Austin Peay alum competing in Food Network’s ‘Holiday Baking Championship’

Austin Peay State University alum Jeffery Gray, a fine arts major turned baker, is competing in this year’s Food Network “Holiday Baking Championship.” In the first episode, which aired on Nov. 2, Gray is given the nickname “Santa from Atlanta” because his love for creativity and baking shined. Gray found out he was on the show in April and announced he was going to be on the show on Oct. 22 on his bakery’s Facebook page. “I hope you will please watch and cheer all of us on, I was in the company of 11 other amazing bakers (now friends) and it was an experience of a lifetime,” Gray wrote in the announcement. Gray launched Papa Bear Bakery in Atlanta, Georgia, earlier this year after spending 33 years in the advertising industry, according to the show’s website. He got his inspiration for baking from his mother and grandmother and hopes to carry on their legacy of baking. Gray graduated from Austin Peay in 1986 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in advertising and design. “Holiday Baking Championship” airs at 8 p.m. CT every Monday. To learn more • You can see Gray’s bakery at its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/papabearbakery. • For more about Austin Peay’s Department of Art + Design, go to www.apsu.edu/art-design.

Jeffery Gray (courtesy Food Network)

(Posted Nov. 9, 2020)

Austin Peay State University alum Jeffery Gray, a fine arts major turned baker, is competing in this year’s

In the first episode, which aired on Nov. 2, Gray is given the nickname “Santa from Atlanta” because his love for creativity and baking shined.

Gray found out he was on the show in April and announced he was going to be on the show on Oct. 22 on his bakery’s Facebook page.

“I hope you will please watch and cheer all of us on, I was in the company of 11 other amazing bakers (now friends) and it was an experience of a lifetime,” Gray wrote in the announcement.

Gray launched in Atlanta, Georgia, earlier this year after spending 33 years in the advertising industry, according to the show’s website. He got his inspiration for baking from his mother and grandmother and hopes to carry on their legacy of baking.

Gray graduated from Austin Peay in 1986 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in advertising and design.

“Holiday Baking Championship” airs at 8 p.m. CT every Monday.

To learn more

You can see Gray’s bakery at its Facebook page, .
For more about Austin Peay’s Department of Art + Design, go to .

News Feed

View All News

APSU's Eriksson College of Education receives $1.025M Grow Your Own grant

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.

20251119-food-pantry-ribbon-cutting-4304

APSU board approves Millan Foundation Impact Center naming for expanded food pantry

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.

20250808-commencement-recessional-camera-4-7544

Austin Peay State University to host Fall 2025 commencement ceremonies on Dec. 12

This semester's graduating class includes approximately 1,157 students. Undergraduate and graduate students from each of the university's academic colleges will be recognized.