The Morgan University Center Plaza was filled with APSU students, faculty and staff as well as prominent alumni and members of the Clarksville community including Mayor Johnny Piper and County Mayor Caroline Bowers Monday, Nov. 16.
The crowd was streaked with red in support of APSU and the milestone being celebrated. APSU, Tennessee’s fastest growing public university, has reached enrollment of over 10,000 students.
APSU began in 1929 with only 158 students. As of Monday morning Nov. 16, it was revealed enrollment was up to 10,188 students.
President Timothy Hall acted as the host of the event.
In his introduction Hall said in the last nine years the university has grown over 40 percent. He also spoke about the significance of the enrollment number and what it means.
“This number that we are going to pull up here in a moment is all about those individual students who stand behind it, who are living their lives out here at Austin Peay and we are so happy to have them here,” Hall said.
“This number not only represents the lives of those individual students. It represents our place in history and in the present.”
After the number was revealed, Hall introduced Piper and Bowers.
In addition to earning multiple degrees at APSU, Bowers has children who have graduated from APSU.
She spoke about her connections to the university and was one of many to extend congratulations.
“It is truly an honor for me to be here as a graduate of Austin Peay,” Bowers said. “It is also a pleasure to be representing all the citizens of Montgomery County as I say congratulations, Austin Peay. This is a well deserved marker, milestone and benchmark for us.”
State Representatives Joe Pitts and Curtis Johnson offered brief congratulations before Hall introduced APSU Provost Tristan Denley.
Denley noted that APSU was not only the fastest growing public university in Tennessee but could also carry the title of having the fastest growing graduate program in Tennessee.
He attributed the milestone and success to teamwork.
“These initiatives can only be achieved by us all working together,” Denley said. “Today’s milestone is a testimony to the hard work of our staff and our faculty and our students and the Austin Peay family all working together. I want to thank you for that.”
SGA President Chris Drew finished the ceremony by acknowledging the growth of APSU despite the current economic distress and the long winding line of people waiting to get free T-shirts. He also expressed his excitement to graduate with this year’s class and become an alumni of APSU.
His last words were the famous cheer heard at all of APSU’s sports events: “Let’s go Peay.”
Loading ...