Austin Peay Alumni Establish New Service Scholarship

Candy and Bryan Johnson create an endowed scholarship to honor local leader Virginia Martin.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Scholarships

Austin Peay Alumni Establish New Service Scholarship

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Candy and Bryan Johnson have established the Virginia Martin Leadership & Service Endowed Scholarship at Austin Peay State University. This new fund provides financial support to undergraduate students who demonstrate commitment to service and leadership.

Why it matters

The scholarship honors the legacy of Virginia Martin, a longtime community leader who served as NAACP president and maintained a decades-long jail ministry. By supporting students, the endowment aims to cultivate the next generation of service-oriented leaders in the Clarksville community.

Applicants must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA and be enrolled full-time to qualify for the award. Recipients are eligible for the scholarship regardless of their major, provided they meet the leadership and service requirements.

The players

Virginia Martin

She was a prominent community figure in Clarksville who owned Virginia's Café and served as the president of the NAACP.

Candy Johnson

An alumna of Austin Peay State University who was recognized as an Outstanding Young Alumnus and previously served as an elected official.

Bryan Johnson

An alumnus of Austin Peay State University who was honored as an Outstanding Young Alumnus in 2019.

The details

The scholarship is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors at Austin Peay State University who must reapply for consideration every year. Recipients are chosen based on their demonstrated leadership and involvement in both campus and community activities.

Bryan Johnson earned his degree from Austin Peay in 2004.
Candy Johnson was selected for the Homecoming Court in 2005.
Candy Johnson earned her degree from Austin Peay in 2006.
Bryan Johnson received an Outstanding Young Alumnus award in 2019.
Candy Johnson received an Outstanding Young Alumnus award in 2024.

Culture Shift

This initiative follows the legacy of the NAACP's local leadership and advocacy programs, which have long served as a backbone for civic involvement in Tennessee. It reflects a broader trend of private donors funding education to sustain community-level activism and service values.

Eligible undergraduate students at Austin Peay can now apply for this scholarship to help offset the costs of their full-time education. Interested applicants should monitor university financial aid announcements to confirm the annual reapplication window and submission deadlines.

The takeaway

This endowed scholarship demonstrates how alumni can directly influence the academic and civic environment of their alma mater. Students aiming for such awards should focus on documenting their community involvement alongside their academic performance.