NASHVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Austin Peay State University held its 40th annual Candlelight Ball on Saturday at the Omni Nashville Hotel, and they smashed their previous fundraising record.

Attendees enjoyed music from Burning Las Vegas and were treated to a live art demonstration by Clarksville’s Olasubomi “Ola” Aka-Bashorun.

The previous record amount raised at this fundraiser was $162,000, and this year they raised over $220,000, according to early estimates.

Wyatt Johnson Kia was this year’s Governor Sponsor, which is the 2024 Title Sponsor for Candlelight Ball.

Wendell H. Gilbert Award

The 2024 recipients of the Wendell H. Gilbert Award were Charlsie and John Halliburton. John Halliburton graduated from Austin Peay in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science in business administration and a marketing minor, then served in the U.S. Air Force. He had a successful banking career, and his service to the community has included participating in Leadership Clarksville, chairing the Clarksville Industrial Development Board and holding offices in the Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis Club.

Charlsie Halliburton earned a Bachelor of Science from Western Kentucky University in 1970. As owner-instructor for Classic Steps School of Children’s Ballet, she volunteered her talents as a Mid-Cumberland Arts League Board member, chair and grant writer for the Nashville Ballet and Nashville Symphony project for Austin Peay’s Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts and the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System. She was honored with the APSU Ovation Award for her significant contributions to the arts and continued her service as board member and chair of the APSU Acuff Circle of Excellence, and as Candlelight Ball co-chair.

Charlsie and John are APSU Legacy Society members. In 1998, they helped establish the Tom Malone Memorial Endowed Art Scholarship. Due to their increased support for that fund, the Malone-Halliburton Classroom in the Art+Design Building was dedicated in 2017.

Spirit of Austin Peay Award

The Spirit of Austin Peay Award winner is the Loos family. Dave Loos was hired in 1990 by then-APSU President Oscar Page and Athletics Director Tim Weiser to take the helm of the Governors men’s basketball program. The Clarksville community not only opened up their arms to Loos, but also to his family – his wife, Phyllis, and their children David, Todd, Brad and Nikki.

Dave left the APSU program after 27 years as the all-time Ohio Valley Conference wins leader and the all-time APSU wins leader. He achieved 502 career wins, granting him the 120th rank in all-time NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball head coaching wins.

Dave was also APSU’s director of athletics for 16 years. While he was often on the road for games and recruitment events, Phyllis cared for their four children while Dave was often on the road for games and recruitment events. The Loos children, and later grandchildren, were always present at APSU basketball games to cheer on Dave and the Governors. They have become involved with APSU in their own ways, with David Loos Jr. (’94) giving back to his alma mater within athletics and being involved in the APSU Tower Club, Brad (‘01) as a Governors basketball player and graduate assistant and Nikki Loos Peterson (’04) serving 14 years as APSU’s director of alumni relations. The Loos family has truly made an impact on Austin Peay in many ways.