President Tim Hall

Today I had the privilege of meeting Austin Peay ROTC cadet Shamai Larsen, who was honored last week by receiving the Legion of Valor Association’s Bronze Cross of Achievement and is the first student in APSU’s history to win this award. Shamai was one of eight students out of 4,500 ROTC seniors across the country recognized for her overall excellence in the ROTC program. She is an active duty soldier whose selection to participate in the Army’s Green to Gold program brought her to Austin Peay last fall and will see her graduate this coming spring. She’s a member of our cross country and track teams and a 4.0 student. We could not be more proud of her!

Last week was an exciting one in the life of the Peay, since we inaugurated the first annual Peay Read and its associated lecture. This year, all our entering students were asked to read “An Ordinary Man,” by Paul Rusesabagina, whose heroism was the subject of the movie, Hotel Rwanda. Mr. Rusesabagina talked with his experiences in the 1990s, when he saved the lives of more than 1200 men, women, and children who took refuge in the hotel he managed from the genocide raging in Rwanda. I count it a great honor to have had the chance to meet him.

Last night, APSU’s art department celebrated the opening of Modern Light, the new exhibit of photographs from the collection donated to the university by Jim and Nan Robertson. Jim and Nan were on hand for the opening, and Jim, in fact, gave those present insight into some of the stories behind the pieces in the exhibit and the artists who created them. APSU faculty member Susan Bryant is the curator for the exhibit, and she was obviously thrilled to see the university acquire some of the very pieces she discusses with her students in class.

I mentioned to those present that Jim and Nan have discovered the secret of “high touch” generosity. They realized that the collection they wanted to give to a university would have more impact at an institution such as Austin Peay, rather than at a larger institution with more resources, where the collection might have simply taken its place along side many others. At Austin Peay, the works they so generously donated to the university will have a tangible impact on the lives of our students. We don’t simply plan to store them in some well-guarded vault, but to use them actively in the instruction of students.

It was a fine evening, centered around a great and generous gift to the university, and to a couple who are wonderful new additions to the Austin Peay community. Welcome Jim and Nan, and thank you!