APSU Alumni Magazine - Spring 2024

The official alumni magazine of Austin Peay State University Spring 2024 The

EDITOR

Bill Persinger (’91)

ASSISTANT EDITORS

Brian Dunn (’21)

Ethan Steinquest (’17)

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Beth Rates (’17)

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Sean McCully (’18)

Ally Shemwell (2024)

Madison Casey (2024)

Jaylon Gonzales (2024)

Benjamin Biesendorfer (’14)

PRODUCTION

Jana Gilbert (’14,’22)

ALUMNI, ENGAGEMENT AND PHILANTHROPY NEWS AND EVENTS

Brad Averitt (’10, ’17)

Payton Baggett Reynolds (’14, ’17)

Carrie Taylor (’17)

SPORTS NEWS

Cody Bush

Casey Crigger (’19)

To update your alumni information online, visit www.alumni.apsu.edu/ contactupdate

For questions, email alumni@apsu.edu.

Austin Peay State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or any other legally protected class with respect to all employment, programs and activities sponsored by APSU. Policy 6:00 1 AP291/2-24/30M/ Lithographics/Nashville, TN

Every April, Austin Peay’s cherry blossoms bring a fresh splash of red and white to campus, providing a brilliant backdrop to the spring bustle of students, faculty and staff. This vibrancy matches the University’s energy.

We’re not just growing — we’re on the move.

Our beloved mascot, the Governor, is a testament to our fighting spirit that resonates far beyond the field or court. He is our champion! Earlier this year, he won the national title in the Open Division Mascot National Championship.

Our students, employees and alumni are the narrators of profound human experiences. None is as distinctive as Raven Jackson, whose cinematic voice in “All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt” earned her a Gotham Award. This honor speaks to the depth of storytelling fostered at Austin Peay. Her work also earned acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival, where the film debuted.

Visiting theatre professor Victoria Matlock Fowler’s unique blend of horror and humor in “Slotherhouse,” which involved our musical theatre students, also showcases our University’s influence extending into national cinemas, spotlighting our innovative teaching in the performing arts.

Hansel Enmanuel’s story is one of overcoming adversity and excelling — a narrative that resonates with the Austin Peay character. His success on the basketball court and his remarkable name, image and likeness deals, including collaborations with celebrities like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, underscore our commitment to nurturing exceptional talent and courage.

Our Govs made history in football with their second straight conference title, a feat we’ve dubbed the “Re-PEAY-t.” This milestone earned our team an automatic bid to the NCAA FCS playoffs and also shows that the University is well-positioned for the future. Ushering in a new era, Jeff Faris recently joined as head coach, bringing a fresh vision and extensive Division I FBS experience to the Governors’ football program.

Our “Peayple in the Community” initiative — where over 600 Govs poured 1,214 hours into local nonprofits — embodies our unwavering commitment to Clarksville and our neighbors. This initiative strengthens our social fabric and magnifies the heart of what it means to be a Governor: connected, engaged and serving others.

We built our academic, student, employee and community experiences in anticipation of our centennial celebration in 2027, and our students and employees embody these pillars.

As we approach our centennial celebration, we welcomed the class of 2027 this year — a cohort already making history. Their diversity and record-setting enrollment signify a dynamic shift in our academic community. They are not just part of our storied traditions; they are redefining them, equipped with curiosity and an ambition that looks beyond the horizon.

They are the “Centennial Class.” They are the trailblazers who will propel us into the next 100 years.

Our promise to them goes beyond academic excellence. We are creating a transformative educational landscape with initiatives like our four-year graduation guarantee and the stateof-the-art Health Professions Building. We are committed to hands-on learning tailored to meet evolving workforce demands, research opportunities and support programs for all, including military-affiliated and first-generation college students.

Our vision is clear as we bloom into Austin Peay’s next century. We will craft a vibrant future for Austin Peay and the students who call it home.

Dr. Mike Licari

ENMANUEL

Enmanuel Hansel

APSU BASKETBALL STAR AMONG HIGHEST-PAID NCAA PLAYERS

Hansel Enmanuel, a sophomore guard for APSU’s basketball team, has become one of the nation’s most successful college athletes in terms of name, image and likeness (NIL) deals, bringing in approximately $1.2 million per year.

Enmanuel, who lost an arm due to a childhood accident, first gained national recognition as a high school basketball star through multiple viral videos. He played for Northwestern State University as a freshman and transferred to Austin Peay ahead of the 2023-24 season.

Brands that have partnered with Enmanuel include Dreamer, Gatorade, T-Mobile, adidas, Champs Sports and Oakley. He was also among seven college athletes who teamed up with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson last summer to promote ZOA Energy, the actor’s energy drink brand.

THEATRE PROFESSOR PRODUCES HORROR-COMEDY ‘SLOTHERHOUSE’

Musical theatre students at APSU have spent their academic year learning from visiting professor Victoria Matlock Fowler, who served as a producer for the 2023 horror-comedy movie “Slotherhouse.”

The film tells the story of a college student who brings a seemingly cute but deadly creature known as a “death sloth” back from the jungle to gain popularity. Chaos ensues as the bloodthirsty sloth goes on a rampage, leaving the student and her sorority sisters fighting for their lives.

APSU’S INAUGURAL LEADERSHIP EXCHANGE PROGRAM STRENGTHENS PARTNERSHIP WITH FORT CAMPBELL

The University plans to host two Leadership Exchange programs each semester to reach participants from across the Clarksville area through seminars, discussions and workshops while fostering collaborative projects.

Austin Peay State University recently hosted eight senior leaders from across Fort Campbell, Kentucky during its inaugural Leadership Exchange, a University-level initiative to strengthen community partnerships.

APSU ELEVATING STUDENT SUCCESS WITH INTEGRATED LABOR MARKET TOOLS

Colleges across Tennessee use labor market data to set their students up for success, but APSU is taking things a step further by integrating it into the student experience.

Austin Peay has access to a suite of labor market tools such as Career Coach and the Academic Program Finder’s labor market widgets through the consulting firm Lightcast, and a growing number of instructors are using them to help freshmen get a head start on career planning.

AUSTIN PEAY GUARANTEES ADMISSION, $1K SCHOLARSHIP FOR STUDENTS WITH 3.0 GPA

Austin Peay State University recently announced that any high school senior graduating with a 3.0 grade-point average will be automatically admitted and receive a $1,000 scholarship, the Governors Excellence Scholarship.

The University also offers a tuition guarantee, titled the Govs Guarantee, which locks tuition, fees and housing costs in for a student’s first year if they sign up for Governor’s Orientation ahead of the fall semester. High school students wishing to apply can visit www.apsu.edu/apply for details.

KNIGHT APPOINTED AS STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE FOR THEC

Jacob Knight (’20, ’22), an Austin Peay State University alumnus, continues to advocate for his peers through a one-year appointment as a voting student representative for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC).

This appointment has allowed Knight, who is preparing to graduate with a Master of Science with a concentration in management from APSU, to provide critical student perspectives and advocacy while shaping campus experiences across the state. Knight is the first APSU student to simultaneously serve in this position as well as the student trustee position for the APSU Board of Trustees.

AVIATION PROGRAM TAKES FLIGHT WITH EXPANDED FLEET, SURGING ENROLLMENT

Austin Peay’s aviation science program has grown exponentially in a short period. Since the program’s first cohort began in the Fall 2019 semester, its helicopter fleet has grown to six aircraft. Enrollment has exceeded targets for this high-demand degree – the only bachelor’s degree of its kind in the state – and the exciting employment opportunities that it brings.

RISING FILMMAKER SHINES AT SUNDANCE

Austin Peay alumna Raven Jackson debuted her feature film “All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt” at Sundance, mesmerizing audiences with a poetic journey through a woman’s life in Mississippi. Garnering acclaim and awards, such as the 2023 Gotham for Breakthrough Director, Jackson’s film is a testament to the indelible influence of our origins. Her distinctive voice in cinema promises a riveting future for this talented writer and director.

GOVERNORS HOCKEY CLUB

APSU announced the formation of its first ice hockey team on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023 with plans to compete in the College Hockey South association using the newly opened Ford Ice Center in F&M Bank Arena.

The Nashville Predators and Sabertooth Sports & Entertainment, LLC (SS&E), who manage F&M Bank Arena, worked closely with APSU President Mike Licari to make his vision of hockey at the University a reality.

“Govs Ice Hockey represents yet another opportunity to provide a dynamic campus atmosphere and provides young hockey players across the southeast a chance to continue to play competitively while earning their degrees,” Licari said. “I learned to skate as soon as I could walk, and hockey was the first sport I played. I’ve loved the sport my entire life, so launching our club hockey team is personally exciting.”

The club-level team will compete against other regional schools under the leadership of coach Kane

Eastwood and club president Cooper Smith, a firstyear APSU student from Clarksville.

“[This] announcement highlights our continued strong partnership between SS&E and APSU, reflecting the dedication to continuing the growth of hockey in Middle Tennessee and expanding opportunities for students at Austin Peay,” F&M Bank Arena General Manager Kylie Wilkerson said. “We are so excited to see the Govs take the ice at Ford Ice Center Clarksville and F&M Bank Arena.”

Dr. Leonard Clemons, APSU’s vice president for student affairs, spearheaded the efforts to establish the team with support from Intramural Sports and Sports Clubs Coordinator Anja Shelton.

“I’m excited that we are launching a hockey team as we seek to boost campus engagement and work toward APSU’s goal of a thriving student experience,” said Clemons, who began his role in July 2023. “That’s a key part of the overall Austin Peay Experience.”

Shelton, who has worked with APSU’s Foy Fitness and Recreation Center for approximately 10 years, said the community’s interest in ice hockey has also opened the door for growth in club sports across the University.

“I believe the addition of Govs Ice Hockey will create a standard and raise expectations for all of our sports clubs,” Shelton said. “It’s presented us with not only ice hockey but an interest in men’s volleyball, figure skating, rugby and more – and I hope we can build

on creating a supportive culture around our sports clubs.”

To support the operations of Govs Ice Hockey and its future students, you can make a gift to the Austin Peay Hockey Club Team Fund of Excellence at givetoapsu.com/HockeyClubFOE

For questions about giving, contact the APSU Office of Philanthropy at 931-221-7127 or email give@apsu.edu

HOCKEY ICE

Govs Ice Hockey represents yet another opportunity to provide a dynamic campus atmosphere.

Austin Peay President Mike Licari with Governors Hockey Club president, Cooper Smith, and Dr. Leonard Clemons, vice president for student affairs.

LOVE STORY:

Taylor Swift 101

LOVE STORY:

APSU honors class explores Romantic poetry through Taylor Swift’s music

Students at Austin Peay State University gained an unconventional perspective on Romantic poetry last semester with “The Invisible String of Romanticism,” an honors course analyzing the connections between singer-songwriter Taylor Swift’s discography and iconic poems dating back to the 18th century.

Delaney Atkins, academic associate to the executive director for Austin Peay’s Honors and President’s Emerging Leaders programs, designed the course to help students develop a greater appreciation for the arts.

“I wanted to bridge the gap for students who aren’t into poetry but love music, and I thought Taylor Swift was the perfect artist for that,” she said. “I hope they take away a love for poetry and the ability to recognize poetic devices in songs, and that the class gives them the tools to go off and find new meaning in the things they love.”

The 16-week course began with an introduction to Romantic poetry and the era’s most influential figures before taking a deep dive into Swift’s music. Each week focused on a different album, with related poetry selections serving as launching points for student-driven discussions.

“I really like the discussions and getting to hear everybody’s interpretations,” said senior speech pathology major Jerilyn Mitchell. “I think it’s very telling that we can connect modern writing to poems dating back to the 1800s because songwriting is basically a form of poetry … I think it’s a very good example of how the human experience evolves but never really changes.”

Junior business management major Lauren Berg, who completed the course when it was first offered in Fall 2022, said she enjoyed connecting with her classmates throughout the semester.

“Each week, we went through one of her albums and focused on some of the songs with more lyrical depth

to them,” she said. “We took them apart and found the different techniques she used in her writing. She actually announced [her 2022 album] ‘Midnights’ while we were taking the class, so we got to sit together, listen to it and dissect it as if we’d just heard it.”

Berg signed up for the class because of her longtime passion for Swift’s music and gained a greater appreciation for poetry as a result. Other students, like sophomore English major Levi Southerland, were interested in the class’s focus on Romantic literature.

“It really has changed the way I look at literature, which is very important to me given my major, my interests and my desired career path,” said Southerland, who wants to become an English teacher or professor. “It’s broadened my perspective, and also introduced me to Taylor Swift’s music – which I’m actually a fan of now.”

Atkins hopes to continue teaching the class this fall and said there is a growing interest among students. Anyone in the Honors Program is eligible, and other students can ask permission from the program and their individual departments to sign up.

“This class definitely helped me to think about how creative projects can influence your academic work,” said senior philosophy major Allison Harris. “It’s very layered and deep – giving it a chance is a good way to expand not only your musical horizons but your academic understanding of expression.”

Whether students sign up as lifelong Taylor Swift listeners or poetry enthusiasts, the interdisciplinary course offers something for everyone.

“At the end of the day, it’s just such a good community class, and I love getting the chance to step back and hear the students’ perspectives,” Atkins said. “Watching them grow in their love, appreciation and understanding of something is so wonderful and rewarding, and I’ve been able to do that with this class … I think that’s the greatest aspect of it.”

PEAYPLE IN THE COMMUNITY:

APSU dedicates more than 1,200 volunteer hours to Clarksville causes

More than 600 Austin Peay State University students, faculty and staff fanned out across Clarksville on Wednesday, Oct. 25, volunteering for a combined 1,214 hours with several local organizations during the inaugural Peayple in the Community, a Day of Service.

Alexandra Wills, Austin Peay’s director for Community Engagement & Sustainability, coordinated the volunteers to ensure each site had plenty of support. From Loaves & Fishes to the American Red Cross, the Govs left a lasting impact through their efforts.

“Austin Peay’s mission says that we are a community-minded institution, and we believe in living that out,” said Dannelle Whiteside, vice president of Legal Affairs and Organizational Strategy. “We thought this would be a meaningful way to demonstrate how we believe in putting our hands toward the betterment of the Clarksville community.”

The event was also designed to foster engagement through service outside the traditional academic environment, strengthening community relationships while promoting student success.

“Being in the health professions, we’re all about serving our community – and what better way to do that than to volunteer with all of our people,” said Dr. Jennifer Thompson, associate professor and program director of radiography. “All of our rad tech students are together [here], and we’re building that family that we’ve already established in the classroom by working in the community.”

Thompson and several of her students were among those who volunteered to pack to-go bags for Manna Café Ministries. The nonprofit operates a mobile soup kitchen, food box distributions and more to address food insecurity. Others worked to unbox Christmas trees and sort items at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, a

donation center that supports the organization’s homebuilding efforts.

“This was actually a requirement for my APSU 1000 class, but I’m glad I did it,” said freshman psychology major Sarah Hefty. “I like learning about what they do here and how they help the community … seeing that makes me want to volunteer here more often and shop [at the ReStore] so that money goes back to them.”

We’re happy to serve the community.

Volunteer coordinators like Timothy Johnson, vice chair of the board for the American Red Cross’s Tennessee River Chapter, said Austin Peay provided essential support during the day of service.

“The Red Cross is all about being embedded within the community and knowing what we can bring to the table, and volunteering is one of the big things that we need,” he said, noting that the Govs softball team cleaned the Red Cross’s vehicle fleet and inventoried its disaster trailer.

“The fact that somebody is coming here to volunteer for us and with us like this is incredibly important.”

Whiteside said the University plans to develop Peayple in the Community, A Day of Service into an annual event to give more students, staff and faculty the opportunity to get involved.

“At both places that I volunteered, everybody was smiling and excited, and they felt so good about having done something to help out,” she said. “We’re happy to serve the community, and we thank our community partners for opening their doors and allowing us to give back.”

Haase picks up long-term IGSA contract to continue APSU’s bat research

at Fort Campbell Student Experience

Research projects can be lengthy and time-consuming processes. Still, even by those standards, Austin Peay State University assistant professor Dr. Katie Haase’s most recent undertaking will be a longstanding commitment.

Haase recently received word that her Intergovernmental Service Agreement (IGSA) contract with the United States had been granted – for 10 years and over $2 million in funding.

“Having 10 years is pretty spectacular,” said Haase, who works in the Department of Biology.

“That length of time is not that common, and having it right here at Fort Campbell is incredible. In my career, I’ve often had to travel, camp, live in a hotel or a field house or even live out of a truck for extended periods of time when I was out at a site; now, my students can have a field site 20 minutes from home [and] can work throughout the semester even if they’re in class. It’s pretty rare to have that available to us.”

This contract isn’t an extension per se of the three-year IGSA Haase received in 2020, but rather a new one that builds off the research she and her students conducted on Northern longeared bats, doing acoustic surveying and mist netting – which involves catching, tagging and tracking bats.

While the Northern long-eared species was largely absent, Haase and her students were also able to focus on other declining species in the area. This research, which consisted of tricolored and little brown bats, among other species, was conducted to help determine if these species should be protected under the Endangered Species Act. The tricolored is currently going through the legal process for inclusion.

Through the research, Haase and her cohort determined that Fort Campbell has the highest population of tricolored bats in the area and were able to expand the known data on the species at the state and federal levels.

These findings led Gene Zirkle, a supporter of Haase’s work and branch chief for the Directorate of Public Works Environmental Division at Fort Campbell, to encourage her to seek an extension for more surveying and to expand out to more species in the area.

Expanding the research is part of what necessitated a new contract rather than a grant renewal. The agreement will allow Haase to provide opportunities and support for undergraduate and graduate students for the next decade, a pivotal step in the continued growth and development of Austin Peay’s biology department.

“It’s expensive to do some of this work,” Haase said. “Funding can be limited, and a lot of it goes toward equipment and supporting graduate

Leah Crowley, master’s biology student.

“It’s really driven by the students.”

students. With this contract, I can offer more support to graduate students, and I can pay undergraduate students who might otherwise miss out on research opportunities because they have to work part-time, and this gives them a chance to work and be paid in their field. I can supplement the stipend we pay graduate students and be competitive with labs that have a lot more money and keep attracting really great graduate students to Austin Peay.”

Haase gave credit to her current graduate students –Leah Crowley, Brandon Gulley, Ryan Stuart and Dakota Van Parys – along with undergraduate students Kennedy Beck (’22) and Logan Young, for going out and doing much of the day-to-day work in the field to collect research and data points.

“It’s really driven by the students,” Haase said. “It’s a lot of work, and they do the work and analyses and writing, and I just help them along.”

Throughout the latest IGSA, Haase wants to expand on the work she and her students have already begun, fine-tuning what they know about the bats they’re studying and delving further into what attracts them to these areas.

In addition, Haase hopes to study the effects of habitat, foraging behaviors, land management and disease, including white-nose syndrome – a devastating disease caused by a fungus with astronomically high mortality rates in certain species.

Not only does the contract help make this possible for Haase and her lab students, but it should also generate enough funding to support two to three graduate students annually while also strengthening Austin Peay’s partnership with Fort Campbell.

“We have so much support at Austin Peay from everyone, from the president [Dr. Mike Licari] to the dean [Dr. Karen Meisch] and the chair [Dr. Amy Thompson],” Haase said. “It’s the faculty in a program that ultimately make the program [successful] and provides the opportunities for students to really mold them into who they’ll be professionally. Knowing we’ve secured that funding for 10 years and will be able to support those students is really nice.”

From left, students Dakota Van Parys, Brandon Gulley, Dr. Catherine Haase.

NATIONALCHAMP!

THE GOVERNOR MAKES MARK ON BIG STAGE NATIONAL Champion

The Governor, Austin Peay State University’s mascot, took its talents to the big stage at the 2024 UCA & UDA College Cheerleading & Dance Team National Championship and grooved its way to the top, winning the Open Division Mascot National Championship on Saturday, Jan. 13 at the Walt Disney World Resort.

With a performance score of 85.8 points, the Governor bested the competition from the University of Delaware (84.16), Grand Canyon University (83.88), Villanova University (81.26) and Stony Brook University (81.14) to claim the open division championship title.

“I was overwhelmed with a lot of love, pride and emotions,” said the Governor, who is portrayed by two

students who prefer to speak as the mascot. “I’m very passionate about Austin Peay, and to be able to go to the national stage and win this for the community was such a great satisfaction. I’m truly grateful, humbled and honored.”

The Governor previously established itself as a force to be reckoned with during its national championship debut last year, where it finished second in the open mascot division with a performance score of 77.4 points. Through hours of practice and brainstorming sessions, the mascot pushed itself further to develop this year’s first-place winning routine, which capped off the APSU cheer and dance teams’ second day at the event.

“We went with a board game theme and put that Austin Peay touch into it,” the Governor said. “People say all the time that the Gov looks like the Monopoly man, so we dressed him up with a black blazer and put money in his pocket. The routine incorporated Jenga, Monopoly, Guess Who and charades, which hit all the boxes that were needed to get a really good score.”

The routine incorporated everything from “Let’s Go Peay!” chants and music from the Governors Own Marching Band to a variety of creative props, including a Jenga tower that collapsed to reveal a heart-shaped display honoring cheer and dance.

“Really, that heart was also for everybody who has supported us from Day 1 since we came to Austin Peay,” the Governor said. “The Clarksville community has constantly shown their appreciation, love, and support, and we wanted to go out there and give back by achieving something that hasn’t been done before. We also wanted to build a legacy because that’s what the Gov is. He’s a legacy, he’s the mascot and he’s the face of the University – and we knew that we wanted to make the face of the University a national champion.”

About the UCA & UDA National Championship

Since its inception more than 35 years ago, the UCA & UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship has established itself as the most prestigious collegiate national championship in the country for cheer and dance teams.

APSU competed in the Division I Dance Game Day Semifinals, the 2024 Small Coed Division I Semifinals and the 2024 Division I Hip Hop Semifinals, in addition to the Open Division Mascot National Championship. All of Austin Peay’s performances from the event are available for viewing on the varsity.com streaming platform.

About APSU Cheer and Dance

Austin Peay’s cheer squad is led by its first-year coaching staff, head coach TJ Bettineschi and assistant coach Justin Mizen. Second-year head coach Deja Adams leads the Govs dance team.

Fans can catch the Governor and his national championship-caliber antics during Austin Peay

basketball games at F&M Bank Arena in downtown Clarksville. Schedules for both the men’s and women’s basketball programs are available at letsgopeay.com, and tickets for all of their games can be purchased at ticketmaster.com.

GOVS STEP UP:

APSU community unites to support tornado recovery

When an EF-3 tornado ripped through Clarksville in December 2023, APSU’s campus community quickly united to offer volunteers, supplies and shelter to support those in need.

The tornado impacted approximately 50 students, and at least nine completely lost their homes – which drove dozens of students, faculty and staff to lend a helping hand.

“We did a campus-wide collection drive with multiple collection points, and we collected a ton of donations

for YAIPak Outreach,” said Alexandra Wills, director for Community Engagement and Sustainability.

“We’ve [also] given out $11,000 in emergency funds since this happened for tornado-specific issues … and went out and restocked as much fridge and freezerrelated food as we could for the SOS Food Pantry.”

Additionally, alumni, friends and corporations sent in over $20,000 to fund campus relief efforts, according to Kris Phillips, vice president for Alumni, Engagement and Philanthropy and executive director of the APSU Foundation.

APSU also repurposed some of its campus housing to shelter tornado victims, and several University organizations coordinated with local nonprofits and government officials to determine areas of need. Fraternity and Sorority Affairs alone fielded more than 50 student volunteers.

“A lot of our chapters have alumni groups, so we partnered with them to see where they were going and make sure there were more of us,” said Lindsy Perry, coordinator of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs. “[Volunteers] were doing everything from helping put

what was left of homes into buckets and storage bins to retrieving items from houses that were torn down and playing with children at the shelters.”

University Athletics also mobilized its studentathletes, alumni and coaches quickly. Austin Peay’s baseball, softball and tennis teams dispatched volunteers into the community, while other athletics programs gathered and delivered supplies for those in need.

According to Niesha Campbell, deputy director of

Community Experience

athletics, student-athletes spent a combined 18 hours packing supplies and washing dishes for Manna Café, working with Mosaic Church to clean debris and delivering food to individual homes.

“While our student-athletes excel on the field and court, their commitment to community service is truly commendable,” said Gerald Harrison, vice president and director of athletics. “They embody the spirit of resilience and community … demonstrating their commitment to truly being Clarksville’s hometown team by joining our neighbors in rebuilding our community.”

Other student volunteers directly contacted impacted people and families. Christine McNemar, a sophomore psychology major, spent several hours navigating the wreckage of a close friend’s home to find a beloved stuffed turtle for the family’s son.

“He got that stuffed animal when he was a young

infant, I want to say around 6-12 months old,” McNemar said. “He has autism, and that’s been his safe item for basically his entire life. It’s irreplaceable, and it’s actually a discontinued item. If you look on Mercari to find the exact one, it will be over $100.”

Eventually, McNemar found the turtle hidden under an overturned mattress – which shielded the stuffed animal from insulation and kept the wind from blowing it into the woods.

“I was all puffy-faced and emotional to find Turtle, and when I returned it [to my friend’s son] he felt pure bliss, excitement and relief,” she said. “I recorded a video, and you can hear him shout ‘my turtle!’ and he runs over and just hugs it.”

The Little Govs Child Learning Center also went the extra mile to help an Austin Peay employee with two children enrolled at the center after the tornado destroyed their home. One child spent a week in the

ICU, and their father, who sustained life-threatening injuries, was released from the hospital in January.

“It was so hard knowing they were in the path of the tornado and that they got hurt,” said Claudia

Rodriguez, the director of Little Govs Child Learning Center. “We always say we’re a Little Govs family here at the center, and everyone came together to make sure that this family was taken care of. It was really very meaningful.”

Rodriguez said families from the Little Govs CLC took the lead on the project, working with partner organizations such as the Child Care Resource & Referral Network (CCR&R) and Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance (TECTA) to create a tree display with several donated gift cards underneath to make sure the family could still celebrate Christmas.

The tornado recovery mobilized Austin Peay’s campus in several ways, uniting students, staff and faculty around a common purpose. While the relief effort aided Clarksville’s rebuilding process, it also provided a transformative experience for the volunteers.

“I think this will impact [students] for the foreseeable future,” Campbell said. “They got a chance to put their boots on the ground, serve someone else and see the immediate impact. I hope this sparks a desire in them to continue to serve and leave an impact … that wherever they go after they graduate, service to their community becomes a part of who they are and their natural routine.”

“Everyone came together to make sure that this family was taken care of.”

Unveiling the Future:

Meet Austin Peay’s ‘Centennial Class,’ the Class of 2027

Austin Peay State University, a beacon of higher education in Tennessee, is charging toward its centennial year with a freshman class that embodies its growth and ambition. The Class of 2027, also known as the “Centennial Class,” marks a pivotal moment in Austin Peay’s history, entering in the Fall 2023 semester and recording the largest enrollment increase among Tennessee’s public universities at 7.21%.

The ‘Centennial Class’

The Centennial Class holds unique significance as we celebrate a century of academic excellence. Distinguished by their time at Austin Peay, these students will carry the University’s 100th-anniversary legacy. We will document their four-year journey, commemorating their academic and personal achievements as they mature into tomorrow’s leaders.

Unlocking Opportunities

APSU President Mike Licari envisions the University as the “Gateway to Opportunity.” This vision drives strategic goals to enhance campus life, from academic experience to community engagement. Foundational pillars and scholarship initiatives are pivotal to this vision and guarantee an accessible and superior educational journey.

The Austin Peay Experience guarantees $2,000 in grants to empower students to pursue their unique academic interests. APSU also provides a fouryear graduation guarantee, ensuring freshmen can earn their degrees on schedule while engaging in transformative experiences. Austin Peay will cover the remaining tuition if any Class of 2027 freshmen don’t graduate on time.

The four-year graduation guarantee is part of Austin Peay’s unwavering promise to deliver a comprehensive, timely education.

Embracing Growth

The narrative of the Centennial Class embodies APSU’s ethos of perpetual growth and individual evolution, providing educational opportunities and experiences

designed to shape each student’s professional and personal future.

The state-of-the-art Health Professions Building, opening in Fall 2025, will provide the Class of 2027 with an environment equipped with advanced labs and simulation spaces that foster learning and professional development in health-related fields.

The newly launched Military and Veterans Affairs Division and the Institute for National Security and Military Studies deliver tailored resources and programs for military-affiliated students and are committed to national security.

Programs like the NASPA-awarded Purpose First Scholars initiative underscore the University’s commitment to empowering first-generation and under-resourced students, ensuring their academic success.

The Grow Your Own Teacher Residency, a first-of-itskind federally registered apprenticeship, empowers participants to work full-time in schools while pursuing teaching degrees — demonstrating Austin Peay’s unwavering dedication to advancing teacher education through seamless integration of practical experience with academic coursework.

APSU’s education programs align with state and national workforce demands, which will equip the Centennial Class with high-demand skills upon graduation. This class will also engage in research opportunities, including a decade-long agreement with Fort Campbell for bat habitat studies, to prepare them for the rigor of their graduate and professional careers.

The growth of the aviation science program underscores Austin Peay’s mission to deliver education in lockstep with industry trends, equipping the Centennial Class with direct pathways to success in the thriving aviation sector.

The Class of 2027 will graduate with degrees, comprehensive skills and experiences tailored to overcome tomorrow’s challenges. They embark on their collegiate journey equipped with rich learning experiences and unwavering institutional support.

Austin Peay State University’s commitment blazes through every facet of the Centennial Class journey, propelling students toward undeniable success.

They will be the beacon of excellence for the next 100 years.

Austin Peay is currently in an exceptional season of giving thanks to several meaningful campaigns.

Giving Tuesday, the largest giving day in the world, takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving every year. Austin Peay celebrates it as “GOVing Tuesday.” Last year, we once again completed a fundable project day. Out of the more than 45 project proposals submitted by faculty and staff, 11 were selected as the focus of GOVing Tuesday 2023. With the help of alumni and friends, the University fully funded all projects by the end of the day on Nov. 28, 2023. We set the bar high, and we want to thank everyone who stepped up and made that goal a reality. As you may know, when an EF-3 tornado ripped through Clarksville in December 2023, volunteers in our campus community stepped up to help, as well as alumni, friends and corporations who sent in over $20,000 to fund our campus relief efforts. We are proud of the Austin Peay students, faculty, staff and community partners who quickly united to offer supplies and shelter to support those in need.

During the spring semester, we continued our fundraising efforts by completing the 2024 SHAPE Campaign, which is designed for APSU faculty and staff to support their University by helping to fund scholarships, research funding, improved facilities and hands-on learning experiences to elevate the Austin Peay experience. Many faculty and staff members chose to participate in SHAPE by contributing to Govs Give 2024, the University’s annual online giving campaign. The Govs Give 2024 theme was “The Govs For Life Experience” in honor of the APSU Division of Alumni, Engagement and Philanthropy’s strategic plan. Each year, the involvement of Govs like you grows this successful initiative to benefit our academic colleges, as well as athletics, Student Affairs and the Military and Veterans Affairs Division. Thank you for building our network of Govs For Life.

Sincerely,

Kristopher R. Phillips, MSL (’91, ’21) APSU Vice President for Alumni, Engagement and Philanthropy

NATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE BOARD

President Victor Felts ’91 feltsv@apsu.edu

Vice President

Fernandez Lockett ’07 flockett8@yahoo.com

President-Elect

Gretchen Hancock ’14 gretchen.hancock1@gmail.com

Past President

CW4 Joe Shakeenab ’04, ’14 jshakeenab@yahoo.com

Faculty Representative

Dr. Tim Leszczak leszczakt@apsu.edu

UPCOMING EVENTS

40th Annual Candlelight Ball

May 18, 6 p.m. (CST)

Omni Nashville Hotel

APSU Run for Govs 5K

Oct. 5

APSU Campus

Homecoming

Oct. 25-26

APSU Campus

46th Annual Homecoming Golf Tournament

Oct. 25, 10 a.m.

Swan Lake Golf Course

Military Alumni Chapter Scholarship Dinner

Oct. 25, 6 p.m.

Morgan University Center Ballroom

Distinguished Alumni Awards Ceremony

Oct. 26, 9 a.m.

Morgan University Center Ballroom

APSU Homecoming Parade

Oct. 26, 11 a.m.

APSU Campus

#ExperienceAustinPeay Tailgate

Oct. 26, 1-2:30 p.m.

Tailgate Alley

Govs vs. Tarleton State

Oct. 26, 3 p.m.

Fortera Stadium

APSU Governors Military Hall of Fame

Nov. 8

APSU Campus

www.alumni.apsu.edu/halloffamecelebration

*Events are subject to change.

Proceeds from APSU Military Alumni Chapter Dinner to benefit CSM (R) Francis (Frank) R. McFadden Military Scholarship Endowment

Austin Peay State University hosted the Military Alumni Chapter Dinner on Oct. 27, 2023. Fortera Credit Union was the presenting sponsor of the event. Proceeds went to the CSM (R) Francis (Frank) R. McFadden Military Scholarship Endowment. During the dinner, it was announced that the CW5 (Ret) Gary Linfoot Military Scholarship, which benefited from last year’s dinner, was fully funded.

“As the leader for military-affiliated college students in our region, we support them in efficiently earning degrees,” APSU President Mike Licari said. “This scholarship and previous funds critically impact their success.”

McFadden was born in Montreal, Canada in 1958. His family immigrated to the United States in 1963. He entered the U.S. Army in 1976 and the Special Forces in 1981.

McFadden was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, then Fort Campbell, Kentucky as a communications sergeant. In 2000, he transferred to Fort Bragg as the command sergeant major for 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne). After Sept. 11, 2001, he transferred to the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. In 2002, he transferred back to Fort Bragg, where he retired in 2006 after more than 30 years of service.

He was a contractor for 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) from 2007 to 2009, then a Department of the Army civilian employee until 2020. He was on the board of the local Special Forces Chapter and became their president in 2010. He passed away in 2023.

Saturday, May 18, 2024 • Omni Nashville Hotel • 6 p.m.

The Candlelight Ball is an Austin Peay State University tradition with a history of providing scholarships to students each year. Established in 1984, the Ball was founded by the late retired Army Brig. Gen. Wendell H. Gilbert to raise scholarship funding for APSU students. Gilbert served as APSU’s vice President for Development and University Relations for 17 years.

Over time, underwriters and guests have aided in scholarships and funding for campus renovations. We are proud that this event offers a meaningful way for community members to give back to APSU, while also helping students achieve their goals and enhancing the Austin Peay Experience for our entire campus community.

Thank you to Wyatt Johnson Kia for serving as our Governor Sponsor, which is the 2024 Title Sponsor for Candlelight Ball.

RSVP by May 3 by visiting: www.alumni.apsu.edu/candlelight2024

The 2024 recipients of the Wendell H. Gilbert Award are Charlsie and John Halliburton (’69). John Halliburton graduated from APSU with a Bachelor of Science in business administration and a marketing minor, then served in the U.S. Air Force. He had a successful banking career, and his service to the community has included Leadership Clarksville, being chair of the Clarksville Industrial Development Board and holding offices in the Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis Club.

WENDELL H. GILBERT AWARD

John (‘69) & Charlsie Halliburton

Charlsie Halliburton earned a Bachelor of Science from Western Kentucky University in 1970. As owner-instructor for Classic Steps School of Children’s Ballet, she volunteered her talents as a Mid-Cumberland Arts League Board member, chair and grant writer for the Nashville Ballet and Nashville Symphony project for Austin Peay’s Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts and the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System. She was honored with the APSU Ovation Award for her significant contributions to the arts and continued her service as board member and chair of the APSU Acuff Circle of Excellence, and as Candlelight Ball co-chair.

Charlsie and John are APSU Legacy Society members. In 1998, they helped establish the Tom Malone Memorial Endowed Art Scholarship. Due to their increased support for that fund, the Malone-Halliburton Classroom in the APSU Art+Design building was dedicated in 2017.

SPIRIT OF AUSTIN PEAY AWARD

The Loos Family

The Spirit of Austin Peay Award winner is the Loos family. Dave Loos was hired in 1990 by then APSU President Oscar Page and APSU Athletics Director Tim Weiser to take the helm of the Governors men’s basketball program. The Clarksville community not only opened up their arms to Loos, but also to his family - his wife, Phyllis and their children, David, Todd, Brad and Nikki.

Dave left the APSU program after 27 years as the all-time Ohio Valley Conference wins leader and the all-time APSU wins leader. He achieved 502 career wins, granting him the 120th rank in all-time NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball head coaching wins. Dave was also the APSU director of athletics for 16 years. During that time, Phyllis cared for their four children while Dave was often on the road for games and recruitment events. The Loos children, and later the grandchildren, were always present at APSU basketball games to cheer on Dave and the Governors. They have become involved with APSU in their own ways, with David Loos, Jr. (’94, ’98) giving back to his alma mater within athletics, and being involved in the APSU Tower Club, Brad (‘01) as a Governors basketball player and graduate assistant and Nikki Loos Peterson (’04, ’06) serving 14 years as the APSU Director of Alumni Relations. The Loos family has truly made an impact on Austin Peay in many ways.

The Austin Peay Offices of Engagement and Alumni and Annual Giving have been working to make intentional interactions with our alumni, friends and campus population.

We are proud to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Candlelight Ball in May with many of our loyal donors and community members. As our premier event, we cannot wait to see the impact that the scholarships and other funds provided by Candlelight Ball will have on Austin Peay students in the next 40 years.

We also hosted several Govs Gatherings as well as our Lunch with Govs, which is a new opportunity for APSU alumni and friends to connect with current students in an informal setting. At the lunch, we invited our alumni and friends to share a meal, impart career advice, discuss life after graduation and share their favorite APSU experiences with our students from the APSU Honors Program, the President’s Emerging Leaders Program, the Student Government Association, Army ROTC and the Student Alumni Association.

We can’t wait to see our alumni and friends back on campus this fall for the many exciting events we have planned, including Homecoming 2024.

For the full list of APSU alumni and community engagement events, visit alumni.apsu.edu. As always, if you have questions, suggestions or need additional information about any of our events, or if you are interested in forming a new alumni chapter, feel free to contact us at 931-221-7979.

Sincerely,

Brad Averitt (’10, ’17)

Assistant Vice President for Alumni and Annual Giving

APSU breaks ground on NPHC Plaza during Homecoming 2023

Austin Peay State University (APSU) hosted the National PanHellenic Council (NPHC) Plaza Groundbreaking Ceremony at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28 2023 at the future home of the NPHC Plaza, located in the area between the APSU Marks Building and Fortera Stadium.

“The NPHC Plaza is a monumental achievement for Austin Peay and its Greek community,” APSU NPHC President Mickele Bridges said. “It is a piece of history that will be remembered on Austin Peay’s campus forever.”

Many members of the local community, as well as APSU faculty, staff and special guests, gathered to commemorate one of the newest additions to Austin Peay.

“Once completed, we are confident that the NPHC Plaza will be a popular part of our campus landscape,” APSU Vice President for Alumni, Engagement and Philanthropy Kris Phillips said.

“We are thrilled the plaza will serve as a public reminder and acknowledgment of the contributions of all the members of Austin Peay NPHC organizations,” APSU Vice President for Student Affairs Leonard E. Clemons said.

The space will commemorate the impact that the historically black organizations within the NPHC, also known as the “Divine Nine,” have made on Austin Peay. Those organizations include Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.; Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.; Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.

“Our Austin Peay NPHC organizations have brought much distinction to our University and our local community for many years,” APSU President Mike Licari said. “It is fitting that we now have a designated space to honor their impact on the Austin Peay experience. We hope that past, present and future members of APSU NPHC organizations will enjoy this plaza as a place to gather and share special memories for years to come.”

O’MALLEY FAMILY WELCOME CENTER

At their meeting on Sept. 15, 2023, the Austin Peay State University Board of Trustees approved the University Welcome Center, located at 317 College St. and known formerly as the Honda Building, to be named after the O’Malley family in honor of APSU Trustee Mike O’Malley’s service to the University and their transformational gift to Austin Peay.

The 5,800-square-foot facility will convert the former car showroom and dealership into a welcome center for the University. After completion, this facility will become a starting point for future students and visitors to meet with admissions officers, learn from financial aid and academic advisors and tour the campus. It will be a beacon of red, serving as one of the anchors of the University’s growth into the downtown Clarksville area. Construction is estimated to be completed in Fall 2024.

O’Malley, a U.S. Air Force veteran, graduated from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, before relocating to Clarksville, Tennessee, to work for Wendy’s of Bowling Green, a franchise operating 18 restaurants. In 1990, O’Malley’s involvement evolved to a partnership, where he was key in the franchise’s expansion to 56 Wendy’s establishments, spanning multiple states. In 2012, he ascended to the positions of CEO and senior partner at Wendy’s of Bowling Green, presiding over a company

that earned an array of Wendy’s accolades. Currently, his company owns 135 Wendy’s restaurants, placing them in the top 10 of the corporation.

Since 1988, the O’Malley family has recognized the valuable contributions of Austin Peay State University to Clarksville-Montgomery County and the surrounding region. Their continued dedication and support for APSU were highlighted by O’Malley’s tenure as the chairman of the Austin Peay Foundation and his memberships in the President’s Giving Tower and the Red Coat Society.

In 2017, Gov. Bill Haslam appointed the inaugural Austin Peay State University Board of Trustees. O’Malley was then elected by the board as the inaugural chair and served two terms. He currently serves as vice chair, and Gov. Bill Lee recently renewed his appointment to the board until 2028.

O’Malley and his wife Jane are have participated in many University athletic and military events. They have raised two sons, Ryan and Shawn, and they are the proud grandparents of two grandchildren. Shawn is a 2009 APSU College of Business graduate. He and Ryan also both work for Wendy’s. Austin Peay is grateful to Mike O’Malley for his leadership-centered support of the Govs For Life Experience.

GOVS GATHERING

Govs Fest 2023 took place at Fortera Stadium in Clarksville on Aug. 25, 2023. Thousands of students, alumni and members of the Clarksville community attended. The event included games, food and inflatables, as well as a free concert from Clarksville’s own Haven Madison. The event was sponsored by Shelby’s Trio.

The Nashville stop of the For the PEAYple Tour took place on Aug. 31, 2023 at the Game Terminal.

These For the PEAYple events were attended by Austin Peay staff such as APSU President Mike Licari; APSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Gerald Harrison; Vice President for Alumni, Engagement and Philanthropy Kris Phillips and APSU head coaches who joined APSU alumni to mingle, network and celebrate being a Gov.

The Chattanooga stop of the For the PEAYple Tour took place on Aug. 10, 2023 at the Chattanooga Lookouts AT&T Field.

APSU Governors Military Hall of Fame Class of 2023

Austin Peay State University inducted six honorees into the APSU Governors Military Hall of Fame during a ceremony hosted on Nov. 10, 2023.

The Governors Military Hall of Fame was established in 2022 and is housed in the William E. & Sadako S. Newton Military Family Resource Center, Tennessee’s largest military student center. It honors APSU alumni, living or deceased, who served in the U.S. military with records of extraordinary service or sacrifice and those who have demonstrated dedicated support and substantive contributions to the U.S. military and its veterans. For its second year, the Military Hall of Fame was sponsored by Jack and Margie Turner.

“I am proud of Austin Peay’s longstanding connection to the military and of our unparalleled support for military-affiliated students,” APSU President Mike Licari said. “This 2023 class of inductees is a testament

to the extraordinary service that so many members of the Governors family have provided.”

“Each of these inductees is a combat veteran, so it’s fitting that we unveiled their dog tags in our Hall of Fame display on Veterans Day,” said retired Army Maj. Gen. Walt Lord, APSU’s vice president for the Military and Veterans Affairs Division. “We are proud to celebrate their military careers and contributions.”

The members of the second class of Austin Peay’s Military Hall of Fame are:

Command Sergeant Major (Ret.) Ruben Arriaga (’13)

Retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Ruben Arriaga began his military career in 1996. His first assignment was at Fort Drum, New York, and in 2002 he completed the Special Forces Qualification Course and reported to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He served in combat during many notable operations and was

The honorees and family representatives with President Licari and Jack and Margie Turner (sponsors for this year).

promoted to sergeant major in 2013. That same year, he graduated from APSU with a degree in health and human performance. After returning from his 10th combat deployment, Arriaga retired from the Army with 25 years of service. He was the vice president of the APSU Military Alumni Chapter from 2014 to 2016.

The Late Colonel (Ret.) Ted Crozier Sr. (’57)

During his time in the U.S. Army, the late retired Col. Ted Crozier Sr. was the first to command what would become the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. His command of the 101st Aviation Company was accompanied by many firsts – notably, he was the first aviator to serve as chief of staff of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). In 1957, he graduated from APSU with a degree in history. He retired from the Army in 1977 after 32 years of service. In 1978, Crozier was elected mayor of Clarksville, Tennessee and served two terms in office. Crozier passed away in 2017 at the age of 91.

The Late Brigadier General (Ret.) Wendell H. Gilbert

The late retired Army Brig. Gen. Wendell H. Gilbert was a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and George Washington University. While in the U.S. Army, he served as the chief of staff for the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and was the assistant division commander for the First Armored Division stationed in Bamberg, Germany. He also served two tours in the Vietnam War. After retirement, he was vice president for Development and University relations at APSU for 17 years. He was then called to state service as commissioner of veterans affairs, as Tennessee’s first commissioner of homeland security and finally as the chief of staff for former Gov. Don Sundquist. Gilbert passed away on July 8, 2022 at the Brigadier General Wendell H. Gilbert Tennessee State Veterans Home in Clarksville, Tennessee at the age of 91.

The Late Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Bobby T. Ladd (’53)

The late retired Marine Lt. Col. Bobby Ladd graduated from APSU in 1953 and also received his master’s degree from Pepperdine University. He retired from the

U.S. Marine Corps after 26 years of service. As a naval aviator, he qualified to fly both jets and helicopters. He served two tours in the Vietnam War and earned many military honors and awards, notably receiving the Air Medal 16 times. Each Air Medal award required Ladd to fly 10 separate missions, meaning he was cited for flying 160 separate sorties in combat. Because he did not often speak about his time in combat or the times he risked his life for the safety of other soldiers, his family was unaware of his accomplishments until reading about them after his passing in 2019.

The Late Colonel Paul Roberts (’78)

The late Army Col. Paul Roberts was a member of the APSU Governors Guard ROTC Program. In 1978, he graduated from APSU and the University’s Army Reserve Officers Training Program. Several years later, he went on to complete the Special Forces Qualification Course. He was in combat during various missions in South and Central America, including Operation Just Cause. He also served as a member of the National Guard’s 20th Special Forces Group in Bosnia. Following active duty, Roberts was an instructor in the U.S. Army School of Infantry at Fort Benning, Georgia. He passed away in 2000.

Captain (Ret.) Anthony Simmons (‘89)

Dr. Anthony L. Simmons graduated from APSU in 1989 with a degree in robotics. He then attended Naval Officer’s Candidate School and was commissioned as an ensign in June 1990. He went on to earn a Master of Science in mechanical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Master of Arts in military art and science from the Air University. He has a doctorate in strategic leadership from Regent University. His 28 years of experience in the U.S. Navy includes four at-sea commands. He has worked in human resources at the Navy Bureau of Personnel and at the Pentagon on the staffs of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Chief of Naval Operations. He served in three combat tours and is in the final stages of publishing his book, “Championing Organization Wellness.” He is the founder and owner of Sixth Gear Consulting, LLC.

Learn more at alumni.apsu.edu/govsmilitaryhalloffame.

Govs win UAC Title, Advance to FCS Playoffs for second time ever

Austin Peay State University’s football team won a conference title for the second consecutive season and achieved the first “Re-PEAY-t” in program history after defeating Central Arkansas 14-12 in the 2023 United Athletic Conference Championship, earning the Govs an automatic qualifier to the 2023 FCS Playoffs.

Not only did Austin Peay clinch the inaugural UAC title, but the Governors advanced to the FCS Playoffs for just the second time in program history. Austin Peay hosted Chattanooga in the first round of the playoffs at Fortera Stadium in Clarksville but fell to the Mocs 24-21 on a last-second field goal.

During the 2023 season, the Govs went on a programrecord nine-game winning streak after dropping their first two games. Along the way, Austin Peay went 6-0 in UAC contests and posted the first undefeated conference record in program history.

After winning the 2023 UAC Championship, the 2022 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship and the 2019

Ohio Valley Conference Championship, the Governors have won three conference titles – in three different conferences – over the past five seasons. Austin Peay has also qualified for the FCS Playoffs twice in the past five seasons after never making a trip to the postseason prior to 2019.

Following the season, a program-record 17 Governors earned All-UAC honors, and a program-record 10 Govs earned First Team All-UAC recognition. After a record-breaking season, quarterback Mike DiLiello was also named the UAC Offensive Player of the Year. The Governors also had three players named to the Academic All-UAC Team, including kicker Maddux Trujillo, who was named the UAC’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Nationally, the Govs garnered 10 All-America honors, highlighted by wide receiver Kam Thomas being named a First Team All-America punt returner by Stats Perform and FCS Football Central.

JEFF FARIS

NAMED AUSTIN PEAY’S 22ND HEAD FOOTBALL COACH

Vice President and Director of Athletics Gerald Harrison announced in December 2023 that Jeff Faris, a Tennessean with a dozen years of Division I coaching experience at the FBS level, has been named APSU’s 22nd head football coach.

“Jeff is a brilliant offensive mind and a tireless recruiter,” Harrison said. “He will be an impactful member of our community and has an infectious personality that will galvanize our student-athletes, our fans and all of Stacheville.”

Faris spent the past two seasons as the tight ends coach at UCLA, helping guide the Bruins to the 2022 Sun Bowl and the 2023 LA Bowl. He previously served on the coaching staff at Duke, where he was named the 2018 American Football Coaches Association’s Assistant Coach of the Year. By the end of his 10 seasons with the program, Faris became the Blue Devils’ co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

“Natalie, Jack, Eli and I are thrilled to be joining the Austin Peay family,” Faris said. “To come home and be a part of the incredible history and tradition of our great University is a dream come true. We love the Clarksville community and look forward to meeting everyone. I cannot wait to get to work with this special group.”

3.34 Governors post program’s second-best GPA during Fall 2023 semester

Led by records from its women’s basketball and women’s soccer programs, Austin Peay State University’s athletics department saw its 15 varsity programs finish the Fall 2023 semester with a combined 3.34 GPA – the second-best average in department history.

This marks the 13th consecutive semester and 16th time in department history its student-athletes have collectively posted a 3.0 GPA or better. Fourteen APSU varsity programs and the Govs dance team finished the fall semester with at least a 3.0 GPA.

“I couldn’t be prouder of our Governors student-athletes, student-athlete success center staff and coaches,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Gerald Harrison. “Their combined hard work led our department to another fantastic academic semester, and I want to congratulate all of them on their success. They prove that the ‘Total Gov Concept’ is something they live every day.”

The Governors women’s basketball and women’s soccer teams set program records with 3.69 and 3.678 GPAs, respectively. In addition, Austin Peay’s football team landed squarely on a 3.0 GPA in the fall – its eighth semester with a 3.0 GPA or better in its last nine semesters.

More than 70% of the department’s individual student-athletes received academic recognition, and 69% of them posted a 4.0 GPA during the Fall 2023 semester.

AUSTIN PEAY ATHLETICS INDUCTS

2024 HALL OF FAME

APSU’s 46th Annual Athletics Hall of Fame Class was inducted during ceremonies on Feb. 23 and 24, continuing the University’s long tradition of student excellence on the field and in the classroom.

Members of this year’s class include baseball’s Tyler Rogers and Alex Robles, men’s basketball’s Chris Horton, volleyball’s Ashley Slay, athletic trainer Joni Johnson and football’s Philip Farinella. To learn more about each of their accomplishments, visit the APSU Athletics Hall of Fame online at LetsGoPeay.com/HOF or visit the display in person at the Winfield Dunn Center.

The APSU Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 1977 and inducted legendary director of athletics and coach David Aaron as its inaugural member. This year’s class of six inductees will bring the total number of individuals recognized to 139.

Learn more by visiting, LetsGoPeay.com/HOF

ALEX ROBLES ASHLEY SLAY CHRIS HORTON JONI JOHNSON PHILIP FARINELLA TYLER ROGERS

RECORD RAISING!

GOVS’ PARTNERSHIP WITH SS&E CONTINUES ITS RECORD-BREAKING TREND

The APSU athletics department’s partnership with Sabertooth Sports & Entertainment (SS&E) again set records for ticket sales and corporate sponsorships in 2022-23, ultimately breaking the $2 million threshold for the first time.

“Our unique partnership with SS&E continues to prove itself as one of the best in the country,” said Austin Peay Vice President and Director of Athletics Gerald Harrison. “I want to thank our SS&E team for their tireless energy in connecting our local businesses and fans with Austin Peay athletics. I also want to thank all the businesses and fans who bought tickets to watch the Governors play.”

In the second year of the partnership, SS&E set records for season ticket growth in football,

basketball, baseball and softball. Thanks to an overall 100% growth in season-ticket holders, nearly 75,000 fans saw an Austin Peay home event in person in 2022-23.

In addition, SS&E saw a 30% increase in corporate sponsorship revenue during the 2223 fiscal year, topping $1.4 million. Through its promotional activities, over 38 million individuals saw Austin Peay on their social media feed, during a Predators televised game or through inarena signage at Bridgestone Arena – the busiest arena in the country.

For news and updates as Austin Peay enters the next year of its partnership with SS&E, follow along on social media @LetsGoPeay or visit LetsGoPeay.com.

Bob Patton (’57) celebrated his 90th birthday.

Thomasa Ross (’03) was elected as chair of the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center Board of Trustees.

Dan Bond (’70) of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) was recognized by Governor Bill Lee with the Governor’s Excellence in Service Award.

Kevin C. Kennedy (’78) of The Kennedy Law Firm received a Golden Gavel Award for Best Public Relations at the 2024 National Trial Lawyers Summit, earning recognition for his legal internship program.

Terry Taylor (’86) was named Assistant Superintendent of Support Services of the Texarkana Arkansas School District (TASD).

Tony

(’94)

Melony Shemberger (’06) was promoted to the rank of full professor of journalism and mass communication at Murray State University in July 2023 and is serving a second term on the Murray State University Board of Regents.

Kayla Cooper (’07) was hired as a cardiology provider at Erlanger Heart and Lung Institute in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Dan Stockdale (’08) had his article, “A Career as an Interim Nursing Home Administrator,” published by the Associated Press (AP).

Raven Jackson (’12) debuted her feature film “All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt” at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.

Elizabeth Black (’00) was appointed as the new purchasing director for Montgomery County, Tennessee.

Terra Allen (’13, ’18) was named one of Wisconsin’s 51 Most Influential Black Leaders for 2023 by Madison365.

Chelsea Diotte (’20) was hired as a third grade teacher at Atoka Elementary School in Atoka, Tennessee.

Jacob Lorino (’21) earned a promotion with the Trust Company as a client specialist.

Former APSU sports information director Brad Kirtley was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) Hall of Fame.

Taylor Schutter was hired by the Pinnacle Asset Management team as a sales assistant.

Korey Smith won the 2023 Bedford City Men’s Golf Tournament.

D.J. Montgomery was promoted from practice squad of the Indianapolis Colts. The journeyman receiver appeared in his seventh career game and caught his first touchdown during the SteelersColts matchup on Dec. 16, 2023.

Brunetti

has been named the Tennessee Titans High School Football Coach of the Year.

Pictured left to right: APSU Vice President & Director of Athletics Gerald Harrison, Tony Brunetti and APSU Head Football Coach Jeff Faris.

IN MEMORY

David Howard Heflin 6/28/23

Joe Gullett 6/29/23

Margaret Ann Merriweather 6/29/23

Alumni in Leadership

Clarksville Class of 2023

Dr. Buzz Hoon, dean of the APSU College of Arts & Letters, recently visited the local courthouse on his last “Leadership Day” as part of the Leadership Clarksville Class of 2023. While there, he took a photo with three APSU alumni who are judges in our local district.

Marcus Campbell 7/1/23

Helen Andrews 7/3/23

Robert “Bobby” Wells (’86) 7/7/23

Henry Camp Malone (’49) 7/28/23

Dwight Payne Smith (’70) 8/1/23

Eleanor S. Williams 8/9/23

Sharon Hicks Atherton (’90) 8/13/23

David M. Ausbrooks (’66) 8/14/23

Jerry R. Stuard (’68) 8/16/23

Michael Terry Medcalf 8/17/23

Brandon Lee Buhler (’51) 8/18/23

Joseph Thomas Cook 8/18/23

Stephen D. Krau 8/18/23

Janet Malone 8/19/23

Asa Herbert Greenwell (’61) 8/20/23

Mary E. Taylor (’69) 8/24/23

James H. Hamrick (’80) 8/26/23

Jerry Glenn Hall (’74) 8/29/23

Steven A. White (’10) 9/9/23

Mary Alley Weakley 9/11/23

Elaine Greer Longhurst (’87) 9/28/23

Billie Marie Northcut (’81) 10/1/23

Donald Lacy Thompson (’68) 10/3/23

James Howard Sanders (’83) 10/4/23

Vicky L. Gardner-Poindexter (’60) 10/4/23

Martha Marie Heath (’64) 10/5/23

Anjali Peek (’16) 10/8/23

Herbert “Ned” Edward Ross 10/10/23

Bristol Gannaway 10/14/23

Ralph Lee Powell (’58) 10/14/23

Frank Smith (’89) 10/21/23

Grant Emerson Brewer (’10) 11/2/23

Raoul Fenton Johnson (’57) 11/5/23

Terry Warren Johnson (’70) 11/5/23

Doris D. Black (’78) 11/7/23

Rosa Pamelia Elmore (’94) 11/8/23

Nancy Lee Lewis 11/9/23

Robyn Carole Padgett (’96) 11/11/23

Elizabeth “Libby” Lambert Lucas 11/13/23

Dil Mohan Singh Bhatia 11/14/23

Jerry Edward Flatt (’64) 11/18/23

Glinda R. Jenkins (’85) 11/18/23

Donald M. Holland (’73) 11/21/23

Jessica Britton Clark (’09) 11/26/23

Jeanne Dee Meredith (’84) 11/27/23

Hazel S. Irwin 12/5/23

Joe Hendricks Fox (’51) 12/16/23

Leonard R. Forte (’63) 1/1/24

William Rodney Collins (’70) 1/2/24

Robert “Bob” Pace 1/5/24

Pictured left to right: Chancellor Ben Dean (’01) of the 19th Judicial District; Robert Bateman (’87), Circuit Court Judge for the 19th Judicial District; Dr. Buzz Hoon, dean of the APSU College of Arts and Letters; and Ashleigh Travis (’08), Circuit Court Judge Division IV for the 19th Judicial District.

1-800-264-ALUM

Giving Tuesday, the largest giving day in the world, takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving every year. Austin Peay State University (APSU) celebrates Giving Tuesday under the name “GOVing Tuesday.” In 2023, APSU once again completed a fundable project day for the event. Out of the more than 45 project proposals submitted by APSU faculty and staff, 11 were selected as the focus of GOVing Tuesday 2023. With the help of alumni and friends, the University fully funded all 11 projects by the end of the day on Nov. 28, 2023. Office

GOVING TUESDAY

APSU College of STEM

The Smart Shopping Cart – an IOT – Based Assistive Device

APSU College of Arts and Letters Travel to American College Dance Conference

APSU E-sports E-sports Game Room

APSU University College PELP and Honors Mentorship Lunches

APSU College of Business Integrating Virtual Reality in the CoB Learning Experience

APSU Department of Athletics Sports Nutrition

Newton Military Family Resource Center Tech for Military-Affiliated Students

Eriksson College of Education

COE Little Free Library

APSU College of Behavioral and Health Sciences

Mt. Olive Cemetery: A Training Ground for Racism Prevention in Public Health

APSU Student Affairs

Little Govs Experiential Learning Tools

APSU Felix G. Woodward Library

Woodward Library Object Lending Program