CANDLELIGHT BALL

This past March, APSU and the Candlelight Ball Committee celebrated the 38th anniversary of APSU’s premier event – The Candlelight Ball.

Thirty-eight years ago, APSU’s Wendell H. Gilbert saw the opportunity to raise funds for deserving students who needed academic financial support. A retired Army brigadier general and former APSU vice president for development and university relations, Gilbert is the founder of the signature Candlelight Ball. He depicts what it means to be a “true Governor.” Because of his passion and the support from APSU alumni, friends, and the generosity of our underwriters and guests, this event has assisted and continues to raise scholarship funds for APSU students.

Over the past five years, APSU and the Candlelight Ball Committee (this year, under the direction of co-chairs Kayla Morgan and Betsy Baggett) have had record numbers of guests and dollars raised in underwriting and ticket sales to assist in raising scholarship funding. Well over 650 guests enjoyed a night of socializing, dinner, awards, live auctions and dancing!

Thank you to all APSU supporters, Presenting Sponsors: F&M Bank, Fortera Credit Union, Planters Bank, Allstate – Kathryn Minniehan, The Campbell Group, Farmers Insurance – W. Danielle Stack, APSU College of Business, The Kennedy Law Firm, Spring Creek Pediatric Dentistry, Sango Village Florist and all of our 2020 underwriters for another successful year!

We hope you all will join us in 2023 for our 39th annual event! For more information, visit www.alumni.apsu.edu/ candlelightball or call 931-221-7979. Over the years, proceeds of the ball have:

• Supported the restoration/renovation of the Pace Alumni Center at Emerald Hill. • Provided financial support for the APSU Center for Teaching and Learning. • Funded the establishment of a scholarship endowment that continues to benefit deserving student recipients each year.

The 2021-22 Candlelight Ball was a tremendous success thanks to the committee, pictured here. Also pictured with the committee are our 2021-22 scholarship recipients, Bayleigh Robinson and Madison Casey.

Left top: APSU and the Candlelight Ball Committee awarded this year’s Spirit of Austin Peay Award to Mrs. Casey Jenkins. Pictured with her are APSU President Mike Licari and Candlelight Ball Co-Chairs Kayla Morgan and Betsy Baggett and Past Co-Chair Kathryn Minniehan.

Left bottom: Dr. Cooper Beazley was awarded the Wendell H. Gilbert Award at the 38th Annual Candlelight Ball. Pictured with him are APSU President Mike Licari and Candlelight Ball Co-Chairs Kayla Morgan and Betsy Baggett and Past Co-Chair Kathryn Minniehan.

Two individuals were honored during APSU’s 38th Annual Candlelight Ball on March 12, 2022, at the Omni Hotel in downtown Nashville. The “Wendell H. Gilbert Award” and the “Spirit Award” were presented to these APSU supporters for their outstanding achievement, contribution or recognition they have brought to Austin Peay.

Dr. Cooper Beazley is a Tennessee Orthopedic Alliance physician and a staff member at Tennova Healthcare in Clarksville and Centennial Medical Center, St. Thomas Midtown and Surgical Care Affiliates in Nashville.

He has been the team physician for Austin Peay since 1986. He has supported the University as a member of the APSU Foundation and with contributions to athletics programs and academic scholarships. In 2013, he was named to the APSU Athletics Hall of Fame. The following year, he received the Chancellor’s Award of Excellence in Philanthropy from the Tennessee Board of Regents.

He is a founding member of Premier Medical Group in Clarksville. Previously, he worked for Clarksville Orthopedic & Neurology and the Clarksville Orthopedic Clinic.

He completed his undergraduate studies in 1974 at Rhodes College in Memphis. In 1977, he graduated from the University of Tennessee Medical School in Memphis. He later completed a residency in orthopedics at Vanderbilt University.

Beazley enjoys time with his wife Carol and their three sons.

Casey Jenkins is the third-generation owner of her family’s local FordLincoln-Honda dealership, Jenkins & Wynne.

She graduated from the NADA Dealer Academy in 2012 as vice president of her class. In 2014, she was in the Automotive News “40 Under 40” class. Jenkins also created womenatthewheel.net, an automotive website for women by women.

She serves on the Ford Direct Board, Marketing Board and Learning Journey Board with Ford Motor Company and is the chairperson for the Ford Dealer Advertising Board. She is a member of the APSU Foundation Executive Board and Athletics Subcommittee. She serves on the Clarksville Academy Cougar Athletic Board and the Montgomery County Sports Authority Board of Directors.

Jenkins is passionate about the work her family does through Having Hope, Having Bipolar, a foundation created in honor of her brother, Blake, who died in 2013.

She is married to Chas Greer, and the couple has three children, Zach, 15, Chandler Kate, 12, and Jenks, 2.