Austin Peay State University Retirees Association to now sponsor scholarships for two students annually

Austin Peay State University Retirees Association (APSURA) has increased support for its APSURA Scholarship Endowment. First established in 2020, the scholarship will now support two students per year instead of one. The scholarship is awarded to students who are dependents of Austin Peay State University faculty and staff.

According to an article on Austin Peay State University’s website, Kris Phillips, who serves as the university’s Vice President for Alumni, Engagement and Philanthropy, was quoted as saying of the scholarship endowment, “APSURA’s scholarship fund is uniquely representative of the Govs For Life Experience, as it benefits our current staff and their students who choose to continue the APSU experience into a new generation. We are grateful to the APSURA board of directors, under the leadership of Al Bekus and now Carlette Hardin, for creating this fund to honor families establishing their own APSU tradition, as well as the dedication of our faculty and staff who support students every day.”

The first scholarship award was made in 2020 in memory of James (Jim) Clemmer, who was a longtime English faculty member and a supporter of APSURA. Lifetime membership dues for APSURA go toward the scholarship endowment. Members can also contribute to the fund, with member contributions having increased enough that the scholarship can now support two students per year.

In order to be eligible for the APSURA Scholarship Endowment, students must be enrolled full time and must be dependents of Austin Peay State University staff or faculty members. Students must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average and have completed 45 semester hours by the start of the semester in which they will receive their award. Students must also submit a brief essay to be considered.

APSURA President Carlette Hardin said, “We are proud that our members provided support to this fund as a way to honor their dedication to APSU. Regardless of our respective roles at the university, our careers were spent mentoring and guiding students, and this fund carries on that commitment and honors the dedication of the APSU family.”  

For more information about Austin Peay State University, visit the school’s website.