Shelby County Today

Stephen F. Austin State University Students from the Rusche College of Business studied the history of economics, manufacturing and trade in international companies while in Iceland, Ireland and Scotland. While in Iceland, students explored the landscape by visiting the Golden Circle, Gullfoss Waterfall, the Blue Lagoon and more.

June 20, 2018 Nacogdoches — Living out of a suitcase may seem like a dream for wanderers at heart. F­or 24 Stephen F. Austin State University business students this idea became a reality as they traveled for 12 days to three countries, staying in seven hotels and making countless memories.

Recently, students in the Rusche College of Business studied abroad in Iceland, Scotland and Ireland to better understand the history of economics, manufacturing and trade in international companies.

Before flying overseas, the class studied “Managing Across Cultures: The Seven Keys to Doing Business with a Global Mindset” by Charlene Solomon, who identifies how managers need to be culturally aware when dealing with international teams and projects. Drs. Matthew Lindsey, professor and chair of the Department of Management and Marketing, and Mikhail Kouliavtsev, professor and chair of the Department of Economics and Finance, led this trip and course.

Each stop the class made during the trip provided an opportunity to identify key points from the book. Students learned how to separate culture from personal style, and how different cultures view groups, relationships, communication styles, time orientation and change, as well as motivation and work-life balance. 

“It is one thing to read that different cultures perceive time, personal space or ambition differently, but it becomes very real when you see it in person,” Lindsey said. “These trips show our students they can travel and interact with business people around the world and that they are not limited to the boundaries they previously placed on themselves.”

After multiple flights, students arrived in Iceland and began their trip by meeting with representatives from the Promote Iceland Council, a public-private initiative established to lead the promotion and marketing of Iceland and stimulate economic growth. Lindsey said the council discussed how it uses analytics and social media to promote Iceland tourism and exports.

While in Iceland, students also enjoyed the country’s natural beauty. At Thingvellir National Park, the group toured the Golden Circle where they saw the famous Gullfoss Waterfall. They also visited the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa, and snorkeled between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates in Silfra, which has some of the world’s clearest water and is about 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Business management junior Kelsey Bowers of Lufkin said this was her favorite experience.

“It was an incredible experience, and I would highly recommend it to anyone traveling to Iceland who needs an adrenaline rush,” Bowers said.

In Scotland, the class toured locations in Glasgow and Edinburgh, including Bothwell and Alnwick castles, Holy Island, the Edinburgh Royal Mile and Glengoyne Distillery.

At the distillery, representatives demonstrated how to make scotch, and the group learned how the distillery developed a lasting brand since 1833.

“The supply chain for the product was discussed from the barrel and barley selection process to determining how much of the product becomes the single barrel namesake and how much is sent to blenders,” Lindsey said. “They stressed the importance of being true to the brand.”

Ireland’s itinerary was packed with several tours, castles and sightseeing as students visited Belfast, Shannon, Waterford and Dublin.

A private tour of the historic Harland and Wolff Shipyard that produced the Titanic demonstrated how an industry can adapt, Lindsey said.

“We learned about the ship-building process and how the ‘Titanic’ movie provided an opportunity to capitalize on the historic interest in the Titanic and transform the shipyard into an active movie studio,” Lindsey said. “The next season of ‘Game of Thrones’ was being filmed on site. The extent HBO goes to keep the production private was very interesting. They went as far as renting any rooms that provided access to the film location to prevent people from peeking into the set.”

While at Avoca Woolen Mills, students learned how to make wool linen by hand and with automation, as well as how the company has transformed since 1723 from a local cooperative to a national supplier of woven products and retail stores across Ireland. Similarly, at Waterford Crystal Factory, representatives discussed the brand and provided a factory tour to explain the process of producing world-renowned glass.

“The plant we visited produces custom products they are known for, like the People’s Choice Awards, the PGA Tour of America trophy and the Waterford Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball,” Lindsey said.

In each country, the group experienced a traditional dinner, sometimes in a castle. SFA graduate student Tyler Fisher from Spring, Texas, said the dinners were one of the trip highlights.

“In Iceland, we ate at a traditional Icelandic restaurant where we tried fermented shark and other Icelandic food. In Scotland, we attended a Scottish dinner, complete with a bagpipe player, dancers and traditional Scottish food. In Ireland, we ate in a castle and participated in a play. The entertainment acted as if we were in medieval times, feeding us four courses without utensils and showing us how people dined in those times,” Fisher said. “These experiences were the highlight for me because I was able to learn about the culture in each place while being able to try traditional foods from these countries.” 

Upon returning from the trip, students wrote a paper summarizing what they learned. Lindsey said a common theme among responses was that “it enabled them to learn about other cultures and see the business world from an international perspective.”

“Some now aspire to work internationally, while some realize that might not be for them,” Lindsey said. “Visiting businesses allows them to see things we discuss in the classroom in person and in an international setting.” 

For human resource management junior Celine Gragasin from Prosper, Texas, this trip helped broaden her mind.

“This trip has helped me grow personally, professionally and academically. I will carry all the skills and abilities I learned during my trip the rest of my life,” Gragasin said. “I highly recommend SFA students study abroad. Not only did I learn an abundance of information regarding all the businesses and tourist attractions we visited, but it also encouraged me to travel more.”

Fisher agreed this trip was a “great learning experience.”

“Traveling with people I didn’t know before this trip was challenging but rewarding. I made many new friends and gained a better global perspective,” Fisher said. “I would tell anyone at SFA to study abroad before they graduate. You will learn a lot about yourself, other countries and meet people at SFA you wouldn’t otherwise.”

While studying abroad, Stephen F. Austin State University students from the Rusche College of Business toured Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland, as well as many international companies.

June 15, 2018 Nacogdoches — The Stephen F. Austin State University STEM Research and Learning Center is accepting registration for a weeklong STEM camp for students entering sixth through eighth grade.

During Investigations in Math and Science Academy, or iMAS Academy, students spend the week participating in engaging, hands-on activities designed to help them develop a variety of skills while highlighting the diverse careers available in STEM disciplines.

“iMAS targets middle school students as they’re starting to think about different careers,” said Chaurcley Cook, STEM Research and Learning Center summer faculty. “It stimulates their interest in a field that has job opportunities and gives them career choices to consider.”

Rotating through five different modules led by faculty members and area master teachers, students will design roller coasters, work to solve a crime in a simulated forensic laboratory, design a robot to escape from robot Alcatraz, spend a day nursing patients at a simulated hospital, and use math and chemistry to create a color palette.

“They’re not just seeing one STEM area,” Cook said. “During iMAS, students are exposed to integrated mathematics and science and will participate in different modules throughout the week. It’s really impactful to have these opportunities before entering high school.”

iMAS will be held from 8 a.m. to noon June 25-29 on the SFA campus, Math Building, Room 101. The cost is $100 per attendee and includes materials, snacks, prizes and a T-shirt.

Space is limited to 100 spots, so register today by visiting bit.ly/iMAS2018 or calling (936) 468-5814.

By Joanna Armstrong, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University. 

June 4, 2018 Nacogdoches — Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. June 14 in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, located at 2900 Raguet St. Danny Carson, director of gardens at Moody Gardens in Galveston, will present “Behind the Scenes at Moody Gardens: Why 1,100 Employees is Never Enough.”

Carson, a Houston native and International Oleander Society board member, began working at Moody Gardens in 1986 as an assistant horticulturist. He is responsible for 142 acres of grounds and wetlands, including all the landscape, irrigation, hardscape, Rainforest Pyramid, interior plants, green houses, gardening programs and events, horticulture therapy, and special projects. Carson said his primary goal is to make Moody Gardens the best it can be.

The Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series is held the second Thursday of each month and includes a rare-plant raffle after the program. The lecture is free and open to the public, but donations to the Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series fund are always appreciated.

Parking is available at the PNPC and Raguet Elementary School, located at 2428 Raguet St.

For more information, call (936) 468-4129, or email sfagardens@sfasu.edu.

March 24, 2018 Nacogdoches - A Stephen F. Austin State University employee was honored recently with a Public Service Commendation Medal from the U.S. Army.

Sonnie Mosier, an administrative assistant in SFA’s Department of Military Science, received the medal, which is one of the highest public service decorations the Army gives to civilians. According to the Army’s website, the award recognizes “service or achievements that contribute significantly to the accomplishment of the mission of an Army activity, command or staff agency.”

Mosier, who has worked in the military science department for 21 years, has participated in the commissioning of 266 of the 646 cadets who have completed SFA's ROTC program. She serves as the university liaison for military science faculty and staff and supports the cadets in various instances.

“What I’ve enjoyed most about my time with the department is watching young men and women go through the program to be commissioned as second lieutenants,” Mosier said. “I also have enjoyed meeting so many awesome military science faculty and staff who have come and gone.”

After joining SFA in 1994 as a receptionist in the Office of the President, Mosier worked in the Office of Admissions before settling in the military science department. Since then, she has been a continuity in the department by assisting eight department chairs, numerous faculty and staff, and hundreds of cadets.

For more information about SFA’s ROTC program, visit www.sfasu.edu/rotc.