A new Austin Peay scholarship honors Virginia Martin, a Clarksville NAACP president who ran Virginia's Café on College Street. Who can apply for it.

Two Austin Peay State University graduates have endowed a scholarship named for Virginia Martin, a Clarksville civil rights leader and longtime president of the local NAACP.

Candy Johnson, a 2006 graduate, and Bryan Johnson, a 2004 graduate, set up the Virginia Martin Leadership & Service Endowed Scholarship, the university announced. Virginia Martin was Candy Johnson’s maternal grandmother. The university did not say how much the couple gave.

Who Virginia Martin was

APSU’s announcement describes her as a Christian missionary and a “tireless advocate for service in the Clarksville community.” According to the university:

  • she served for many years as a member and president of the NAACP
  • she was a member and president of the Commission on Race and Religion
  • she owned Virginia’s Café on College Street
  • she spent more than 30 years in jail ministry

She was married to Otis L. Martin, a World War II veteran, farmer and longtime Clarksville police officer, the university said.

Candy Johnson said her grandmother taught the family that service to others should come before self-interest. “She treated everyone with dignity, made sure people had an advocate in times of distress, and led by example.”

Who can apply

The scholarship is open to students of any major. The university set these terms:

  • sophomores, juniors and seniors only
  • leadership and service through campus and community involvement
  • a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • full-time enrollment

Recipients can hold the award for more than one year but must reapply each year. Award amounts depend on the value of the endowment and the APSU Foundation’s spending plan, the university said.

The donors

Candy Johnson earned a degree in public management. APSU says she started college as a young single mother and later became the youngest elected official in Clarksville history, at 25. Bryan Johnson earned a business administration degree and played four years of football for the Governors. Both were named Outstanding Young Alumnus by the university, Candy in 2024 and Bryan in 2019.

Kris Phillips, APSU’s vice president for alumni, engagement and philanthropy, said the Johnsons’ commitment to honoring Martin’s legacy “demonstrates the lasting impact one person can have on their community.”

What it means for you

  • Students: if you are an APSU sophomore or older with a 3.0 GPA and a record of service, this is a new award to apply for. The announcement does not give an application deadline.
  • Donors: the university said anyone who wants to give to this or another endowment can contact the Division of Alumni, Engagement and Philanthropy at 931-221-7127 or give@apsu.edu.
  • More from campus is on our things to do this month page.