Austin Peay State University (APSU)
Clarksville, TN – Mark S. and Martha Em Raby recently donated $25,000 to the Austin Peay State University (APSU) Foundation to establish the Claudell Wootton Art Education Endowment, an endowed scholarship program benefiting APSU students.
They chose to make their generous gift to honor the memory of Martha Em’s mother, Claudell Wootton.
Though Wootton received her undergraduate and master’s degrees from Austin Peay in 1945 and 1980 respectively, her connection to the University and to art began much earlier. Her aunt, Hazel Smith, was the first art instructor at Austin Peay. Wootton lived with her at Harned Hall from the time she was 12 until the age of 20.
“Martha Em and I established the Claudell Wootton Art Education Scholarship Endowment in her memory because of her love of Austin Peay State University, art and her 40 years as a dedicated kindergarten and elementary school teacher,” Mark said. “We also established the Hazel Smith Student Art Collection to memorialize her Aunt Hazel’s contributions to the foundation of the art department at Austin Peay and to recognize the excellence of student art. Representative pieces of the Hazel Smith Student Art Collection are housed throughout the University.”
Mark Raby graduated from APSU in 1969, and Martha Em Raby attended from 1967 to 1969.
In accordance with University policy, the APSU College of Arts and Letters’ Department of Art + Design will select the recipients from a qualified group of applicants. To qualify, students must be enrolled full-time at APSU as a rising junior or senior, maintain a 3.0 GPA and have a major of Studio Art or Art Education. Preference will be given to Art Education students. Students who receive the scholarship may apply to renew their award each academic year.
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
