Shelby County Today

August 27, 2025 - A dozen business students from Stephen F. Austin State University’s Nelson Rusche College of Business wrapped up their management course by exploring sports business, entrepreneurship and innovation in Canada Aug. 11-19.

“During this study abroad trip, students experienced not only Canadian culture but also how Canadians innovate, launch businesses and celebrate sport,” said Dr. Jason Reese, interim dean of the Rusche College of Business, who led the trip with Dr. Robert McDermand, senior lecturer of sports business and management at SFA.

“Canada’s traditions are so beloved — from hockey to maple syrup to Niagara Falls — that the students immediately embraced them,” Reese said. “But they also learned important lessons like how to navigate the streets of Toronto and Montreal through public transit. Experiences like these build their confidence for future adventures abroad.”

In Toronto, students visited the waterfront, the Hockey Hall of Fame and the Royal Ontario Museum before heading up the CN Tower for a bird’s-eye view of the city and Lake Ontario. They also took the famous Maid of the Mist boat tour to see Niagara Falls up close.

“Niagara Falls is one of the highlights of the trip because it was something that I probably would have never done or had the opportunity to do without the study abroad trip,” said Erin Banks, sports business senior from Georgetown. “As we got closer to the falls, I had to close my eyes from all the water spraying on my face, and all I could do was laugh because I couldn’t believe that I was in this place with these people experiencing such a special adventure.”

Next, students mastered the “OK Blue Jays” dance with help from passionate baseball fans during the seventh-inning stretch of a Toronto Blue Jays game at Rogers Centre.

“Seeing Xander [Bogaerts] celebrating with strangers and everyone being united by their love for their Blue Jays was unforgettable,” said Dayanira Flores, sports business sophomore from Mission. “That moment made me realize that sports are powerful connectors, bringing people together in shared joy. I remember thinking this was the highlight of my trip because it made me feel alive — part of something bigger than myself.”

In Montreal, students learned about the 2020 launch of SportsAi, a sports analytics startup that uses artificial intelligence to automate data collection and analysis for soccer players and coaches to help them improve players’ performance. 

Tarik Agday, co-founder and CEO of SportsAi, shared his story of combining his experience as a former MLS prospect for CF Montreal with his AI specialization at Polytechnique Montreal to provide real-time analysis for soccer teams.

“Tarik also told us how he overcame the challenges of introducing new technologies in an industry full of traditionalists,” McDermand said. “This showed our students how innovation, perseverance and the entrepreneurial spirit can lead to a successful business supporting a sport they love.” 

The CF Montreal theme continued with a soccer match between the team and DC United, which offered some students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“I’m a huge soccer fan, so getting to watch CF Montreal play against DC United was amazing,” said Modesto Martinez, kinesiology first-year student from Mission. “For me, going to a live soccer game and seeing the action in person was a dream come true, and I hope one day I can do it again.”

Despite their packed agenda, the students had time to enjoy some delicious meals. They returned home with a few new favorite foods.

“Trying poutine for the first time was messy but delicious, and BeaverTail pastries instantly became the best thing I’ve ever eaten,” said Madison Zaccardo, Master of Business Administration student from Lubbock.

Helena Easey, entrepreneurship senior from Cypress, said the traveling group’s small size allowed her to bond with every student on the trip.

“I learned to expand my interests into areas I never thought I would,” she said. “I’m so grateful to the Rusche College of Business for supporting its students in academic ventures such as this one.”

Reed O’Grady, management senior from Weatherford, also saw benefits to traveling with his business classmates. 

“One of the convenient things about doing a study abroad with the Rusche College of Business is that you are traveling with your peers the entire trip,” he said. “I was able to not only talk with my classmates but relate on a deeper level because we were all in the same season of life, going through the same classes, and a few of us will be in the same classes in the fall.”

Ella Hollis, marketing senior from Tyler, said learning outside the classroom helped her learn more about herself. 

“After coming home from this trip, I feel that I have more confidence as an individual to go out and do more in unfamiliar places with unfamiliar people, whether it is for personal or business matters,” she said. “This trip created many opportunities to learn and better myself as an individual in moments that made learning more fun and enjoyable than what it could have been in just a regular classroom experience.”

For more information on SFA’s Rusche College of Business and its study abroad opportunities, visit sfasu.edu/cob.

For the first time in its history, Stephen F. Austin State University has received over 20,000 undergraduate applications for a fall semester, marking a 17% increase over fall 2024 applications and a 67% rise since 2019. SFA also served more than 3,000 students during summer orientation sessions like the one pictured, marking the largest summer orientation attendance in SFA’s history.

August 7, 2025 –– For the first time in its history, Stephen F. Austin State University has received over 20,000 undergraduate applications for a fall semester, marking a 17% increase over fall 2024 applications and a 67% rise since 2019.

The surge follows The University of Texas System’s investment to expand SFA’s Purple Promise program, which covers tuition and fees for families earning $100,000 gross income or less. It’s also a result of new initiatives like the Lumberjack Transfer Alliance and Lumberjack Launch to improve access, support and college readiness for students across Texas.

“We’re incredibly energized by the excitement surrounding SFA right now,” said SFA President Dr. Neal Weaver. “This explosive growth speaks volumes about the momentum behind the SFA brand. Crossing the 20,000 threshold is a milestone achievement and a reflection of the academic strength, value and sense of belonging that define the SFA experience. Students and families across the state and beyond are taking notice.”

Due to the overwhelming interest, SFA added an extra in-person orientation session to accommodate students and families who plan to attend. In total, the university served more than 3,000 students during summer orientation, marking the largest summer orientation attendance in SFA’s history.

“This surge in applications and positive early enrollment data signals the strength of our strategic outreach, recruiting and marketing, as well as the appeal of our academic and student life offerings,” said Dr. Kent Willis, senior vice president for enrollment and student engagement at SFA. “From prospective first-year students to transfer and graduate students, more individuals are choosing SFA and committing to becoming Lumberjacks.”

These numbers and early enrollment trends show not only more applications but also stronger yield, retention and growth across first-time undergraduates, transfer students and graduate programs. The incoming first-time undergraduate class is currently on pace to be the largest in the university’s history.  

“These numbers represent expanded opportunity for students and families across our region and beyond,” Willis said. “Through programs like Purple Promise, Lumberjack Transfer Alliance and Lumberjack Launch, we’re breaking down barriers and making it easier for students to achieve a four-year degree. Our recent integration into the UT System has only accelerated this progress, providing our students with even greater resources, support and connections within one of the world’s most respected public university systems.”

To learn more and apply for SFA’s fall 2025 semester, visit sfasu.edu/apply.

About Stephen F. Austin State University

Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 40 academic facilities, 11 residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering over 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.

July 29, 2025 - Cole Tomberlain, president of The Tomberlain Insurance Group based in Longview, will give the commencement address during Stephen F. Austin State University’s summer graduation ceremony for undergraduates at 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, in Johnson Coliseum. All master’s and doctoral candidates will receive their degrees during the Graduate Studies ceremony at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, in Turner Auditorium, Griffith Fine Arts Building.

After graduating from Spring Hill High School in Longview, Tomberlain attended SFA, following in the footsteps of his parents, Chuck and Babette, and received a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2010. While a student, he was a volunteer firefighter and a member of the SFA chapter of Ducks Unlimited and the National Wild Turkey Federation. He also participated in the Student Activities Association and cofounded Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Texas Phi Chapter.

Tomberlain’s family have been similarly active in Lumberjack life. His sister, Morgan, served as a student regent for the SFA Board of Regents. His father was president of the SFA Alumni Association Board of Directors. Simultaneously, Tomberlain served as the executive director of SFA’s Student Foundation Association.

“Mr. Tomberlain exemplifies what it means to be an SFA graduate — prepared, capable and committed to making a difference from day 1,” said Dr. Neal Weaver, SFA president. “When his family business needed leadership, he stepped up without hesitation at just 24 years old. He shows our graduates where dedication and an SFA education can take you.”

Tomberlain took over both Charles Tomberlain Insurance Agency and Tomberlain Properties following a family crisis in 2013. Under his leadership, the agency has earned several awards, including the Safeco Insurance Award of Excellence and the Longview Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year. The agency also has received the Liberty Mutual President’s Award for 15 consecutive years and was inducted into the Foremost Insurance Hall of Fame in 2016.

Tomberlain also has earned individual recognition, including being voted the Best Insurance Agent in East Texas four consecutive years. He has served on the Liberty Mutual Central Region Advisory Council and the Safeco Insurance National Advisory Council.

“I am honored to return to SFA to speak to my fellow Lumberjacks as they transition into the next phase of their lives,” Tomberlain said. “SFA doesn’t just give you a degree, it gives you an extended family of alumni who are here to help support you on your path to success!

“While in Nacogdoches, many SFA students find out who they are meant to be and develop the dreams they will chase when they graduate,” he continued. “As they step into their next chapter, these graduates will carry with them what they learned not just in the classroom but also in their student organizations and leadership programs. I am looking forward to celebrating with them.”

In addition to his insurance work, Tomberlain has assisted with several nonprofits. He was the founding chair of Bourbon & Bowties, the official fundraiser for the Longview World of Wonders hands-on discovery center that has netted nearly $2 million for the museum. He also was a founding board member of the Young Professionals of Longview, Combat Warriors of East Texas and the East Texas Bourbon Society.

Tomberlain continues to give back to his alma mater through his service on the Business Communication and Legal Studies Advisory Council in SFA’s Nelson Rusche College of Business as well as The University of Texas System’s Chancellor’s Centurions. He received the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award from the SFA Alumni Association in 2019, making him and his father the first father-son duo to receive the honor. Kendall, Tomberlain’s wife, obtained her master’s degree in counseling from SFA in 2023, and their son, Liam, served as crown bearer at the SFA Homecoming football game that same year.

The public is invited to attend the graduation ceremonies, and community tickets will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis at the coliseum ticket office and the Fine Arts Box Office one hour before each event begins.

Degrees to be awarded include 230 bachelor’s, 68 master’s and 10 doctoral degrees. Seventy-one students will graduate with honors, including 28 cum laude, 21 magna cum laude and 22 summa cum laude. Two students will graduate with the university scholar designation.

For more information, visit sfasu.edu/graduation.

Pictured, from left, are Miguel Koch, political science major from Allen; Dylan Miles, political science major from Center; Wil Stafford, management major from Lufkin; Trent Bush, political science major from Timpson; and Sydney Shifflett, criminal justice major from Carrollton. Photo provided by Dr. Charlotte Sullivan, SFA’s director of government relations.

Students Include Two Local Shelby County Interns

June 6, 2025 – Through Stephen F. Austin State University’s Legislative Internship Program, five students served during the 89th Texas Legislature and learned the intricacies of Texas lawmaking and civic leadership. While gaining hands-on experiences, they left a strong impression in Austin.

Interns during the spring 2025 semester included Trent Bush, political science major from Timpson; Miguel Koch, political science major from Allen; Dylan Miles, political science major from Center; Sydney Shifflett, criminal justice major from Carrollton; and Wil Stafford, management major from Lufkin.

Started in 2009 under the leadership of the late Dr. Ken Collier, professor of government, the SFA Legislative Internship Program provides real-world, hands-on practical experiences to SFA students in law-making, issue advocacy and civic leadership during every regular session of the Texas Legislature. To date, more than 40 SFA students have served in the program. Over the years, interns have left such an impression in Austin that many state legislators contact the university seeking internships.  

“Engaging with the Texas Legislature while they are in session provides the perfect laboratory for understanding how politics works in real time,” said Dr. Charlotte Sullivan, SFA’s director of government relations. “Students who go through the internship have an insight into politics that will benefit them no matter what career path they choose.”

Interns are selected through a competitive application process that includes a résumé, a personal statement and an in-person interview. Once selected, interns are matched with state legislative offices or legislative committees. To assist in this process, Sullivan works with the interns to mentor and guide them.

The interns arrived in Austin before the start of the spring semester and remained in Austin until the end of the regular session in late May. While in Austin, students received course credit toward their degree.  

According to Koch, who worked in the office of State Sen. Robert Nichols, serving as a legislative intern was a catalyst for professional growth and confidence. He was able to learn the basics of legislative analysis through hands-on experiences rather than watching from the sidelines.

“Serving in the 89th Legislature has given me an incredibly unique perspective on what it means to shape the law,” Koch said. “Watching a bill go from an idea in Sen. Nichols’ office to codified statute was incredible as a political science student, and getting to experience those moments firsthand gave me a perspective that will certainly assist my time in law school.”

Miles, who worked in the committee office of State Sen. Brandon Creighton, felt the opportunity provided learning opportunities he wouldn’t have gained in a classroom setting. 

“Working at the legislature is truly a one-of-a-kind experience,” Miles said. “There is no equivalent to the hands-on learning and insider perspective that it provides. Having studied state government previously, there was still a great deal I did not know about the norms of the legislative process that I would have otherwise never known.”

“I cannot begin to describe what working in Austin has meant to me,” Miles continued. “This has been my first step into the political and legal world, and had I been asked even a few weeks before having applied to the internship, I would not have thought it possible that I would be working at the state Capitol.” 

For Bush, who served as constituent manager in the office of State Rep. Todd Hunter, the internship reignited his passion for politics. He noted how the internship program offered a refreshing perspective on the political process and the importance of cooperation.

“With the political climate being what it is these days, it is easy to feel like the entire career is just a never-ending battle with whichever ‘other team,’” Bush said. “This experience has shown me that even in a high-level political atmosphere, there are people willing to reach across the aisle with friendship.”

Shifflett served as a legislative assistant in the office of State Rep. Joanne Shofner. While in the position, she helped research and develop a bill that eventually passed. 

“The most rewarding part of my internship was witnessing the legislative process from start to finish, particularly seeing a bill I had worked on pass and learning about its positive impact on Texans,” Shifflett said. “Hearing how a piece of legislation can improve lives or solve problems was incredibly fulfilling. Moments like those affirm the importance of public service and the real-world outcomes of our work.”

For Stafford, who served as a legislative aide in the office of State Rep. John Lujan, working with professionals on a daily basis inspired him and cemented his desire to pursue law school and one day open his own law firm.  

“The most rewarding part was working alongside some of the smartest and most hardworking individuals I’ve ever met,” Stafford said. “Their dedication and professionalism inspired me daily. This internship has brought me closer to achieving my dream by being able to work alongside and receive advice from people who have achieved the same goals.”

New this session, thanks to SFA’s affiliation with The University of Texas System, students attended professional development sessions with key decision-makers in state government, received assistance with securing housing in Austin and obtained additional financial assistance beyond institutional support from SFA.

“Affiliation with the UT System has only enriched our ability to provide a well-rounded, engaging experience for our interns in Austin,” said Dr. Steven Galatas, associate professor in SFA’s Department of Government and campus coordinator for the program. “The UT System has taken an already great program to an even higher level.” 

For more information about the Legislative Internship Program, visit the program’s website.