy of leadership, advocacy, and compassion. Her impact on campus will continue to inspire future students\u2014just as Jessie Nixon\u2019s story inspired her.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As a Family and Child Life Studies major from Indianapolis, Indiana, Nylah Cox\u2019s journey at Ball State University has been one marked by leadership, service, and an unwavering commitment to making a difference. Recently honored with the Jessie Nixon Award, Nylah is celebrating the impact she\u2019s made on campus\u2014and the powerful legacy she now carries [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":305,"featured_media":2433,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,2,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-featured","category-student-stories"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Honoring a Trailblazer: Nylah Cox, Jessie Nixon Award Recipient - Teachers College<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/teachers-college\/2025\/05\/19\/honoring-a-trailblazer-nylah-cox-jessie-nixon-award-recipient\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Honoring a Trailblazer: Nylah Cox, Jessie Nixon Award Recipient - Teachers College\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As a Family and Child Life Studies major from Indianapolis, Indiana, Nylah Cox\u2019s journey at Ball State University has been one marked by leadership, service, and an unwavering commitment to making a difference. Recently honored with the Jessie Nixon Award, Nylah is celebrating the impact she\u2019s made on campus\u2014and the powerful legacy she now carries [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/teachers-college\/2025\/05\/19\/honoring-a-trailblazer-nylah-cox-jessie-nixon-award-recipient\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Teachers College\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-05-19T21:11:18+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2025\/05\/19170114\/Nylah-Cox-Header-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1344\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Debbie Roberts\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Debbie Roberts\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.bsu.edu\\\/teachers-college\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/19\\\/honoring-a-trailblazer-nylah-cox-jessie-nixon-award-recipient\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.bsu.edu\\\/teachers-college\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/19\\\/honoring-a-trailblazer-nylah-cox-jessie-nixon-award-recipient\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Debbie Roberts\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.bsu.edu\\\/teachers-college\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/832ca94b32339edc2791d6437804532e\"},\"headline\":\"Honoring a Trailblazer: Nylah Cox, Jessie Nixon Award Recipient\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-05-19T21:11:18+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.bsu.edu\\\/teachers-college\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/19\\\/honoring-a-trailblazer-nylah-cox-jessie-nixon-award-recipient\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":632,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.bsu.edu\\\/teachers-college\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/19\\\/honoring-a-trailblazer-nylah-cox-jessie-nixon-award-recipient\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bsu-wpe-blogs.s3.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/32\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/19170114\\\/Nylah-Cox-Header-scaled.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Alumni\",\"Featured\",\"Student Stories\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.bsu.edu\\\/teachers-college\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/19\\\/honoring-a-trailblazer-nylah-cox-jessie-nixon-award-recipient\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.bsu.edu\\\/teachers-college\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/19\\\/honoring-a-trailblazer-nylah-cox-jessie-nixon-award-recipient\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.bsu.edu\\\/teachers-college\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/19\\\/honoring-a-trailblazer-nylah-cox-jessie-nixon-award-recipient\\\/\",\"name\":\"Honoring a Trailblazer: Nylah Cox, Jessie Nixon Award Recipient - 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