An idea that began in the hearts of a group of Samford University graduates has resulted in an endowed scholarship fund to assist Missionary Kids (MKs), children of missionaries, who attend the school.
The Bill and Audrey Cowley MK Scholarship honors the former career missionaries who over the course of three decades were surrogate parents to scores of MKs attending Samford.
The Cowleys served in Nigeria for 23 years before Bill began a 16-year tenure (1977–1993) on the Samford religion and speech faculty. In 1979, Audrey became treasurer of national Woman’s Missionary Union.
In spring of 2014 the scholarship fund became part of Samford’s Legacy League roster of scholarship funds and will soon be able to be awarded to students.
The Cowleys were naturals at nurturing MKs, who at one time during the 1980s numbered almost 100 at Samford.
“We realized that we were not a substitute for their parents, but we tried to be of help in any way possible,” Bill said of their relationship with MKs. “Sometimes only a hug can help.”
Their helpfulness included many trips to the airport for pickup or delivery and caregiving in medical emergencies.
Their legion of admirers includes 1978 Samford graduate Kevin Reece, who knew the couple in Nigeria and at Samford.
“It’s difficult to express the magnitude of the impact the Cowleys have had on me nearly my whole life,” said Reece, who first felt the influence of their faith and dedication to missions during his youth in Nigeria where his parents were missionaries.
“I consider Bill and Audrey to be true representatives of Christ in this world,” he said.
For more information, visit www.samford.edu/legacyleague, call 205-726-2247 or email ssmith12@samford.edu. (Samford)
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