**SPONSORED CONTENT BY APSU**
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University will host the 30th Anniversary of the Candlelight Ball on March 15th at the brand new Country Music Hall of Fame. Each year, starting in 2011, two individuals have been honored with either the Wendell H. Gilbert Award or The Spirit Award for their outstanding achievement, contribution or recognition they have brought to APSU. The honorees exemplify excellence, integrity and have inspired others by their accomplishments.
Each day for the rest of the week we will highlight a previous year’s winner of the Wendell H. Gilbert Award and The Spirit Award capped off with the announcement of this year’s winners at a Luncheon to be held on January 14, 2014 at F&M Bank.
In 2012, Fred Landiss won the prestigious Wendell H. Gilbert Award. Landiss is senior vice president and director of marketing and public relations at F&M Bank in Clarksville. Early in his career, he served as director of alumni and director of placement at APSU. He also has taught marketing classes as an adjunct faculty member at APSU from 2007-10. In addition, he has taught salesmanship at the Graduate School of Banking of the South at Louisiana State University and bank marketing classes for the American Institute of Banking. Landiss has had active leadership roles in organizations and activities that support art, cultural diversity, education, economic development and health care. He was the 2002 recipient of the prestigious Montgomery County Citizen of the Year award presented by the Montgomery County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, and he was named 2010 Clarksville Citizen of the Year for his volunteerism in the community.
The Spirit of Austin Peay Award winner in 2012 was Kyle Luther. Luther (’99) is vice president of commercial banking at Planters Bank in Clarksville. He joined Planters Bank in March 2003 as a senior credit analyst, having previously worked at Old National Bank in Clarksville. He has held leadership positions in the APSU Govs Club, the Downtown Kiwanis of Clarksville and serves on the finance committee for United Way. Luther also is a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Alumni Association and is a 2006 graduate of Leadership Clarksville.
Tomorrow we will highlight 2013 Wendell H Gilbert Award Recipient, Dr. George Fisher and Spirit of Austin Peay Award, David Loos, Jr.
For information on the upcoming Candlelight Ball, call the APSU Alumni Relations Office at 931-221-7979 or visit the website. Special discounted rooms are also available for the weekend at the Hilton through February 12th by calling 615-620-2150 and mentioning the Austin Peay Candlelight Ball.
Fred Landiss accepts the Wendell H. Gilbert Award in 2012.