SFA University
Stephen F. Austin State University education students collaborated with staff members from the Center for Regional Heritage Research and Steen Library to print historical artifacts in 3D. Students utilized these artifacts to build lesson plans and teach at Woden High School.
December 5, 2018 Nacogdoches — History can seem like a difficult subject to learn, but Stephen F. Austin State University secondary education students and staff members in the Center for Regional Heritage Research and Steen Library are using 3D printing to help bring history to life.
During the fall semester, students in a sociocultural and historic perspectives in American education course taught by Dr. Amber Wagnon, SFA assistant professor of secondary education and educational leadership, collaborated with staff members from the CRHR and Steen Library to print in 3D bowls from the Caddo Native American tribe and handles from a cannon recovered from wreckage of the La Belle ship of French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, the Sieur de La Salle.
Drs. Robert Selden, research associate, and Mark Barringer, director of college research and associate professor in history, helped with the project. Selden discussed the 3D-printing process with the students who then printed other items.
“At SFA, 3D printing is a relatively new tool and is an asset we have on our campus,” Wagnon said. “It’s important for our teacher candidates to think about meaningful ways to utilize technology in the classroom. Teaching is a field in which collaboration is important, and I was excited the students were able to work collaboratively with other groups.”
After learning the 3D-printing process, education students created lesson plans, which they taught at Woden High School. SFA interdisciplinary studies sophomore Julisa Valdez of Houston said this project taught her patience and how to be flexible in the classroom.
“We had a lot of technology problems at first, which was frustrating, but it happens to teachers every day, so the best you can do is be flexible and patient,” Valdez said. “Prior to this collaboration, I had only worked with kids in elementary or early middle school, but working with high school students had a different atmosphere. Students were ready to learn and asked a lot of great questions. This experience has made me realize what I could do to become a better teacher.”
Not only did this project introduce students to new technology, but it also brought them into the field where they gained experience with classroom management, learning theories, diversity, planning and teaching.
“I believe we learn through doing. My students want to be educators, and I want to give them the opportunity to start that journey as early as possible,” Wagnon said. “I wanted them to have the opportunity to utilize and practice the theoretical tools we spent the semester examining.”
For more information about SFA’s James I. Perkins College of Education, visit coe.sfasu.edu.
December 5, 2018 Nacogdoches — Dr. Treba Marsh, Stephen F. Austin State University professor emeritus of accounting, will offer the commencement address during the university’s two fall graduation ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 15.
Marsh served SFA from 1991 through 2018 in various roles, including as the interim director and director of the Schlief School of Accountancy and as the Temple Inland Endowed Professor. Her close relationship with SFA accounting alumni and accounting firm partners has resulted in the contribution of thousands of scholarship dollars for accounting students, as well as a growing number of internship placements and job offers.
Dr. Kelly Noe, associate professor and director of SFA’s Schlief School of Accountancy, said Marsh has been a major influence within the Rusche College of Business and the Schlief School of Accountancy.
“Dr. Marsh not only changed my life, but also changed the lives of many students. She was like my work mom,” Noe said. “She was and still is an amazing mentor, and her work in the Schlief School of Accountancy has helped make our program what it is today.”
Marsh is a two-time SFA alumna, receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and a Master of Business Administration in management. She received her doctoral degree from Louisiana Tech University.
She has served as president of the Southwest Region of the American Accounting Association, Chapter Advocate for the Southwest Region of Beta Alpha Psi, chair of the Texas Society of Public Accountants Educators’ Conference, Historian of the Federation of Business Disciplines, and in other positions with national and regional organizations.
“Dr. Marsh has had a profound impact on students. There are many certified public accountants out there today because Dr. Marsh identified their potential and gave them guidance to change their career path for the better,” Noe said. “She was the most student-friendly professor I know. She always did what was the best for students. Nobody will be able to fill her shoes.”
Marsh was named an outstanding accounting educator by the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Southwestern American Accounting Association, and she was awarded outstanding faculty advisor for Beta Alpha Psi numerous times. She received the 2013 National Author Award from the Association of Government Accountants.
Marsh has published more than 70 research papers and presented at professional meetings, including the American Accounting Association, Decision Science Institute, Clute Institute, and other regional and national conferences.
SFA’s fall commencement ceremonies will begin at 9:30 a.m. at Johnson Coliseum with candidates from the James I. Perkins College of Education and the College of Fine Arts. Candidates from the colleges of business, liberal and applied arts, forestry and agriculture, and sciences and mathematics will participate in a 2 p.m. ceremony.
Approximately 1,070 degrees are expected to be awarded, including 864 bachelor’s, 200 master’s and six doctoral degrees. Almost 270 students are expected to graduate with honors, including 87 cum laude, 74 magna cum laude, 103 summa cum laude and 60 university scholars.
November 30, 2018 Nacogdoches – The estate of the late Nancy Delaney will fund two endowed scholarships for deserving students within Stephen F. Austin State University’s School of Art and College of Fine Arts.
The scholarships will be funded in part through proceeds from a jewelry sale planned for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, December 8, at The Cole Art Center at The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.
An artist and musician, Delaney, whose husband, Creighton, was chairman of SFA’s art department in the 1960s, amassed an extensive jewelry collection during a lifetime of worldwide travel. It was her desire, as stipulated in her will, that her estate establish the Creighton H. Delaney Endowed Scholarship for a financially needy student in the Department of Art and the John N. Staley and Margaret Anderson Staley Endowed Scholarship for a financially needy female student in the College of Fine Arts. Her estate, along with proceeds from the sale of her jewelry, will fund the scholarships. The Staleys were Nancy Delaney’s parents.
The sale will accept only cash or check.
SFA’s historic art gallery, Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. Exhibitions showing through the end of this year include SFA’s Biennial Juried Art Metals and Jewelry exhibition, “Kymia Nawabi: Not For Long, My Forlorn” and a vintage Christmas decoration, ornament and toy display.
For more information, call (936) 468-1131.
November 27, 2018 Nacogdoches – The Cole Art Center at The Old Opera House will host a holiday exhibition that provides a glimpse into the celebrations of Christmas from bygone eras.
The Christmas display, which shows December 1 through December 30, includes vintage and antique ornaments, decorations, dolls and toys from days gone by. The vignette will offer a glimpse into how this favorite holiday was celebrated 100 years ago, according to John Handley, director of art galleries for Stephen F. Austin State University.
“This will be the third year we have featured a vignette in the center of the Ledbetter Gallery at the Cole Art Center,” Handley said. “Several museums around the United States put up holiday displays as a family-friendly feature. The Taft Museum in Cincinnati does a series of elaborate displays each December, highlighting the artistry and history of Christmas celebrations from a century ago.”
Mike Moore with the Nacogdoches Public Library will present family-friendly Christmas stories at 2 p.m. Sunday, December 9, with some simple craft projects to follow.
Sponsors for the display are The Flower Shop, SFA Friends of the Visual Arts, William Arscott and Nacogdoches Junior Forum. Admission to exhibitions is free.
SFA School of Art’s historic downtown gallery, The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, call (936) 468-1131.
Cutline: Antique ornaments, decorations, dolls and toys from days gone by will be featured in a vintage Christmas display showing at Cole Art Center December 1 through December 30.
November 15, 2018 - Stephen F. Austin State University’s Beef Research Center barn was destroyed in a fire that occurred early on the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 14.
“The fire caused significant damage to the structure and contents of the building,” said Dr. Hans Williams, dean of SFA’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture. “We are very thankful that no people or animals were injured.”
The Beef Farm is a part of SFA’s 726-acre Walter C. Todd Agricultural Research Center, and it is an integral part of the learning experience for SFA’s agriculture students.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated.
Friends and alumni who wish to donate funds to aid in the recovery of the facility and its contents may contribute in a variety of ways.
To donate online, visit www.sfasu.edu/give. Select “other,” specify “Beef Farm” and follow the designated steps to complete the donation.
Checks made payable to the SFA Office of Development also may be sent to P.O. Box 6092-SFA Station, Nacogdoches, Texas, 75962. Please include a note stating the contribution is for the SFA Beef Farm.
Donors also may call the SFA Office of Development at (936) 468-5406 to make a gift by phone. Once again, please designate the donation is intended for the SFA Beef Farm.
For any inquiries regarding other ways to help, contact Dr. Joey Bray, chair of the SFA Department of Agriculture, at (936) 468-3705 or Dr. Erin Brown, professor of animal science, at (936) 468-3705.
November 14, 2018 Nacogdoches — The SFA Gardens will host a garden seminar, “Deck the Halls — Using Evergreens to Decorate for the Holidays,” from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Dec. 1, at the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Stephen F. Austin State University Pineywoods Native Plant Center, located at 2900 Raguet St.
Evergreen branches and garlands once served as symbols of enduring life and a fruitful year to come. Join Dawn Stover, research associate at SFA Gardens, to learn how to create elegant wreaths and garlands using materials from the garden.
Participants will learn principles of wreath, garland and centerpiece construction and make a wreath to enjoy and take home for the holidays.
In addition to the traditional wreaths and garlands, Stover will introduce new crafts using natural items from the garden and forest. All materials will be provided.
Class size is limited, so please register in advance by calling (936) 468-1832 or email sfagardens@sfasu.edu. The cost is $30 for SFA Garden members and $35 for nonmembers.
November 13, 2018 - The Children’s Performing Arts Series at Stephen F. Austin State University will present two performances of the holiday classic “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” on Tuesday, Nov. 27, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus.
Inspired by the timeless poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” and the real life of its author, Clement Moore, this funny musical introduces Santa Claus in a particularly beneficent light, according to Diane Peterson, SFA Fine Arts Box Office manager and director of the children’s series.
“This classic tale has been charming audiences nationwide for many years,” Peterson said.
Presented by Virginia Repertory Theatre with book, music and lyrics by Bruce Craig Miller, “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” targets children in kindergarten through fifth grade.
Performances are at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in Turner Auditorium, which is located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building. Tickets are $7.50 for individuals and $6 per person for groups of 20 or more.
Presented by the SFA College of Fine Arts, the Children’s Performing Arts Series annually features five shows designed to entertain, educate and engage young audiences of all ages, according to Peterson. Study guides provide suggestions for pre- and post-performance activities and discussions for teachers to use in the classroom. A comprehensive study guide for “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” may be accessed at cpas.sfasu.edu.
Other upcoming CPAS performances include “I Have a Dream” on Friday, Feb. 1; “Madeline and the Bad Hat” Wednesday, March 6; and “The Jungle Book” on Thursday, May 16.
To order tickets, call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS. Visit the CPAS website at cpas.sfasu.edu for additional information.
November 13, 2018 Nacogdoches — As part of their annual Thanksgiving Homebound food drive, members of Stephen F. Austin State University’s Jack’s Council on Family Relations collected and donated food to 137 families, which is the most families this drive has served since it began in 2011.
JCFR is a student organization focused on building networks and helping families within the community. It is part of SFA’s School of Human Sciences.
"Our goal is to give back to the Nacogdoches community," said Lindsey Lightfoot, JCFR president and human development and family studies major. "Sometimes Thanksgiving can be overlooked, and I think this project is a great reminder to help families, be thankful and remember the real reason for the holiday."
Representatives from the Greater East Texas Community Action Program Head Start, East Texas Family Crisis Center and Solid Foundation visited the SFA campus Monday to collect the donations. Each organization will distribute the food to the selected families. Members of SFA’s Interfraternity Council also assisted with loading the boxes of food.
Food items were collected from university departments, clubs and organizations, and local businesses. Through this project, JCFR matches participants with families and sends participants a description of a family and a checklist of items to purchase. The checklist includes grocery items, such as potatoes, cornbread mix, vegetables and dressing. Participants also are asked to purchase a $25 gift card to help their family buy perishable items, such as meat, butter, milk and eggs.
“This has given me a great outlook on the community of Nacogdoches. I’ve seen so many local organizations come together to provide meals for these families,” Lightfoot said.
To learn more, visit sfasu.edu/hms/125.asp.
By Kasi Dickerson, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.
November 8, 2018 - Audiences are giving rave reviews of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!” presented by Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre, School of Music and SFA Dance Program.
Performances are at 7:30pm nightly through Saturday, Nov. 10, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus. Pictured are junior Thomas Falconar, Rose Bruford American Theatre Arts student from London, England, as Curly, and senior Sidney Lowell of Huffman as Laurey. Single tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $7.50 for youth. Tickets for SFA students are $5.
For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.theatre.sfasu.edu.
November 8, 2018 Nacogdoches – The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre, School of Music and SFA Dance Program will present Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical “Oklahoma!” at 7:30 p.m. nightly through November 10 in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus. Among the show’s performers are, front from left, theatre majors Sadie Mae Taylor, Arlington sophomore; Bayley Owen, Royse City sophomore; Richard Rogers, Kerrville junior; back from left, dance majors Christina White, Rockwall senior; and Sarah Boon, Ennis junior. Single tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $7.50 for youth. Tickets for SFA students are $5. 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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