SFA University
July 24, 2019 Nacogdoches – The Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents approved actions during the July quarterly meeting that will support students across campus, from Steen Library to those in disciplines ranging from agriculture to culinary sciences.
Regents approved a $6.46 million capital plan that addresses academic support, student life and safety. Projects include the renovation of a home at 1401 Mound St. for use by SFA’s hospitality administration program.
The residence, previously owned by former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, will be renovated to house the Culinary Café, a student-run restaurant that serves meals to guests two days each week during the regular semesters. Utilizing $1.5 million in the capital Higher Education Fund, the residence will be renovated to keep its historic nature while adding a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen and prep area, according to Dr. Judy Abbott, dean of the Perkins College of Education.
“This learning laboratory, unique for a university in Texas, will provide hands-on, real-world experiences for students pursuing the hospitality administration degree,” Abbott said. “Much like the Lumberjack Express, the mobile food laboratory recently unveiled, the regents are acknowledging the interest in and growth of the culinary arts, entrepreneurship, event planning and food-service management. SFA is investing in the historic nature of Nacogdoches as it establishes state-of-the-art facilities that attract and transform students in East Texas and beyond.”
The capital plan also includes a $250,000 renovation of Steen Library, replacement of furniture in Hall 14 and fire-safety upgrades across campus. In residence halls, card-access systems will be installed to provide secure entry into the buildings, and the university’s wireless network will be upgraded. A $3.5 million upgrade to a power plant that supports the College of Fine Arts buildings and the purchase of a radio system for the University Police Department are included in the plan.
Regents approved the creation of the Marilyn Cranford Quasi Endowment, the result of a $1.5 million gift to support SFA’s National Center for Pharmaceutical Crops. A quasi endowment allows for distribution of revenue and principal from a fund balance.
The mission of SFA’s National Center for Pharmaceutical Crops is to improve human health by discovering novel anti-tumor and antiviral agents in native and invasive plant species and to enhance U.S. security by reducing dependency on foreign supplies of pharmaceutical ingredients. The center previously has received significant support from the U.S. Congress and the T.L.L. Temple Foundation, as well as from state and federal agencies and private individuals, like the late Marilyn Cranford, according to Dr. Steve Bullard, SFA provost and vice president for academic affairs.
“The center has a remarkable track record in creating new pharmaceutical compounds and developing innovative methods to control invasive plants and insects,” Bullard said. “This endowment will play a critical role in the long-term support of staffing and operations and will have a great impact on SFA and East Texas, as well as a positive national and global impact.”
Regents approved the sale of timber from the Todd Agricultural Research Center to convert predominately pine forestland to silvopasture – a form of agriculture that integrates trees, forage plants and grazing livestock operations.
“The proceeds will fund pasture improvement and will create demonstration areas for teaching, research and outreach,” Bullard said.
Regents approved the purchase of property at 208 Feazell St., a lot located between two existing university lots. “This acquisition will create a continuous section of lots and provide an opportunity to expand student parking,” said Dr. Danny Gallant, vice president for finance and administration.
Regents approved the selection of Page Southerland Page to create an updated campus master plan.
“The Board of Regents approved our current campus master plan on April 19, 2011, and that plan extends through fiscal year 2020,” Gallant said. “We issued a request for qualifications, and three of the five firms that responded presented their plans to the board for consideration. We look forward to working with this agency to develop a plan for the future.”
Page Southerland Page has completed projects for University of Texas campuses in Austin, Dallas and San Antonio.
Regents approved changes in course fees, an increase in the student application fee and an exemption of the distance-education fee for dual-credit students enrolled in ITV-delivered courses. They approved a one-time $117 fee to be paid by students enrolled in programs utilizing Watermark LiveText hosted services.
Regents also approved:
- The 2019-2020 holiday schedule
- The annual audit plan
- Resolutions supporting Texas Department of Transportation grant applications to enhance pedestrian sidewalks, trails and bicycle paths
- Exemptions and waivers of tuition and fees authorized by the Texas Education Code
- FY19 grant awards totaling $228,836
- Purchase of SAP Concur travel-expense software
- Revisions to the Intercollegiate Athletic policies and procedures manual
- An update of approved financial institutions and brokers
- Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity architectural and engineering contracts
- A new policy and policy revisions, and
- The conversion of SFA course numbers to the Texas Common Course numbering system.
The board heard an update on construction projects and reports from the Student Government Association, the Faculty Senate and Dr. Steve Westbrook, interim president.
SFA theatre students, from left, Carson Cook, McKinney sophomore, as Captain Hook and Bayley Owen, Royse City junior, as Peter Pan rehearse a fight scene from “Tales of Neverland.” The School of Theatre will tour the original play in August at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland.
July 22, 2019 Nacogdoches – The School of Theatre at Stephen F. Austin State University will present a community preview at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 26, of the original play students will perform next month at the prestigious Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The preview performance will be in the HPE Complex Dance Studio, Room 201, on the SFA campus. The event is a fundraiser to offset travel costs of the trip.
For the third time, SFA theatre students will tour a play that will be seen at the largest performing arts festival in the world during a two-week trip to Edinburgh in August. This year, SFA dance students will be among those performing.
This year’s play is “Tales of Neverland,” a family-friendly stage adaptation written and directed by School of Theatre professor Angela Bacarisse based on the book “Peter Pan,” J.M. Barrie’s most famous work.
The description on the festival’s website reads: “Make way for the Lost Boys! Join Wendy, Michael and John as they are whisked away to Neverland by Peter Pan and Tinkerbell. Watch as they tangle with vicious pirates and cheer for the boy who never grew up. Fusing spoken word with dance, the performers bring to life the beloved characters and fly through many adventures. An original script appropriate for all ages.”
The play’s choreography is by Heather Samuelson and movement direction is by Haley Jameson. Samuelson and Jameson are dance program directors in the SFA Department of Kinesiology and Heath Science.
Preview performance admission is $5 per person at the door. Additional donations to help with student costs to attend the festival will also be accepted.
The School of Theatre continues to seek out people who may want to help sponsor students and pay for trip expenses. For information on supporting the students, contact Bacarisse at abacarisse@sfasu.edu or (936) 468-1126. Tax-exempt donations can be made at sfasu.edu/giving by clicking on the “give online” tab and writing “Scotland trip” for special instructions.
July 17, 2019 Nacogdoches, Texas – The 35th Watercolor East Texas juried exhibition will open with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 27, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.
This year’s juror is Houston artist Carla Gauthier, who is a signature member of the National Watercolor Society. She has degrees in fine art, art history and education. She is also a member of Canadian Society of Painters and Watercolor Art Society- Houston (WASH). She works in both watercolor and oils. She has received numerous awards on regional, national and international levels. Her paintings are in collections throughout Canada, United States and Europe.
Her artist statement: “Painting, for me, is an opportunity to make sense of an increasingly visual world. I get to enjoy the image making process, choosing the contrast, color and light that suit the subject at hand and the story being told. It is a pursuit which has its challenges and successes, but it is about the process, and the small gains made along the way.”
The exhibition runs through Aug. 25.
The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, contact WET member Carol Athey at atheycj@sfasu.edu or call the art center at (936) 468-1131.
Watercolor East Texas (WET) was founded in 1983 by Reese Kennedy and other community artists to promote the knowledge and enjoyment of art, to expand the public appreciation of water media painting, and to stimulate art education. Membership is open to all water media artists. WET invites water media artists to attend a meeting and join this group of regional artists. Next meeting is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19, in Regions Bank community room, 300 E. Main St., Nacogdoches.
July 17, 2019 – New dates for Guitar Camp offered by the Music Preparatory Division of the School of Music at Stephen F. Austin State University are July 23 - 26.
Larry Greer, who teaches guitar at SFA and Angelina College, is the camp director. The camp is from 2 to 3 p.m. each day at the Music Prep House, located at 3028 Raguet St.
Lessons are designed for students ages 10 and up. Tuition is $50, and guitar rental is $10. Lessons are provided in rock, country, classical and jazz. Class size is limited to 10 students.
Register for the camp by visiting www.music.sfasu.edu/prep, or contact Music Prep director Pat Barnett at pbarnett@sfasu.edu or musicprep@sfasu.edu, or call (936) 468-1291. Office hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
July 16, 2019 - Silent bidding for artwork in the annual 12x12 scholarship fundraiser for the Friends of the Visual Arts at Stephen F. Austin State University is now in the final week at The Cole Art Center at The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.
Multiple pieces have been generously donated by a local artist who has contributed a piece to every auction fundraiser since its inception. Wally Knight has been central to the Nacogdoches art scene since the 1970s. Much of his work could be described as assemblage, but a visit to his home studio reveals that Knight surrounds himself with creative expression, not only his own, but that of his friends and fellow artists. Nacogdoches “has a very deep well of art,” says Knight.
Knight also works as a carpenter, and he initially approached his art in the same way as his work. Coincidental influences helped him to see that he needed allow the connections to appear, rather than planning them. He describes himself as the machine that assembles the pieces as the objects reveal themselves. “Basically, everything is connected,” he said. “What I do is just push some of that closer together. The ordinary becomes the extraordinary, and the function of it is no longer important.”
Knight’s pieces are always a highlight of the 12x12 event, often creating bidding wars. “I first noticed Wally’s work at the first fundraiser I attended several years ago,” says Crystal Hicks, Friends of the Visual Arts event committee chair. “Many of the works were exciting and were generating attention, but Wally’s stood out. The audience always looks forward to seeing what he’s contributed. Nacogdoches is lucky to boast a thriving art scene, and Wally has been integral to keeping it going.”
The silent auction features 12x12-inch pieces of art which are currently on display and may be bid on up until 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 20. Anyone may silently bid on the unique one-of-a-kind pieces. Beginning at 6 p.m. that night, the starting bid for art pieces without previous bids will be lowered to $100. The auction closes at 7:15 p.m., and winners for all pieces will be announced at 7:30 during the art party. Pieces without bids at 7:15 will be awarded in a raffle.
The purpose of 12x12 is to raise funds for the FVA scholarships and grants that are awarded to SFA art students. The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information about 12x12 or to become a sponsor, call The Cole Art Center at (936) 468-6557.
Cutline: Wally Knight is among the local artists who have contributed works to the annual 12x12 fundraiser benefitting students in the SFA School of Art.
July 5, 2019 – Registration is ongoing for Junior Jacks Theatre Camp at Stephen F. Austin State University. The popular two-week School of Theatre camp is designed for children entering third through ninth grades. This year’s camp is scheduled for Monday, July 29, through Saturday, Aug. 10.
Junior Jacks was designed as a day-camp version of the highly successful High School Summer Theatre Workshop at SFA, according to Carolyn Conn, associate professor of theatre at SFA and the camp’s director. The fun and exciting summer camp, offered in two age groups, fills quickly, and Conn suggested parents register their children early.
“We have children representing all local and nearby schools as well as many home-schooled children,” Conn said. “There are also many repeat campers. Many Junior Jacks ‘graduates’ go on to attend the High School Summer Theatre Workshop at SFA. We also have former Junior Jack/High School Workshop participants who become theatre majors at SFA. The camp is a great introduction to what we offer in the School of Theatre.”
The camp has expanded its capacity in recent yeas, so more students can participate, Conn said.
“As the School of Theatre’s teacher certification program grows and has incorporated the camp into its ‘Directing for the Youth’ course, we have a large number of student directors available to work with the children,” she said. “Additional teachers mean we have room for additional campers! So, we are aiming for another increase in campers this year.”
Junior Jacks is a community outreach opportunity designed to not only introduce children to theatre, but it also allows the School of Theatre’s teacher certification students to work with students who are younger than high school age. Junior Jacks campers play theatre games and rehearse plays that will be performed at the camp’s conclusion.
There will be a group of third through sixth graders and a group of seventh through ninth graders meeting from 9 a.m. to noon and another set of groups meeting from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Play performances will be on Saturday, Aug. 10.
Registration cost is $75 per student and $50 for each additional sibling within a single family. Needs-based scholarships may be available. More information and a registration form can be found at theatre.sfasu.edu, or contact Conn at (936) 468-1031 or conncs@sfasu.edu
June 28, 2019 Nacogdoches – Registration is still underway for the Kids Summer Piano Camp presented by the Music Preparatory Division of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music.
Directed by Dr. Mario Ajero, professor of piano at SFA, the camp is from 10 a.m. to noon July 15 through 18 in the piano lab (Room 223) in the Boynton Building on the SFA campus. The camp is for first through third grade students and no previous experience is necessary.
Tuition is $100 and seating is limited. Registration forms can be downloaded at www.music.sfasu.edu/prep, or contact Music Prep director Pat Barnett at pbarnett@sfasu.edu or musicprep@sfasu.edu, or call (936) 468-1291. The Music Prep Office, located at 3028 Raguet St., is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
June 25, 2019 Nacogdoches, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University has received $1.8 million in funding from the Greater Texas Foundation, the T.L.L. Temple Foundation and the James I. Perkins Family Foundation to support the JacksTeach STEM teacher preparation initiative in the College of Sciences and Mathematics.
JacksTeach is a replication site of the UTeach Institute, a nationally recognized STEM teacher preparation program. Students in the program earn a four-year bachelor’s degree and a secondary teaching certification without adding any additional semesters of coursework.
Immersing students in a curriculum geared toward STEM education and connecting them with master teachers, JacksTeach ensures students graduate prepared for a variety of career options, including teaching, business, industry or continued study.
“This targeted approach to STEM secondary-teacher preparation is a positive step toward alleviating the severe shortage of qualified secondary STEM teachers throughout the primarily rural East Texas region and across the state,” said Dr. Kimberly M. Childs, dean of the College of Sciences and Mathematics.
The first two JacksTeach courses provide an opportunity for students to explore STEM teaching as a career option. Tuition rebates are issued upon successful completion of the courses with additional scholarships and internships possible for those who continue to progress toward certification.
“Our focus is on the support of JacksTeach students as they navigate through their own education to a career in teaching,” said Dr. Lesa Beverly, co-director of JacksTeach and professor and chair of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. “We will provide mentoring and encourage a strong sense of community among the JacksTeach students while they are at SFA and after they enter their own classrooms.”
For more information, call (936) 468-3960, email jacksteach@sfasu.edu or visit the JacksTeach Center in the Bush Mathematical Sciences Building, Room 103.
June 25, 2019 Nacogdoches, Texas – Work is well underway to make this year’s 12x12 Scholarship Fundraiser for the Friends of the Visual Arts at Stephen F. Austin State University another success.
The silent auction features 12-by-12-inch pieces of art created by approximately 80 artists from Nacogdoches, Lufkin and other areas of East Texas. Anyone may silently bid on the unique one-of-a-kind pieces, according to Crystal Hicks, event committee chairwoman.
“The 12x12 event is the main fundraiser for the FVA,” says Hicks. “It’s a fun and lively night, and the FVA members work for months to collect the art and plan the evening.”
Silent bidding ($250 minimum) begins Tuesday, July 2, at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House and will continue up to the day of the art party, which is planned for 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 20, at the art center. Starting bids drop to $100 the night of the event, and raffle tickets will be sold five for $20.
“You could possibly take home a valuable piece of art for a $20 investment,” said Lisa Steed, events coordinator for SFA art galleries.
The purpose of 12x12 is to raise funds for the FVA scholarships and grants that that are awarded to SFA art students. Between $12,000 and $15,000 is awarded annually in scholarships to deserving students in the School of Art.
The awards help students defray the costs of special projects for art classes or M.B.A./B.A. exhibitions. Some recipients have attended conferences or gone on school trips that will help with their professional development. This has included Maymester trips for art students to go to Italy. The organization also awards scholarships for elementary school students to attend the SFA Art Academy.
“The FVA’s mission is to support the arts in our community,” said Hicks. “Thanks to events like the 12x12 and other initiatives throughout the year, we’re able to see firsthand how the funds we raise benefit students and art lovers alike.”
The annual 12x12 art auction and party is a summer favorite of many East Texans, but no one appreciates the effort that goes into the planning and the donated art more than the students who benefit from the work of generous volunteers and artists.
“I became involved in the 12x12 event when I was an adult student at SFA,” said Michelle Filer, donating artist. “I saw firsthand how the scholarships and grants allowed students the opportunity to create art and follow their dreams by enabling them financially to afford to do so. I believe a sign of a strong and thriving community shows through the viability of its support of the arts.”
“Local artists, as well as former students and professors, provide original works of art for this event,” Hicks said. “It’s a blast to rub elbows with the artists and other art lovers. The 12x12 show is more than just a fundraiser; it’s a way to celebrate and grow the art community in the area.”
The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information about 12x12 or to become a sponsor, call The Cole Art Center at (936) 468-6557
June 22, 2019 Nacogdoches, Texas – The upcoming performance of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” at Stephen F. Austin State University may present a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a Nacogdoches family.
Jamie and Rosalyn Couch and their son, Jason, will perform together as characters in the musical comedy in W.M. Turner Auditorium in Griffith Fine Arts Building – the same building where SFA students Jamie and Roz first met while auditioning for a play some 27 years ago.
“My husband and I first met at an audition in 1992 for a Downstage Theatre production of ‘Overruled’ by George Bernard Shaw,” Roz said. “We were cast as husband and wife. Little did we realize that not only would we be married in real life six years later, but we would one day have a son, Jason, who would be a theatre student at our alma mater. Now, we have the incredible privilege of treading the boards of Turner Auditorium again, this time as a whole family.”
The SFA School of Theatre’s SummerStage Festival runs June 27 through July 12, and in addition to “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” it features the beloved children’s story “The Reluctant Dragon.” The festival is sponsored in part by Tipton-Ford-Lincoln.
“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” with music and lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin, conceived by Rebecca Feldman, with additional material by Jay Reiss and originally directed on Broadway by James Lapine, is about an eclectic group of sixth graders who make their way through a spelling competition where each, eager to win, reveals his/her hopes, struggles and passions through songs.
In “Bee,” Roz plays Rona Lisa Peretti, the very enthusiastic organizer of the competition. She keeps the spelling bee running smoothly and provides color commentary about the spellers. Jamie plays Vice Principal Douglas Panch, a frustrated and somewhat cynical educator who finds his faith in and understanding of human nature both renewed and enriched by the experience of meeting the kids of the bee. Jason plays contestant Chip Tolentino.
“Chip Tolentino has been a fun character to expand on over the course of the rehearsal process,” Jason said. “Although he's used to getting his way, his experiences in the bee take him down a few notches, and he begins to understand that 'life is random and unfair.'”
Growing up in Mesquite, Roz Rommel participated in theatre throughout high school. She was the first female tech director at North Mesquite High School as well as historian for the school’s International Thespian Society Troupe.
“During high school, I participated in SFA’s High School Summer Theatre Workshop,” she said. “The Theatre Department impressed me with its quality and convinced me to choose SFA for my college career.” She came to SFA in 1990 to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree, double-majoring in theatre and English.”
At SFA, Roz performed in many Mainstage Series productions, including “Once upon a Mattress,” “Talking Pictures,” “Mistress of the Inn,” “Gypsy,” “Pippin” and “Romeo and Juliet.” She also did technical work for a number of other Mainstage productions and acted in and performed tech work for many Downstage productions.
Jamie’s interest in theatre began as a theatre-goer in high school, but his decision to step onto the stage came in college.
“I was an English major who was seeking greater insight and understanding regarding dramatic literature, especially Shakespeare,” he said. “I didn't want to be an English professor whose knowledge of drama was limited to what was printed on the page. I needed a practical understanding of how the theatre worked. I also wanted the language of Shakespeare to be as familiar to me as my own modern American English. I obtained all that – and so much more.
“In the years since I first auditioned and was cast in a production of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ as a sophomore in college, I've performed in over 40 productions,” he said “I've done musicals, children's shows, many classical plays, and worked with the Texas Shakespeare Festival. I've been an assistant director, a stage manager and a combat choreographer, but the vast majority of my experience has been as an actor. The theatre has enriched my life immeasurably. It's how I met my wife, who also happens to be my best friend.”
Being raised by two people with an extensive amount of experience with theatre greatly influenced Jason’s interest in acting. His first role was in a community theatre production of “A Christmas Carol.” He was 6 and portrayed Tiny Tim.
“I've participated in numerous theatre programs, such as Junior Jacks, and I acted throughout my entire high school career,” he said. “I can't put into words how grateful I am for the opportunity to be in a Mainstage musical.”
Angela Bacarisse, professor of theatre at SFA and director of the play, has known Roz and Jamie for years. Jamie performed in “Hamlet” the first semester Bacarisse was at SFA and again in “Blithe Spirit,” both directed by Allen Oster. Over the years, she has seen Roz perform as different characters at events at Millard’s Crossing Historic Village.
“When it was decided that we were going to do this musical, I knew that I wanted to have real adults play the adult parts,” Bacarisse said. “I asked Roz to participate first, and then we broached the idea of Jamie joining the show. I wanted to work with alumni of the department. And it worked out that they are celebrating an anniversary while we are doing this!” (The Couches will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary in July.)
It wasn’t until after the adult characters were cast that auditions were held for the students to play the ‘kids,’” Bacarisse said. “It was just good luck and talent that landed Jason in the same show.”
Today, Roz is owner of Rozjam Entertainment, providing singing telegrams and other entertainment in the Nacogdoches area. Jamie is a faculty member in the Department of English and Creative Writing in SFA’s College of Liberal and Applied Arts. Jason is a freshman theatre student at SFA.
“‘Putnam County Spelling Bee’ is a musical, so it’s great fun, and in particular, it’s enormously creative because it includes audience participation and comedic ad libs,” Roz said. “Everyone in the cast is amazingly talented, and I often feel like my character – amazed at their (as Rona says in the play) ‘extraordinary ability.’
“Although Jamie and I performed in several productions together in college, the chance to perform with him as well as Jason may be a once in a lifetime opportunity, so I’m savoring every moment,” Roz added.
“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. July 3, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 11, and at 2 p.m. July 9 and 12. General admission tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $5 for students/youth. This show has some adult themes and is recommended for mature audiences (PG-13).
“The Reluctant Dragon,” based on the book by Kenneth Grahame and adapted by Mary Hall Surface, is the charming tale of an unlikely friendship between a young boy and a peace-loving dragon, and it’s about overcoming prejudice and fear in a small medieval domain. “The Reluctant Dragon” will be presented at 10 a.m. June 27 and 28 and July 5, 8, 10 and 11; at 2 p.m. June 27; and at 6:30 p.m. July 12. General admission tickets are $8.
Pay-what-you-can performances for both shows are on July 8.
All performances are in W.M. Turner Auditorium in the Griffith Fine Arts Building, 2222 Alumni Drive.
For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.theatre.sfasu.edu.
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