Montgomery County Juvenile Court and Austin Peay State University have launched a scholarship initiative for graduates of the 20/10 Mentorship Program, with 26 initial donors pledging more than $110,000 to fund four endowed scholarships for justice-involved youth pursuing higher education.

The Department of Art + Design, with support from the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, will display Spark: Faculty Triennial Exhibition 2026 from Aug. 25 through Oct. 2 in The New Gallery, featuring work from 27 faculty artists alongside a series of gallery talks and a documentary screening.

Austin Peay State University honored exceptional faculty members during its annual awards ceremony on Aug. 10 in the George and Sharon Mabry Concert Hall, presenting the Socrates Award for Excellence in Teaching to five professors along with distinctions for scholarship, community service, and professional excellence.

Austin Peay State University has earned a THEC Veteran Initiatives Grant to enhance academic, mental health and well-being resources for military-affiliated students. Discover how Tennessee's leading military-serving institution continues expanding tailored support for veterans, active-duty personnel and their families statewide.

The College of Arts & Letters will host the free Govs Creative Arts Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Clarksville Downtown Commons, featuring performances from The Governors Own Marching Band, Red River Breeze, Music for Mercy, and more.

Austin Peay State University's Department of Chemistry hosted its first research-focused camp for middle and high school students from July 27-31, giving eighth through 12th graders hands-on experience extracting natural compounds and exploring their potential medicinal properties in a university lab.

The Office of Community Engagement and Sustainability hosted the annual Govs Week of Service this summer, giving students, faculty, and staff opportunities to volunteer with several Clarksville nonprofits.

The Eriksson College of Education has welcomed 23 incoming teacher residents from the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System at its 2026 Grow Your Own Teacher Residency signing day, marking the start of a three-year, tuition-free, paid pathway into the teaching profession.

Austin Peay State University students and a staff member traveled to Puerto Rico this summer through the Alternative Break Trip program, assisting the nonprofit Centro Esperanza with hurricane relief efforts, grounds restoration, and groundwork for a revitalized outdoor learning facility.

Austin Peay State University raised more than $23 million during the 2026 fiscal year -- its second-highest fundraising total in 99 years and a 47% year-over-year increase -- through 7,240 gifts from 2,861 donors as the university approaches its centennial.

The Full Spectrum Learning program is launching two Mobile Sensory Carts this fall, bringing noise-reducing headphones, fidget tools, and other sensory supports to classrooms and events across campus for students with autism, ADHD, anxiety, and anyone needing extra sensory support.

Austin Peay State University's free in-house commencement photography is expected to reach a combined $425,000 in student savings after the Aug. 7 ceremony, giving thousands of graduates professional photos of their milestone at no cost.

As thousands of new Governors arrive on campus this fall, Dr. Dava Wilson and Dr. Anna Leimberg hope their unconventional journeys remind students that no path is predetermined and that success isn't about where you begin, but where you're willing to go.

APSU's Summer 2026 commencement ceremony is at 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 7, in the Dunn Center, and will recognize graduates from across the university's academic colleges.

APSU's Master of Speech-Language Pathology program has earned initial accreditation from the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, expanding the pipeline of clinicians as Tennessee faces a projected 37.6% increase in demand for speech-language pathologists by 2032.

Dr. Debra Rose Wilson, professor and Lenora C. Reuther Chair of Excellence in Austin Peay State University's School of Nursing, has been selected for induction as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, one of the profession's most prestigious distinctions.

With fewer entry-level jobs available, Austin Peay State University's College of Business has responded by increasing experiential learning participation by 37%--connecting students with real organizations, AI-focused coursework, and global immersion experiences to build the skills employers value most.

The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences has acquired a new scanning electron microscope, giving students publication-quality imaging and chemical analysis capabilities -- including the chance to study meteorites -- previously accessible only at major research institutions.

Austin Peay State University's Peer Leader Program has earned renewal of its International Peer Educator Training Program Certification from the College Reading & Learning Association at the maximum level through 2030, reflecting the program's support for thousands of new students each year.

Fourteen rising juniors and seniors at Austin Peay State University are gaining real-world experience with local employers through the second annual Summer Internship Program, conducted by the Career Success Center in partnership with Workforce Essentials.

Jody Alberd, a Navy veteran and assistant professor in the Department of Engineering Technology, has earned his first National Science Foundation grant as principal investigator to study how student veterans develop their engineering identity during senior capstone design projects.

Dr. John McConnell, dean of the Eriksson College of Education, has been named an Impact Academy fellow through the national nonprofit Deans for Impact, joining a cohort of 24 leaders committed to strengthening educator preparation across the country.

Austin Peay State University hosted some of Tennessee's brightest high school students this summer for the Governor's School for Computational Physics, a four-week residential program now in its 18th year that immerses rising seniors in physics, mathematics, and computational problem-solving.

Austin Peay State University librarian and assistant professor Scott Shumate has been selected for Clarivate's Academic AI Working Group, an international panel of 15 experts advising the company on artificial intelligence tools that supplement teaching and learning in higher education.

Math education major and Navy veteran Andrew Daniels recently traveled to Poland and Germany through a Gilman Scholarship to explore his family's World War II history, becoming the first student in APSU's Grow Your Own Teacher Residency to study abroad.