APSU Board meeting includes Maynard Athletics Naming approval, announcement of Military Hall of Fame
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – During the Austin Peay State University Board of Trustees meeting on Friday, APSU President Mike Licari announced the creation of the APSU Military Hall of Fame, to be housed within the William E. and Sadako S. Newton Military Family Resource Center. The board also approved naming a portion of campus after Joe and Cathi Maynard.
Earlier this year, the Maynards pledged to make a historic $15 million donation to the Austin Peay athletics department. Their gift represents the largest single gift in the history of the University.
To honor that family’s generosity, the board voted unanimously to name the area where APSU’s NCAA Division I athletic programs are housed as the Joe and Cathi Maynard Family Athletics Complex. The board also voted to name the football field at Fortera Stadium as the Maynard Family Field.
Before the official vote, the trustees paused to applaud the Maynards for their long support of Austin Peay.
APSU Military Hall of Fame
At the end of Friday’s meeting, Licari told the board about Austin Peay’s newly established Military Hall of Fame.
“This honors Governors, living or deceased, who have served in the military with records of distinction and perhaps sacrifice to our nation, and who have demonstrated dedicated support for and substantive contributions to the United States military and veterans,” Licari said. “We have many students, alumni and community members who have done incredible things to protect our nation, and some of them have indeed given the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom, so it’s time that this University, particularly with our connection to the military and all our military-affiliated students, formally recognizes this service and commitment in a visible way on campus.”
Austin Peay, as the state’s largest provider of higher education to military-affiliated students, has a long history of supporting the military community. Last year, the University opened the 5,200-square-foot Newton Military Family Resource Center, making Austin Peay home to the largest military student center in Tennessee.
The University is accepting nominations until May 8 for the inaugural APSU Military Hall of Fame class, with the first induction ceremony scheduled for Nov. 4.
APSU Military Hall of Fame Nominee Requirements
The requirements for nominees include:
- Nominees must be alumni of Austin Peay State University or have supported the University in some significant capacity.
- The nominee must be currently serving in good standing or have been separated or retired with an honorable characterization of service, or have demonstrated, in a significant capacity, dedicated support and substantive contributions to the United States military and veterans.
- Current faculty, staff, students and university trustees are not eligible. Faculty, staff, students and trustees who have been separated from Austin Peay State University for at least three years are eligible. Currently serving elected and/or appointed public officials and current candidates and/or nominees for public elected and/or appointed offices are not eligible.
APSU Military Hall of Fame Nomination Process
The nomination process for the APSU Military Hall of Fame is listed below:
- Complete and submit the APSU Military Hall of Fame nomination form. The nomination may be submitted by any party with an interest in seeing that a deserving individual is properly recognized.
- Substantiating Documentation:
- Military biography or resume that details the nominee’s meritorious military service and/or support and contributions to the military and veterans.
- Letter of recommendation that includes, if applicable, how the nominee has made a significant impact on the University.
- Nominators may include additional supporting documentation (ORB/SRB, military awards DD-214, additional letters of recommendation, etc.) to bolster their nominations, but that additional documentation is not required.
To submit a nomination, visit . For information or questions, email Tonya Leszczak at leszczakto@apsu.edu.
New Student Trustee
The board named Olivia Hershey, an APSU business management major, as the next student trustee. Hershey is a member of the President’s Emerging Leaders Program (PELP), the APSU Honors Program and a co-chair for the Honors/PELP Student Advisory Council.
Her first meeting with the Board of Trustees will be during the summer meeting in June.
For more information on APSU’s Board of Trustees, visit .
News Feed
View All News
Mary Lee McCreary Rugraff ('41) attended Austin Peay State College on a music scholarship and performed as a soprano soloist. Music was her lifetime passion, and in addition to funding APSU music scholarships, she supported the music program at her church with gifts to the endowment.
Read More
The award from the Tennessee Department of Education will provide funding for teacher apprentices through July 2027. The Grow Your Own Teacher Residency provides a no-cost pathway to a teaching career and was named the first federally-registered teacher apprenticeship in the nation.
Read More
The naming recognizes the Millan Foundation's transformational gift-in-place donation--APSU's first privately-funded donation of this type--which will expand the food pantry's capacity to serve 35% more students facing food insecurity.
Read More