Edelweiss Club of Clarksville establishes endowed scholarship for APSU students
(Published June 6, 2019)
The Clarksville Edelweiss Club recently donated $123,000 to the Austin Peay State University Foundation to create the Edelweiss Club of Clarksville German Endowment. Edelweiss Club President Mary Ann Miner and Carl Eisemann presented the gift to APSU President Dr. Alisa White and retired Lt. Gen. Ronald Bailey, APSU vice president for external affairs, at a signing ceremony on May 10.
In accordance with University policy, the director of Study Abroad and International Exchange, German faculty and others appointed by the dean of the College of Arts and Letters will determine the recipients from a competitive group of applicants. The first scholarship will be awarded during the fall 2019 semester.
Half of the yearly award will be given to applicants studying beyond elementary German, the first year of the language. The remaining half of the award will be distributed to students studying abroad, with preference given to those traveling to Germany, Austria or Switzerland. Students must apply each year to be selected.
The Edelweiss Club was founded in 1979 as a nonprofit organization. Its mission was to uphold and promote German heritage, culture, language and tradition. Over the years, the club continuously demonstrated its commitment to the community by participating in civic events such as Christmas and Veterans Day parades, Riverfest, and Rivers and Spires. For 35 years, members of the club organized Oktoberfest, an event that brought food, entertainment and fun to thousands of local families. Since 2004, the Edelweiss Club supported students studying German at Austin Peay, as well as a German language Saturday School and many other nonprofit organizations in the Clarksville area. The Edelweiss Club was dissolved in 2019, but its legacy and community spirit will live on through its support of APSU and other distinguished local organizations.
“The endowment will ensure that students at Austin Peay will continue to receive important support,” Dr. Norbert Puszkar, APSU professor of German literature and history, said. “The university has a relatively large segment of first-generation college students who typically require more financial assistance. Employers and graduate schools look for both foreign language skills and study abroad experience when selecting incoming students; the endowment scholarships will help students to be competitive.”
Endowments are permanently restricted funds managed by the Austin Peay State University Foundation. The amount of each scholarship award may vary and will be determined based upon the value of the endowment and the Foundation spending plan.
To support APSU fundraising initiatives, contact the Office of University Advancement at 931-221-7127.
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