Looking Forward to the Ball

As I mentioned in a post earlier this week, The Leaf Chronicle came over on Valentine's Day to do a story on us.  Below is the article which ran on the front page of the Living Section this past Sunday...

Mary Ellen and Kyle Luther enjoy Valentine's Day at home with their daughter, Kathryn.

Mary Ellen and Kyle Luther say they are simple people most days, but they enjoy getting dressed up in black tie finery for the Candlelight Ball each March.

CANDLELIGHT BALL 2012CLARKSVILLE, TENN.

On Valentine's Day, sweethearts Mary Ellen and Kyle Luther ate heart shaped pizza on paper plates with their 3 year old daughter Kathryn, then hung out at home with their 13 year old dog Bailey.

That was fine with Mary Ellen, a special education teacher at Rossview Middle School.

“We are pretty simple folks,” she said.

But that will all change on March 10, when Mary Ellen dons sparkles and bling and Kyle goes all James Bond in a classic tuxedo. Kyle will whisk Mary Ellen away to the Hilton Downtown Nashville for a fabulous evening of dinner, dancing, friends and fun at Candlelight Ball 2012. The Luthers, both Austin Peay State University graduates, have already made Candlelight Ball a romantic annual tradition in their marriage.

“It’s always the second Saturday in March, so we plan for it,” Mary Ellen said.

While they usually get a babysitter for Kathryn, this year they will be taking one kiddo with them... Mary Ellen is expecting their second child, due in August.

“It’s my second Candlelight Ball pregnant!” Mary Ellen said.

This year, Kathryn will stay with her grandmother, while her parents have an overnight getaway at APSU’s elegant annual fundraiser.

“It’s our favorite event that we attend. We love being able to get dressed up and go out of town and get away. Each year, we stay overnight, so we have that time before and after” the ball, Mary Ellen said. “At home, we have a child and a dog. While we’re there, we’re not being pulled in other directions. We get up the next morning and have breakfast together. It’s nice to have that alone time.”

During the ball itself, the two are usually mingling with 300 incredibly well dressed Clarksvillians or dancing to the sounds of Burning Las Vegas. This year, it will be even more people. The goal for the 28th-annual Candlelight Ball is 400 attendees. Good thing the Luthers like the social aspects of the ball as well as the romance. Younger than your average Candlelight Ball attendees, they have become ball ambassadors to their friends.

“When we first started going, not a lot of our friends were going,” Mary Ellen said. “Over the years, our friends have started to join us.”

Kyle said the expanding group of friends making Candlelight Ball an annual tradition is “like a snowball effect.”

“It makes it even more fun when you have your friends there,” Kyle said.

While “fun” bubbles to the surface in any description of Candlelight Ball, at the heart of the matter is something serious: support of the university they both adore.

“We love Austin Peay. We love Austin Peay athletics,” Mary Ellen said. “To be able to give back and support our alma mater in a fun way, it’s really nice.”

Over the years, Candlelight Ball has raised more than $300,000 for scholarships, renovation of the Pace Alumni Center at Emerald Hill and support of the APSU Center for Teaching and Learning. In recent years, scholarships have been the focus.

Kyle’s employer, Planter’s Bank, is one of many businesses vital in the ball’s long-term success, underwriting several tables over the years. And Kyle himself was honored earlier this month for his selfless support of the university. The Spirit of Austin Peay Award recognizes Kyle’s leadership in the APSU Govs Club and volunteer work with Downtown Kiwanis and the United Way. Fred Landiss was also honored with the Wendell H. Gilbert Award, and both men will be recognized at Candlelight Ball March 10.

While Mary Ellen and Kyle would be there with bells on, regardless, Kyle’s Spirit of Austin Peay Award persuaded another new couple to join their table — Kyle’s parents, Dave and Phyllis Luther.

“I think it’s going to be a great year for the ball,” Mary Ellen said. “Several new people we know are going for the first time this year. Hopefully they’ll fall in love with it and keep going.”

Reservations can be made now through Feb. 27 for Candlelight Ball 2012, by calling Nikki Loos Peterson at 221-7291. A volunteer committee plans Candlelight Ball, led this year by Amy Wedemeyer and Haven Bowles. Kyle and Mary Ellen Luther said they encourage newcomers to give the ball a shot.

“We love APSU, and Candlelight is our favorite event of the year,” Mary Ellen said.

Each year, the couple looks forward to Candlelight Ball and the chance to focus on each other and leave all their worries at home. And Mary Ellen sure likes the view.

“Getting dressed up, getting my hair done, it’s a nice spark,” she said, smiling at her husband. “It’s something out of the ordinary — and he looks very handsome in a tux!”
Thank you Stacey for writing such a sweet article.  And, thank you APSU for recommending us for the article.  We felt honored!!!