Meet Jacob Knight: Founder of Future Business Leaders of America’s APSU chapter
(Posted March 5, 2020)
Jacob Knight’s mother encouraged him to tour Austin Peay State University but a meeting with the Governors’ Own Marching Band (GOMB) Director John Schnettler cemented Knight as a future Governor.
“I knew I wanted to be here and be a Gov,” Knight said. “I wasn’t joining a university I was joining a family.”
Knight – who hails from Bristol, Tennessee – is set to graduate in 2022 as a business management major.
He’s already made his mark on campus.
Knight is the founder and president of Austin Peay’s Future Business Leaders of America Phi Beta Lambda chapter. He also plays clarinet for GOMB, is a resident assistant, a hall council adviser and dedicated member of Sigma Phi Epsilon.
“Austin Peay has allowed me the opportunity to be involved with many groups on campus,” Knight said. “It has allowed me to continue my hobby as a clarinet player in manner that allows me to also support my fellow students at the University.”
Austin Peay has helped Knight grow as a leader by becoming more independent and solution driven. He has learned to try and solve problems by himself, rather than seeking help from a mentor.
Knight is heavily involved in APSU’s College of Business, including attending trips to Memphis to meet alumni.
“It allows me the opportunity to see what I can expect when I graduate,” he said. “It is fuel for me to excel in everything I do at Austin Peay so that one day I can also be that same fuel for future Governors down the road.”
To learn more
- For more about the College of Business, visit apsu.edu/business.
- For more about the Governors’ Own Marching Band, go to apsu.edu/music/gomb.
- For more about Future Business Leaders of America Phi Beta Lambda chapter, visit https://apsu.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/pbl.
News Feed
View All News
The Eriksson College of Education has welcomed 23 incoming teacher residents from the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System at its 2026 Grow Your Own Teacher Residency signing day, marking the start of a three-year, tuition-free, paid pathway into the teaching profession.
Read More
Austin Peay State University students and a staff member traveled to Puerto Rico this summer through the Alternative Break Trip program, assisting the nonprofit Centro Esperanza with hurricane relief efforts, grounds restoration, and groundwork for a revitalized outdoor learning facility.
Read More
Austin Peay State University raised more than $23 million during the 2026 fiscal year -- its second-highest fundraising total in 99 years and a 47% year-over-year increase -- through 7,240 gifts from 2,861 donors as the university approaches its centennial.
Read More