CLARKSVILLE, Tenn (CLARKSVILLENOW) – In anticipation of the 36th Annual Candlelight Ball, to be held March 14 of next year, Austin Peay State University has announced the winners of the 2020 Candlelight Ball Awards.
The awards honor those who have significantly contributed to Austin Peay through sustained service, made a generous contribution to the University, or brought recognition to APSU through their success. The honorees exemplify excellence and integrity and their accomplishments inspire others.
The 2020 Wendell H Gilbert Award is William S. “Sammy” Stuard Jr, the President/CEO and Chairman of the Board for F&M Bank. Stuard’s leadership has seen F&M grow from one of the state’s smallest banks to one of the largest state-chartered banks in Tennessee. American Banker Magazine name him Community Banker of the Year in 2007.
Stuard has been an elected Montgomery County Commissioner and Chairman of the Tennessee Bankers Association, the Clarksville-Area Chamber of Commerce, the Clarksville-Montgomery County Industrial Development Board and the Clarksville-Downtown District Partnership. He currently serves as Chairman of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Airport Authority and as a member of the APSU Foundation Investment Committee.
Stuard has played a major role in fostering a strong relationship between APSU and business community in Clarksville. His knowledge and experience have been essential in the success of many APSU events and programs.
Kevin and Rhonda Kennedy are the winners of this year’s 2020 Spirit Award. Kevin Chambliss Kennedy graduated from APSU in 1978. He continued on to earn a Master of Arts degree in 1979 and a degree from the Nashville School of Law in 1983. He was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court in 1989. He started a residential rental business, later expanding into additional farms and commercial buildings. He also continues the tradition of running the Kennedy Walking Horse Farm, which has been in the family since 1900. Kennedy is a past recipient of the City of Clarksville Citizen of the Year, Montgomery County Citizen of the Year and Volunteer of the Year awards, has organized some of Clarksville’s largest military support rallies and has published six books.
Rhonda Jean Kennedy completed her education with a Master of Arts from Austin Peay in 1985. She was hired by Clarksville-Montgomery County School System as a special education teacher in 1983. She has since served as assistant principal at St. Bethlehem Elementary, principal at Hazelwood Elementary and principal of Barker’s Mill Elementary School, where she works currently.
The Clarksville Jaycees named Rhonda as Outstanding Young Teacher and the Korean American Association recognized her for contributions to her students. She was named Principal of the Year in 2005 by the State of Tennessee as well as having received the Outstanding Alumni Award from APSU and Tennessee Education Association Administrator of the Year for Middle Tennessee. Her three children are also APSU graduates.
Proceeds for the Candlelight Ball support the restoration and renovation of the Pace Alumni Center at Emerald Hill and provide support for the APSU Center for Teaching and Learning, as well as establishing a scholarship endowment for deserving students.
The 2020 Candlelight Ball will be held at the Omni Nashville Hotel. To reserve your tickets or for questions, contact the APSU Alumni Office at 931-221-7979. For Presenting Sponsor or Table Sponsor Information, email Nikki Peterson at petersonn@apsu.edu or call 931-221-7291.