Go back

Chris and Laura Binkley create Maxie Dean Grizzard Agriculture Endowment for APSU students

Grizzard
Maxie Dean Grizzard

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. 鈥 Chris and Laura Binkley recently made a generous contribution to the Austin Peay State University Foundation to establish the Maxie Dean Grizzard Agriculture Endowment to benefit APSU students.

Students who have graduated from high schools located in Stewart or Montgomery counties are eligible to receive this scholarship. Applicants must be enrolled full-time at APSU with a major in agriculture and an ACT score between 21 and 23. To renew the scholarship, recipients must maintain a GPA of 2.85. The scholarship can be renewed for up to five years.

Maxie Dean Grizzard was born in Stewart County and moved to Montgomery County as a young boy. Grizzard grew up farming. He was considered a hard-working man in the fields and a devoted husband and step-father at home. Grizzard was retired from Riley Hardware and Montgomery County Farmers Co-op. He attended Grace Community Church, and he passed away on Jan. 6, 2014.

鈥淗e was the hardest working man I鈥檝e ever known, and he loved being out on the farm,鈥 Chris Binkley said. 鈥淚 know that he would be honored knowing that part of his legacy would include this agriculture endowment in his name.鈥

Endowments are permanently restricted funds managed by the Austin Peay State University Foundation. The amount of each scholarship award may vary and will be determined based upon the value of the endowment and the Foundation spending plan.

To support APSU fundraising initiatives, contact the Office of University Advancement at 931-221-7127.

News Feed

View All News
rae-and-jessica
APSU Middle College students earn national recognition for literary scholarship

Natalee (Rae) Daniels and Jessica Sun of Middle College at Austin Peay State University were recently selected from among students nationwide to present their literary research at the Sigma Tau Delta International English Convention, to be held from March 29 to April 1 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Read More
linares-philhower-headshots
APSU researchers discuss how military experience preps veterans for teaching at national conference

Dr. Joanne Philhower, an assistant professor in the Eriksson College of Education, and Jasmin Linares, assistant vice president for Military and Veterans Affairs, met with veteran students in focus groups throughout the 2025-26 academic year to identify key takeaways. They discussed their findings during the Association of Teacher Educators Annual Meeting in Arlington, Virginia, held Feb. 8-11.

Read More
rashidah-leverett
Dr. Rashidah Leverett to present APSU's Betty Joe Wallace Memorial Lecture on March 25

Leverett, a certified Christian Leadership Coach from Newark, New Jersey, has served on the Montgomery County Commission since 2018. She authored The Four Sights of Visionary Leadership, published in February 2025, based on her TEDx Talk of the same name.

Read More