**SPONSORED CONTENT BY APSU**
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University will host its 30th Anniversary of the Candlelight Ball Saturday, March 15 at the brand new Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.
The Candlelight Ball is an APSU tradition with a proud history as one of the premier community events. The gala starts with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and awards at 7 p.m., and dancing to the music of Burning Las Vegas at 8 p.m.
Twenty-nine years ago, Wendell H. Gilbert, a retired Army brigadier general and former APSU Vice President for Development and University Relations, saw the need to raise funds for deserving students in need of financial support. Since Gilbert founded the first Candlelight Ball, the annual gala has raised over $340,000 in student scholarships as well as having supported the restoration of the Pace Alumni Center at Emerald Hill and financial support for the APSU Center for Teaching and Learning.
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.
For information on the upcoming Candlelight Ball, call the APSU Alumni Relations Office at 931-221-7979 or visit their website. Special discounted rooms are also available for the weekend at the Hilton through February 12 by calling 615-620-2150 and mentioning the Austin Peay Candlelight Ball.
http://www.apsu.edu/alumni/candlelight-ball-0
Note: 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. Tomorrow will highlight Wendell H. Gilbert and Britney Campbell.