Austin Peay State University Business Scholarship endowed by Clarksville resident to honor his late wife

Clarksville, TN – In the 1940s, Richard Powers enrolled in an economics class at Austin Peay State University. So did Mary Marks, and the two later were married for the next 58 years.

“We were both taking summer courses at that time,” Powers said.

His wife died in March 2008. To honor her memory, Powers established the Mary Marks Powers Scholarship for Business with a $50,000 endowment.

“I felt like I owed something to APSU,” said Powers, a lifelong Clarksville resident who attended APSU from 1946-50 after returning from World War II. “I met my wife there.”

The first award of $1,000 will be given during the 2013-14 academic year. To qualify for the renewable scholarship, a student must be a sophomore, junior or senior business major in any area of the APSU College of Business. The student also must be a resident of Tennessee and have a grade-point average of at least 3.0.

Powers said he hoped his endowment will inspire others to do something similar for APSU.

“I really hope what I have done might encourage others out there to want to give to APSU,” he said.

For more information about the Mary Marks Powers Scholarship for Business, contact the APSU Office of University Advancement, 931-221-7127.