SFA University
April 9, 2015 - The Stephen F. Austin State University Sylvans, a timbersports team, captured its third consecutive championship title at the 58th annual Southern Forestry Conclave in Mississippi.
The team of 35 students, composed primarily of forestry majors, competed in technical and physical events against 14 other Southern forestry schools, including Virginia Tech, Clemson, Auburn and Louisiana State University.
Dr. Jeremy Stovall, assistant professor of silviculture in SFA’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture and the Sylvans’ faculty adviser, said the rigorous coursework undertaken by students in SFA’s forestry program is a key component of the team’s success.
“Stephen F. Austin has one of the best undergraduate forestry programs in the country,” Stovall said. “This really helps with the technical events, which are mostly focused on coursework in subjects like dendrology, wildlife, wood technology and timber estimation.”
In addition to the technical portion of the event, students compete in traditional physical timbersport events such as crosscut sawing, log birling, archery, axe throwing and pole climbing.
To prepare for these physical events, the Sylvans practice daily in the weeks leading up to the competition. During the semester, members are often found practicing events and providing teammates with performance critiques and encouragement in the designated practice area, located behind the Forestry Building.
“This was the best-rounded team I have seen,” Stovall said. “We had 18 different individuals compete in the 22 events, each working hard at perfecting his or her event.”
Out of the 15 competing schools, SFA won first in both technical and physical events, with an overall score of 317.25 points. Clemson finished in second place with 269.5 points, and the University of Georgia finished third with 268.5 points.
The Forestry Conclave is an annual competition between forestry schools of the Southeast featuring both technical and physical timbersport events. Next year’s competition will be hosted by Clemson.
For information about the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, visit www.atcofa.sfasu.edu.
April 9, 2015 - NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Stephen F. Austin State University has been recognized for its commitment to educating all students – regardless of physical challenges – with the 2014 Desire2Excel Award for Accessibility.
The award is presented by D2L, a global leader in educational technology and the creator of Brightspace, an integrated learning platform used by SFA faculty members and students. The company lauded SFA for demonstrating how such partnerships and technology can make education available to more learners.
“It is one of D2L’s core beliefs that education should be accessible to all,” said John Baker, president and CEO of D2L. “Brightspace was built and continues to grow with accessibility in mind. We strive to make our integrated learning platform easy for people to navigate and understand using assistive technologies or any and all devices that support their needs.”
A large part of the university’s dedication to accessibility is ensuring that faculty members are provided with professional development that includes how to make instructional materials accessible, according to Dr. Randy McDonald, director of SFA’s Center for Teaching and Learning.
“We conduct rigorous professional development for faculty members concerning the design of online courses, and we continually collaborate with the SFA Office of Disability Services to help ensure the needs of each and every student are met,” McDonald said.
“The university is able to provide accessible support to students and faculty members using the Brightspace integrated learning platform,” McDonald added. Led by Andra Floyd, SFA’s D2L support team includes student workers who specialize in providing accessible tech support.
SFA’s focus on accessibility for all students is “part of our DNA,” said Janet Kamps, distance education coordinator at the Center for Teaching and Learning. She said that commitment stems from the institution’s origins as a teacher’s college.
“Personalized instruction, mentoring, and respect for and inclusion of all university community members are foundations of our university,” she said. “Brightspace has played a crucial role in enabling us to live up to those ideals and ensure that students’ access to a quality education is not obstructed. Taking responsibility for accessibility is foundational here – it’s something we all do.”
D2L partners with thought-leading organizations to improve learning through data-driven technology that helps deliver a personalized experience to every learner, regardless of geography or ability. D2L’s open and extensible platform is used by more than 1,100 clients and 15 million individual learners in higher education, K–12, health care, government and the enterprise sector, including Fortune 1000 companies. The company has operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Brazil and Singapore.
March 26, 2015 - Through a partnership between Stephen F. Austin State University’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, the School of Human Sciences’ Hospitality Administration program and Älvdalen Educational Center, a forestry and hospitality post-secondary technical college in Älvdalen, Sweden, 15 Swedish students and two faculty members from the educational center completed a two-week exploration of East Texas.
Robert Nilsson and Matthew Tunn, instructors at Älvdalen's Educational Center, said the partnership greatly benefits the participating students, many of whom have never traveled abroad.
During their stay, students toured sights throughout the region that were focused on their particular area of study.
Dr. Hans Williams, associate dean of SFA’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, and Dr. Chay Runnels, associate professor and hospitality administration program coordinator at SFA, organized the visit, which included trips to state parks, historic sites and the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, as well as logging operations.
The machines used in U.S. logging operations are very different from those used in Sweden, said Daniel Karlsson. Karlsson, who will graduate from Älvdalen's forestry program next year, added that seeing the difference in forest operations has helped him grow as a student.
While the partnership places great focus on the vocational pursuits of the students involved, Williams said perhaps the most important aspect is the personal growth that results from experiencing a different culture.
The broadening of horizons led to the partnership between SFA and Älvdalen’s Educational Center more than three years ago. Since that time, five SFA students also have visited Älvdalen's Educational Center for similar cross-cultural immersion.
“It’s more than just learning forestry, it’s about seeing a whole different culture,” Williams said.
Emma Sandgren, a nature and adventure tourism student at Älvdalen's Educational Center, said while she thought the Texas weather would be warmer, it did not detract from her enjoyment of the local cuisine and people.
The students’ visit culminated in a barbecue and tour of SFA’s Walter C. Todd Agricultural Research Center. Prior to their departure home, the SFA Horseman’s Association demonstrated a range of versatility and skill-based events before facilitating horse rides for the students.
“The welcome we had, the hospitality and the friendliness, has just been overwhelming,” said Tunn.
This May, Runnels and Dr. Mary Olle, assistant professor of human sciences at SFA, will lead a Maymester course titled “Connecting People with Nature in Sweden.” The class will provide participants with the opportunity to explore the confluence of ecology, history and culture through visits to forest, recreation and hospitality resources in the Älvdalen region.
March 6, 2015 - The Stephen F. Austin State University Student Government Association and Hunger Jacks, along with the Office of Academic Affairs, hosted a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday for the new Food for Thought campus food pantry, located in the Baker Pattillo Student Center on SFA’s campus.
The pantry will serve as a resource to help alleviate food insecurity among SFA student on campus.
Pictured (from left) are Marquice Hobbs, SFA student body president; Roger Van Horn, Nacogdoches mayor; Dr. Miranda Terry, assistant professor of health science at SFA; Dr. Steve Westbrook, vice president for university affairs at SFA; Brittany Hearnsberger, SFA student; John Anderson, Aramark district manager; Dr. Adam Peck, dean of student affairs at SFA; and James Burns, SFA student.
February 27, 2015 - The following students have been named to the President's List at Stephen F. Austin State University for the fall semester: To be eligible for this honor, a student must be enrolled in 12 or more semester hours and maintain a grade-point average of 4.0.
(Name, Major, Department)
Center, TX
April Broomfield, Professional Accountancy, Accounting
Kayla Broomfield, Pre-Professional Undecided, Physics & Astronomy
Lesley Cockrell, Interdisciplinary Studies, Elementary Education
Yvette Garcia, Mathematics, Mathematics & Statistics
Matthew Goodwin, Creative Writing, English
Alex Morris, Art, School of Art
Joaquin, TX
Nicholas Cheatwood, Biochemistry, Chemistry
Katelyn Cockrell, Communication Disorders, Human Services
Jordan Powdrill, Engineering Physics, Physics & Astronomy
Ryleigh Yates, Interdisciplinary Studies, Elementary Education
Shelbyville, TX
Casey Lovell, Interdisciplinary Studies, Elementary Education
February 25, 2015 - The following students have been named to the Dean's List at Stephen F. Austin State University for the fall semester:
To be eligible for this honor, a student must be enrolled in 12 or more semester hours and maintain a grade-point average of 3.5.
(Name, Major, Department)
Center, TX
Stephanie Araujo, Nursing, School of Nursing
Justin Bridwell, Physics, Physics & Astronomy
Haleigh Cooper, Communication Disorders, Human Services
Jorge Figueroa, Accounting, Accounting
Amber Fountain, Kinesiology, Kinesiology & Health Science
Briana Gregston, Nursing, School of Nursing
Whitney Haddox, Communication Disorders, Human Services
Darby Hudspeth, English, English
Carsen Jones, Pre-Social Work, School of Social Work
Jessica Massey, Art, School of Art
Jami Mosby, Nursing, School of Nursing
Meagan Nehring, Nursing, School of Nursing
Kristin Peace, Accounting, Accounting
Alexandra Tomlin, Nursing, School of Nursing
Joaquin, TX
William Alger, Kinesiology, Kinesiology & Health Science
Caleb Hill, Crim Justice Legal Assistant, Government
Bailee McSwain, Interdisciplinary Studies, Elementary Education
Tyler McSwain, General Business, Business Comm & Legal Studies
Tenaha, TX
Michaila Duncan, Computer Science, Computer Science
Victor Flores, Professional Accountancy, Accounting
Lindsey Murphy, Interdisciplinary Studies, Elementary Education
Timpson, TX
Kinsey Carrington, Spanish, Languages, Cultures & Communic
February 25, 2015 - NACOGDOCHES - The following students received degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University during December commencement exercises:
Center, TX
(Name, Degree, Major)
Jill Albert, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Art
John Burns, Bachelor of Arts, Information Technology
Erin Butler, Bachelor of Science, Communication Disorders
Briana Gregston, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Nursing
Megan Hartt, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Nursing
Jennifer Matthews, Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies
Reese Monroe, Bachelor of Business Administration, Marketing
Melissa Mouton, Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Animal Science
Ashley Murphree, Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies
Amanda Sellman, Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies
Dawn Spell, Master of Arts, School Counseling
Alexandra Tomlin, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Nursing
Candice Weatherford, Bachelor of Science, Communication Disorders
Joaquin, TX
(Name, Degree, Major)
William Alger, Bachelor of Science, Kinesiology
Britney Battles, Bachelor of Arts, Criminal Justice Corrections
Austin Burnett, Master of Professional Accountancy, Accounting
Johnathan Harvey, Bachelor of Science, Mathematics
Abby Hewitt, Bachelor of Science, Geology
Chad Lawrence, Bachelor of Science, Kinesiology
Tyler McSwain, Bachelor of Business Administration, General Business
Tenaha, TX
(Name, Degree, Major)
Michaila Duncan, Bachelor of Science, Computer Science
Jordan Ford, Bachelor of Science in Forestry, Forest Wildlife Management
Timpson, TX
(Name, Degree, Major)
Charlotte Metcalf, Master of Arts, School Counseling
Chad Pate, Bachelor of Arts, English
February 25, 2015 - Seventeen piano, flute and strings majors from Hong Kong are on their way to Nacogdoches to participate in a 10-day residency through March 7 at the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music. The students will stay in campus residence lodges, study with SFA music faculty, sit in on classes and perform alongside SFA students in choir, orchestra and band.
February 24, 2015 - The Stephen F. Austin State University Alumni Association recently established the Auren and Alma Smith Memorial Scholarship to support undergraduate students attending the university.
This scholarship was endowed in loving memory of the couple by their daughter, Janyce Smith Brannon. Brannon, a 1957 and 1959 SFA graduate, is a retired CPA residing in Dallas.
The Auren and Alma Smith Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to currently enrolled students with an established major, and recipients must maintain at least a 3.0 grade-point average.
Anyone wishing to donate to the scholarship may send a check payable to the SFASU Foundation with instructions to apply the gift to the Auren and Alma Smith Memorial Scholarship. Donations should be mailed to P.O. BOX 6096, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, TX 75962.
January 22, 2015 - NACOGDOCHES, Texas – SFA Gardens at Stephen F. Austin State University will host a beginning vegetable gardening class from 9am to noon Saturday, January 31, in the Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St. in Nacogdoches.
Dawn Stover, SFA Gardens research associate, will discuss site selection, soil preparation, compost, raised bed and container options, planting schedules and interesting vegetable varieties for East Texas.
Class members will participate in hands-on planting activities. Children’s activities also will be available.
Cost for the event, which includes all supplies, is $20 for SFA Garden members, $25 for non-members and $45 for family groups. Space is limited, so pre-registration is required.
To register or for more information, call Elyce Rodewald at (936) 468-1832 or email sfagardens@sfasu.edu.
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