APSU Board of Trustees Awards

At the summer meeting, the Board of Trustees approve the recipients of three awards to deserving alumni/friends/organizations. The awards are: APSU Philanthropist of the Year, Board of Trustees Military Service Award, and Board of Trustees Service Award.

2026 Recipients

APSU Philanthropist of the Year

Billy Atkins

Billy Atkins has dedicated over 66 years to community banking and civic leadership in Clarksville-Montgomery County. A lifelong resident, Atkins founded Legends Bank in 1998 with $9 million in assets and it has grown to nearly $1 billion today. Prior to his 2019 retirement, he served as organizer, president, CEO, and chairman. He continues as senior chairman on the board of directors.

His commitment to Austin Peay State University runs deep. Governor Bill Haslam appointed him to the university’s inaugural Board of Trustees in 2017. He previously served as president of the Governors Club and on the foundation board. In 2019, the Atkins family and Legends Bank established the Billy Atkins Family Endowed Scholarship, supporting College of Business students majoring in finance. Atkins and his late wife, Sue, have been strong philanthropic supporters of APSU’s academic and athletic programs, and their legacy of generosity continues to impact the university community.

Atkins’ community impact extends far beyond banking. He has played an instrumental role in local economic development, helping attract major corporate investments including Hankook Tire, Google, and LG Electronics. He served four six-year terms on the Industrial Development Board (chairing it four times), led the Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce as president in 1994, and contributed to numerous civic organizations.

Board of Trustees Military Service Award

Dr. Michelle D. Smith

Dr. Michelle D. Smith (‘91) has dedicated her career to serving those who serve. Her military journey began as an enlisted combat medic in Korea. She attended APSU as a cross-country student athlete from 1988 to 1991— graduating in three years.

After earning her M.D. from the East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine in 1996 on an Army scholarship, Dr. Smith completed her dermatology residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where she served as chief resident during 9/11. As a Major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, she served at Walter Reed and as Chief of Dermatology at Fort Jackson, where she established the hospital’s first dermatology clinic. She also served as Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland.

Throughout her military service, Dr. Smith balanced her role as an Army physician with supporting soldiers’ families as a commander’s wife, leading family support groups for the 160th Aviation Regiment during deployments. After leaving active duty, she founded Dermatology of Lexington, LLC in South Carolina, where she practiced for 15 years. During this time, she employed many enlisted medics upon their separation from the military. This assisted in their transition from the military by helping build their resumes.

Now practicing in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Dr. Smith serves on APSU’s Library and National Alumni Association Boards and continues extensive service to the military community as an Eagle Ambassador at Fort Campbell. She assists veterans with VA disability claims, attends military memorials, supports Gold Star Families, mentors APSU pre-med students, and helps connect soldiers and families with resources they need.

The majority of the volunteer work Dr. Smith does for soldiers, veterans and their families involves helping one soldier at a time as a quiet professional behind the scenes.

Board of Trustees Service Award

Dr. Jeannie Beauchamp

Dr. Jeannie Beauchamp has distinguished herself as a national leader in pediatric dentistry and community health advocacy. Raised in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, she earned her D.D.S. from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in 1991, then completed her pediatric dentistry residency in 1993. She began working in Clarksville in 1993 and founded Clarksville Pediatric Dentistry in 1999, which she continues to own and operate.

Dr. Beauchamp’s professional leadership extends nationally. She has served as the president of both the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the Tennessee Dental Association. She has served on 4 Councils for the American Dental Association. She previously led the Tennessee Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the Eighth District Dental Society. At Austin Peay State University, Dr. Beauchamp has demonstrated sustained leadership and philanthropic commitment. For several years she served on the Executive Committee of the Foundation Board and the Candlelight Ball Committee, chairing the event in 2008-2009. She is a member of the Tower Club and Reagan Giving Circle, supporting the university’s mission through her ongoing engagement and generosity.

Dr. Beauchamp received APSU’s Wendell H Gilbert Award in 2019 and was inducted into the Governors’ Red Coat Society in 2023, recognizing her ongoing commitment to the university and the community.

Her community involvement is extensive including Cumberland Electric Membership Cooperation, Clarksville (Sunrise) Rotary Club, Clarksville Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Leadership Clarksville, Cogioba District of Boy Scouts of America, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Customs House Museum Foundation, Montgomery County Health Foundation Board, TennCare Advisory Board and others.

About the Awards

Past Recipients