SFA University
July 10, 2018 Nacogdoches – Registration is still open 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, August 6, through Saturday, August 18. Registration deadline is July 27.
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 schoolers,” 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.”
This year’s camp has expanded its capacity, so more students will have an opportunity to 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 a 150-percent 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.
“We are aware that the NISD middle school band practice will conflict with afternoons, so they can be in a morning group, and we will place all elementary students who go back to school on the 15th into one group, so they can work out evening rehearsals on the 15th through the 17th,” Conn explained.
Play performances will be on Saturday, August 18, in Room 160 in the Wright Music Building on the SFA campus. Times are to be determined.
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
July 6, 2018 Nacogdoches — Online Schools Center has ranked Stephen F. Austin State University’s graduate interior design program among the top 16 in the nation.
Online Schools Center, a website dedicated to helping students who are seeking an online education, recently reviewed university websites to find the best online programs in interior design. SFA’s program stood out.
The program offers SFA students a Master of Science in human sciences with an emphasis in interior design and healthcare interior design, completely online. Students can enroll in a 30-hour program with a thesis or 36-hour program without a thesis.
“SFA’s respected program provides aspiring designers with the flexibility to choose a general interior design educational path or a more focused track through the convenience and accessibility of an online format,” according to Online Schools Center representatives.
Students choosing either degree emphasis will have the opportunity to study the philosophy of human sciences, advanced lighting, housing and furnishing, sustainability and acute care facilities.
To be admitted into the program, students must have earned a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Fine Arts in interior design or architecture. Prospective students with an undergraduate degree in a different field may still be eligible for the program after completing prerequisite courses.
To learn more about SFA’s Master of Science in human sciences, visit sfaonline.info/humansciences.
July 3, 2018 Nacogdoches – Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre will open the American comedy-drama “Crimes of the Heart” at 7:30pm Thursday, July 5, in the Downstage Theatre for the play’s run in the 2018 SummerStage Festival.
This year’s summer theatre season, which opened June 29 and continues through July 19, also features the children’s favorite “Pinkalicious the Musical.”
“Crimes of the Heart” by Beth Henley is about three sisters with very different personalities and lives who reunite when the youngest of them, Babe, has just shot her husband. The oldest sister, Lenny, takes care of their grandfather and is turning into an old maid, while Meg, who tries to make it in Hollywood as a singer/actress, has had a wild life filled with many men. Their reunion causes much joy, but also many tensions, according to the description at imdb.com.
But “Crimes of the Heart” is ultimately a play about the bonds of family and about love, according to Dr. Inga Meier, assistant professor of theatre and the play’s director. “The play strikes a delicate balance between tragedy and comedy,” she said. “It deals with some very serious topics, but the sisters navigate the challenges they face with a great deal of humor and love for one another, and they are ultimately brought closer together as a result.”
Bruce Beresford directed the 1986 film adaptation which starred Sissy Spacek, Diane Keaton, Jessica Lange and Tess Harper. The film earned three Academy Award nominations. Henley was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay; Harper was nominated for Best Supporting Actress; and Spacek was nominated for Lead Actress for her performance as Babe.
With “Crimes of the Heart” addressing domestic violence, pedophilia and suicide, a “talkback session” with Jill Milem, director of SFA Counseling Services, will follow the play’s July 7 performance.
“Crimes of the Heart” will be presented in the Downstage Theatre at 7:30 p.m. July 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 18 and 19 and at 2 p.m. July 14. General admission tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $5 for students/youth. A pay-what-you-can performance is at 2 p.m. July 14.
“Pinkalicious the Musical,” with book by Elizabeth Kann and Victoria Kann, music by John Gregor, and lyrics by John Gregor, Elizabeth Kann and Victoria Kann, is the story of Pinkalicious, a little girl who can't stop eating pink cupcakes, which causes Pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe. Only Pinkalicious can figure out a way to get out of this predicament.
“Pinkalicious the Musical” will be presented again in W.M. Turner Auditorium at 10 a.m. July 10 and 19; at 2 p.m. July 7, 10 and 18; and at 6:30 p.m. July 14. General admission tickets are $8. A pay-what-you-can performance is at 2 p.m. July 10.
For tickets or more information, visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.
The documentaries “Cavedigger” and “The 100 Years Show” will be screened at 7 p.m. Friday, July 6, in The Cole Art Center at The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.
June 26, 2018 Nacogdoches – The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and the Friends of the Visual Arts will present a free, one-night screening of two documentaries – “Cavedigger” and “The 100 Years Show” – starting at 7 p.m. Friday, July 6, in The Cole Art Center at The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.
Both films are shorter than usual Friday Film Series documentary runtimes, so the Friends of the Visual Arts film committee members elected to combine the two screenings.
Using nothing but hand tools, artist Ra Paulette obsessively digs cathedral-like, “eighth-wonder-of-the-world” art caves in the sandstone cliffs of northern New Mexico. Each creation takes him years to complete, and each is a masterwork. But patrons who have commissioned caves have cut off nearly all of his projects due to artistic differences, according to information at cavediggerdocumentary.com. Fed up, Paulette has chosen to forego commissions altogether and create a massive 10-year project … his Magnum Opus.
Jeffrey Karoff directs this Oscar-nominated, 39-minute documentary short.
Directed, produced and filmed by Alison Klayman, “The 100 Years Show” is the story of Cuban-American artist Carmen Herrera, who, even at 100-plus years, sketched by the window of her New York City apartment every morning. She produced disciplined, radiant works in straight lines and shapes in just two colors, but the art world ignored her for decades. Her story is just one example of many great artists whose accomplishments were overlooked because of their gender, ethnicity or nationality. She was a pioneering abstract painter in the ’40s and ’50s but only recently found the recognition that eluded her for most of her career. "The 100 Years Show" demonstrates the power of artistic vision to sustain itself, according to information at the100yearsshow.com.
“The 100 Years Show” is a six-time winner for Best Documentary Short film. Runtime is 30 minutes.
These screenings are part of the School of Art’s monthly Friday Film Series and are sponsored in part by William Arscott, Nacogdoches Film Festival, Karon Gillespie, Mike Mollot, David Kulhavy, Brad Maule, John and Kristen Heath, Galleria Z, Jill Carrington, Jean Stephens, Jim and Mary Neal, Richard Orton, Nacogdoches Junior Forum and Main Street Nacogdoches.
The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, call (936) 468-1131.
June 21, 2018 Nacogdoches - The following students received degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University during the May commencement exercises:
Name, Degree, College, Minor
Center, TX
Sarah Bohannon, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, College of Liberal and Applied Arts, History
Kattie Evans, Bachelor of Business Administration in General Business, Nelson Rusche College of Business
Yvonne Garcia, Bachelor of Music, College of Fine Arts
Ruth Gonzalez, Bachelor of Business Administration in General Business, Nelson Rusche College of Business
Mayra Hernandez-Lara, Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies, James I. Perkins College of Education
Taylor Hudspeth, Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies, James I. Perkins College of Education
Kimber Hughes, Master of Social Work, College of Liberal and Applied Arts
Rani Jamison, Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, James I. Perkins College of Education, Health Science
Aaron Liker, Bachelor of Business Administration in Professional Accountancy, Nelson Rusche College of Business
Aaron Liker, Master of Professional Accountancy, Nelson Rusche College of Business
Jaxon Lucas, Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences & Disorders, James I. Perkins College of Education
Ross Mahan, Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, James I. Perkins College of Education, Food and Nutrition
Amber Mathews, Master of Education in Educational Leadership, James I. Perkins College of Education
Kristin Peace, Master of Professional Accountancy in Accounting, Nelson Rusche College of Business
Breanna Rhoads, Bachelor of Social Work, College of Liberal and Applied Arts
Harlie Richardson, Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, James I. Perkins College of Education, Health Science
Emily Rodriguez, Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences & Disorders, James I. Perkins College of Education
Haley Shofner, Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies, James I. Perkins College of Education
Raleigh Wilkins, Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies, College of Liberal and Applied Arts, Marketing
Joaquin, TX
Kyle Chambliss, Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, Nelson Rusche College of Business
Nicholas Cheatwood, Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, College of Sciences and Mathematics, Biology
Christi Penning, Master of Education in Special Education, James I. Perkins College of Education
Shelbyville, TX
Kristen Cheyenne Davis, Bachelor of Science in Psychology in Child Development & Family Living, College of Liberal and Applied Arts
Michael Elliott, Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in Agricultural Engineering Technology, Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture
Lori Murphree, Master of Social Work, College of Liberal and Applied Arts
Tenaha, TX
Anna Williamson, Master of Science in Environmental Science, Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture
Timpson, TX
Kristi Clifton, Bachelor of Social Work, College of Liberal and Applied Arts
Justin King, Master of Science in General Agriculture, Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture
Madilyn Sanford, Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences & Disorders, James I. Perkins College of Education
June 21, 2018 - The following students have been named to the President's List at Stephen F. Austin State University for the spring 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.
Center, TX :
Juan Garcia, Art
Jordan Gray, Bus Comm & Corp Edu
James Holt, Computer Science
Rani Jamison, Kinesiology
Jaxon Lucas, Comm Sci & Disorders
Kamden Lucas, Animal Science
Aslin Lucio, Nursing
Karen Salazar, Nursing
Tenaha, TX:
Bethany Barna, Interdisciplinary Studies
Joshua Hickman, Applied Arts and Sciences
Clarissa Menefee, Animal Science
Timpson, TX:
Kristi Clifton, Social Work
Monica Montoya, Interdisciplinary Studies
Taylor Morris-Fanguy, General Business
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 19, 2018 - Stephen F. Austin State University has suspended head football coach Clint Conque pending an investigation into alleged violations of university policy. The investigation is expected to take several weeks. No comments will be made by the university until the investigation is complete.
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 5, 2018 - 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 70 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.
“This event has become a staple of the summer,” says Hicks. “It’s well-attended, and the bidding is always energetic and competitive.”
Silent bidding ($250 minimum) begins Thursday, June 28, 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 14, at the art center.
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 Big Bend for a special photography project. The organization also awards scholarships for elementary school students to attend the SFA Art Academy.
“It’s so rewarding to visit with the students who have received a scholarship,” says Hicks. “And it’s even better to hear from them after they’ve gone on to continue making art after they graduate. We invite former students to attend and participate, as well.”
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.
Among those benefiting from FVA scholarship is Aldo Ornelas, a graduate student in ceramics from Mexico. For Ornelas, who is himself contributing a piece for the 12x12 auction, an FVA scholarship allowed him to make his first tuition payment as an art student at SFA. Ornelas said he greatly appreciates his art professors because they give him “the freedom to explore and create, and it’s the perfect environment to explore.”
Receiving an FVA scholarship helped Korey Burns of Columbia, Louisiana, purchase the kinds of materials to make her work successful. Burns recently graduated with a Master of Fine Arts degree.
“It's hard as a student to be able to pay for supplies to create art,” Burns said. “Being a metalsmith, my materials tend to cost more than others. By receiving a scholarship, I am able to purchase the materials I need to make my work successful. Without scholarships, I do not think it would be possible to produce the work that I enjoy creating.”
Burns was recently notified that she was accepted for a fulltime metal art residency at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
“There, I hope to continue learning and growing as an artist,” Burns said. “I know the change in area will be a huge impact on my art. Professionally, I will be introduced to new opportunities for showing my work at galleries and consignment shops for my jewelry line, and I will have new teaching possibilities.”
South Lake junior sculpture student Shelby Locklin is a second-year scholarship recipient who plans to be a working artist. She enjoys teaching and does private lessons. She said that it means a lot for a group of “complete strangers” to reach out and show their support and care for her and her goals as an artist.
"I wouldn't be here if it weren't for them," she says, describing SFA’s art department as "a small program, but with a lot of ambition.”
“The professors care about their students, and it's a good working environment,” she said. “I love being with other creative people."
“We rely on the generosity of the artistic community to provide the pieces for the auction,” Hicks said. “And, of course, the generosity of art lovers in the area is paramount. We're fortunate that both artists and art appreciators alike continue to make this a successful event.”
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.
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