Purpose First Scholars is a career-focused learning community dedicated to helping incoming first-year students align their major to career goals during their first year in college. Scholars will have the opportunity to participate in exclusive academic and career exploration experiences and leave the learning community ready to achieve their career goals. Participation in the learning community begins with an exclusive overnight GO (Governors Orientation) experience and continues throughout the fall semester in an APSU 1000 section specifically designed for Purpose First Scholars. Additionally, Students living on campus will have the ability to participate in our living community and stay in the same residence hall with other Scholars.

Austin Peay State University freshman MaKenna Huhnke is working on a paper with Dr. Osvaldo Di Paolo Harrison about the Latinx community. The paper is titled "Decolonizing the Latinx Experience and Healing the Wounds of Modern Coloniality in Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed." The paper's thesis is "The Latinx diaspora stories in Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed reveals the wounds that the Latinx community bears due to the persistence of modern coloniality regarding culture, gender and race. At the same time, these stories empower the need of decolonial thinking and epistemic disobedience." Di Paolo Harrison has applied for a Student Academic Success Initiative grant so Huhnke and he can present the paper at the International Conference on Language, Literature and Culture from Oct. 17-18 in Orlando, Florida. Huhnke is a first-year, first-generation student at Austin Peay State University who intends to major in Spanish. She's in the APSU Honors Program and a proud member of the Governor's Own Marching Band (GOMB) as a trumpet player. She hopes to become a drum major for GOMB. She graduated last year from West Creek High School in Clarksville, Tennessee.

Brooklynn White achieved the Advanced Certified Mentor - Level 2 Certification from the International Mentor Training Program at Austin Peay State University. Certified Mentors have completed 25 hours of training and 75 hours of mentoring experience with new students in the First Year Seminar Program. Peer Leaders are important to the success of all Austin Peay students. Peer Leaders serve as connections to the university for new students and academic success mentors for all students.

Christian West achieved the Advanced Certified Mentor - Level 2 Certification from the International Mentor Training Program at Austin Peay State University. Certified Mentors have completed 25 hours of training and 75 hours of mentoring experience with new students in the First Year Seminar Program. Peer Leaders are important to the success of all Austin Peay students. Peer Leaders serve as connections to the university for new students and academic success mentors for all students.

Peer leadership provides opportunities for students to guide, educate, and support students in academic success at Austin Peay State University. Peer Leaders are student leaders who provide an immediate support network to new APSU students. Peer leaders will help students adjust to the University, develop a better understanding of campus resources and skills essential for academic success. Peer leaders have the opportunity to explore their own leadership potential, learn techniques about facilitating dialogue, and developing skills for mentoring both inside and outside of the classroom. Peer Leaders recieve are chosen through a process of training and education. Peer Leaders take three Leadership courses to guide them through their experience of preparing for the position, facilitating mentoring to current studetns inside the classroom, and reflecting on their personal leadership development.

Peer leadership provides opportunities for students to guide, educate, and support students in academic success at Austin Peay State University. Peer Leaders are student leaders who provide an immediate support network to new APSU students. Peer leaders will help students adjust to the University, develop a better understanding of campus resources and skills essential for academic success. Peer leaders have the opportunity to explore their own leadership potential, learn techniques about facilitating dialogue, and developing skills for mentoring both inside and outside of the classroom. Peer Leaders recieve are chosen through a process of training and education. Peer Leaders take three Leadership courses to guide them through their experience of preparing for the position, facilitating mentoring to current studetns inside the classroom, and reflecting on their personal leadership development.

The Austin Peay State University Department of Music was well represented at the Tennessee Music Education Association (TMEA)'s annual conference, held in April in Nashville at the Opryland Hotel.

ROTC Cadet Zachary C. Lepley was presented the 2017 Command Sgt. Maj. Darol Walker Award during a breakfast ceremony held April 27 at Austin Peay State University.