MTSU and Austin Peay have put together a great contest that will benefit several schools in the Middle Tennessee area. Read this article from the
DNJ.com about the inagural President's Cup Trophy...
The competition between MTSU and Austin Peay State University won't be limited to their Sept. 11 football game.
The Daily News Journal and Clarksville's newspaper, The Leaf-Chronicle, are sponsoring the inaugural Presidents Cup trophy to honor the most successful campus collection of school supplies leading up to the game.
The local beneficiaries of MTSU donations will be Rutherford County Schools and Murfreesboro City Schools, while supplies collected by APSU will go to Teacher's Warehouse, a long-term classroom supplies resource for teachers.
"It is a great opportunity for the two universities to compete in a spirited activity with the result benefiting both of our communities," says Danny Kelley, MTSU's Associate Dean of Student Life. "And it comes at time when the schools could really use the supplies they are going to receive."
MTSU's donation drive will be led by its Student Government Association, which will scatter some 25 or so collection bins around campus by Friday. Other bins will be placed at specific events. The competition runs through Sept. 10.
Classroom supply items have been given point values, and all the bins on each campus will be collected each day and tallied. During the schools' football game at Floyd Stadium on Sept. 11, the winning school will receive the Presidents Cup presented by Andrew Oppmann, president and publisher of both Gannett Tennessee newspapers.
"The Daily News Journal and The Leaf-Chronicle are thrilled to sponsor the award and encourage the good works being done on both campuses," says Oppmann, who suggested the campus-to-campus charitable competition to MTSU President Sidney McPhee and APSU President Tim Hall.
Point person on the drive for MTSU's Student Government Association is SGA Philanthropic Director Erika Maclin, a junior from Memphis.
"For sure, we want to win the football game," she says. "But it would also be awesome if MTSU won the Presidents Cup, too. That would make for a perfect day."
In addition to traditional supplies like crayons, glue and pencils, the list of needed supplies can include non-traditional items such as carpet squares, wallpaper and paint. Local organizations, businesses and individuals are also being solicited for donations.
"The local schools have already started," Maclin said, "and we want to make sure the students have an abundant amount of school supplies to last throughout the year."
