SFA University
March 31, 2017 Nacogdoches – A former director of bands at Stephen F. Austin State University will be honored when the SFA Wind Ensemble performs at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, at the Eisemann Center for Performing Arts in Richardson.
Honoree John L. Whitwell was director of bands in the School of Music from 1987 to 1993 and was inducted into the SFA Band Directors Hall of Fame in 2011. Whitwell will be honored at the concert for his years of service to the profession, and most notably, for his six years as director of bands at SFA. He will guest conduct “Irish Tune from the County Derry” by Percy Grainger.
The concert is an outreach effort to alumni and potential future students living in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, explained Fred J. Allen, SFA’s director of bands. The SFA Alumni Association has provided information about the event to alumni living in the area, and the band office is emailing invitations to band directors living within an approximate 60-mile radius of Richardson.
“The concert will appeal to everyone,” Allen said. “We are playing a march by John Philip Sousa, yet we are also playing pieces written in the last five years.”
Whitwell retired from his position as director of bands, professor of music and chair of the conducting area at Michigan State University in 2009. At MSU, he conducted the Wind Symphony and guided the graduate degree programs in wind conducting.
Prior to his appointment at MSU, Whitwell held positions at SFA and Abilene Christian University. He also taught in the public schools of Michigan as band director at Ann Arbor Huron and Northwest Jackson high schools.
His bands have performed for the College Band Directors National Association Convention, Texas Music Educators Association Clinic-Convention, Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, and Midwestern Conference on Vocal and Instrumental Music. He is past-president of the Big Ten Band Directors Association, president of the North Central Division of the College Band Directors National Association, and member of the board of directors of the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic.
Whitwell maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor and clinician throughout the United States. He has received many honors, including “Band Teacher of the Year” award by the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association; “Citation of Excellence” award by the National Band Association in 1980 and 1985; Kappa Kappa Psi “Distinguished Service to Music” award; American School Band Directors Association “Edwin Franko Goldman” award; and the Michigan State University “Distinguished Professor” award.
The concert will also feature David Campo, SFA’s associate director of bands, conducting “Mare Tranquillitatis” by Roger Zare. Tamey Anglley, assistant director of bands at SFA, will conduct “Whirlwind" by Steven Bryant.
Featured work on the concert program will be two movements from David Maslanka’s Symphony No. 2.
“This is an epic work, full of emotion and power,” Allen said. The second movement is based on the spiritual “Deep River” and is dedicated to the crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger.
The SFA Alumni Association will host a reception following the concert. Tickets may be purchased online at www.eisemanncenter.com.
March 29, 2017 NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Beta Phi cast of Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society at Stephen F. Austin State University will host a playwriting workshop with SFA’s playwright-in-residence, Jack Heifner.
The workshop is scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 9, in Room 303 of the Griffith Fine Arts Building on the SFA campus. Cost is $20 for community members and $10 for students attending any college or university.
Led by Broadway playwright Heifner, the workshop is an introductory course designed for those who have little or no playwriting experience.
"Each year that we host this event, we have a wonderful turnout, including high school students, SFA faculty and students as well as members of the Nacogdoches community,” Heifner said. “If you are interested in playwriting, this is an introductory workshop with exercises to help you get over your fear of facing the blank page or blank computer screen.”
Organizers recommend not attending if you have taken Heifner’s playwriting course in the past. Participants should bring writing utensils and paper.
Seating is limited to 30, and payment will be taken at the door in cash or check form. Proceeds benefit Alpha Psi Omega scholarships. Participants should RSVP to apobetaphi@gmail.com to reserve a seat.
Submitted by Robbie Goodrich
March 23, 2017 Nacogdoches — Future college students will have the opportunity to experience a taste of campus life during a free, action-packed open-house Saturday, March 25, at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches.
Prospective students will have the opportunity to visit with university faculty and staff members, tour the campus and residence halls, and preview academic programs during the SFA Showcase Saturday event.
"There is no better time than Showcase Saturday to visit the beautiful SFA campus and witness firsthand what it's like to be a Lumberjack," said Jessica Maynard, assistant director of SFA's Office of Admissions.
"Guests are encouraged to visit one-on-one with our faculty members to learn more about our quality, personalized academic programs, and our staff members will be available to answer questions about everything from admission requirements to financial aid to residence life," Maynard added.
SFA is a comprehensive, residential university located in the heart of Texas Forest Country. Approximately 13,000 students attend SFA, which is within a few hours' drive of Texas' major metropolitan areas.
Showcase Saturday event registration will begin at 11:45 a.m. on the first floor of the Baker Pattillo Student Center and will remain open until 12:45 p.m. Each person who registers will receive an information packet. The opening program begins at 12:45 p.m. and will provide an overview of the day's events.
Guests will then be able to visit with representatives of the academic departments until 4 p.m. at the Academic Fair in the Student Recreation Center. A Student Services Fair will be held from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the first floor of the Baker Pattillo Student Center.
Campus and residence hall tours will begin at 1:30 p.m. and continue until 5 p.m. Campus tours will take students on a guided walk of the SFA campus, while the self-guided residence hall tours will showcase several halls on both the north and south ends of campus.
Admissions counselors will be available to discuss admission procedures and requirements from 1:30 to 5 p.m. in the Rusk Building, Room 206, and at several freshman and transfer admissions sessions held throughout the day.
Financial aid information sessions will be held at 2:30, 3:15 and 4 p.m. in the Baker Pattillo Student Center's Twilight Ballroom. Residence Life information sessions will be held at 2:30, 3:15 and 4 p.m. in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Theater on the second floor.
Participating prospective students will receive a free SFA T-shirt after completing an evaluation form in the tent located in the courtyard area of the Rusk Building.
For more information about SFA's Showcase Saturday, contact the SFA Office of Admissions at (936) 468-2504 or email admissions@sfasu.edu.
March 9, 2017 - NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, Stephen F. Austin State University’s historic downtown art gallery, will be open regular hours during spring break.
Currently showing is the exhibition “Andy Warhol: Art Is Anything You Can Get Away With.” The show features a small slice of the renowned artist’s enormous oeuvre, in particular, his “Silver Clouds” – helium-filled silver clouds that drift in the air. The exhibition also includes three of his large screen prints and several of his Polaroid photos.
Making the exhibition possible are The Andy Warhol Museum, The Andy Warhol Foundation and Texas Christian University. It is sponsored in part by the SFA Friends of the Visual Arts, Nacogdoches Junior Forum and the Texas Commission on the Arts, which is the state affiliate the National Endowment of the Arts.
The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. Regular hours are from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The art center will observe regular hours March 22 through March 25 but will be closed the following two weeks for the installation of Texas National 2017, which opens Saturday evening, April 8.
Griffith Gallery in the Griffith Fine Arts Building on the SFA campus will be closed during spring break and will reopen Tuesday, March 21. Showing is “The Collector Collects: Art from Private Nacogdoches Collections.” Regular hours are from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday during fall and spring semesters.
For more information, call (936) 468-1131.
Submitted by Robbie Goodrich
March 2, 2017 Nacogdoches – The Orchestra of the Pines at Stephen F. Austin State University will present the program “With a Stroke of a Pen” at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 6, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.
The concert, which will feature the world premiere of “Fantasy: Beyond the Forest” by SFA music composition student Kyle Henkel of Argyle, includes a program of music in which each piece tells a story of suspect and mystery, according to Gene H. Moon, director of orchestras at SFA. Henkel is the winner of this year’s composition competition in the SFA School of Music.
“Many things in life have been done at the stroke of a pen,” Moon said. “Laws are written, poetry is created, and music is composed, all at the stroke of a pen. ‘With a Stroke of a Pen’ presents music with an intriguing backstory that shows how music either reinforces or even sends a message to its audience.”
Moon describes Henkel’s piece as “a unique work utilizing extended techniques on nearly all instruments, creating sonorities rather than melody, which evokes a pensive attitude toward his impressions.”
“It is a very eclectic work of daring instrumental capabilities that pushes the colors of the orchestral timbre and asks listeners to use their strongest imagination in understanding Henkel’s music,” he said.
Three selections that will surround Henkel’s work are Sergei Prokofiev’s Lieutenant Kije Suite, the first movement of Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 8 in B minor, commonly known as the “Unfinished Symphony,” and Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 45 in F-sharp minor, known as “Farewell.”
“Each of these works has a unique story created either by the mishap of a pen stroke or by disguise through the same manner to convey a story,” Moon said.
The concert is a presentation of the College of Fine Arts and School of Music. Cole Concert Hall is located in the Tom and Peggy Wright Music Building.
Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.
Submitted by Robbie Goodrich
February 25, 2017 Nacogdoches — Within seconds, she is transported into a human cell much like the characters from the animated “Magic School Bus” series. All around her the smallest unit of life comes into focus.
No, this isn’t a scene from a science fiction movie. It’s a virtual reality simulation at Stephen F. Austin State University’s Steen Library.
This week, the Steen Library officially opened its new Emerging Technologies Lab complete with two HTC Vive virtual reality rooms, four Oculus Rift stationary experiences and two 3-D printers.
“I think this is one of the most exciting things that has happened on campus in a while that was specifically made to benefit students,” said Kreg Mosier, head of library web services.
Mosier and Edward Iglesias, web services librarian, have been the driving forces behind this endeavor.
“It’s a relatively unique thing in higher education to have this technology,” Iglesias said. “You can have VR and 3-D printing in engineering labs or specific departments within a university, but it’s rare to have it in the library where everyone can use it.”
SFA is a pioneer in housing this type of virtual technology in a central environment. Mosier said making the technology available to all students was important and makes SFA stand out from other universities.
“This lab is aligned with our student success initiative. I think of it as a value-added experience,” Mosier said. “We are giving students something they may not otherwise get to experience.”
In this virtual-reality-based makerspace, students can immerse into dozens of different scenarios and places such as the human cell or thousands of leagues under sea — all by slipping on the HTC Vive goggles. The two virtual reality rooms allow users the ability to move around during their virtual reality simulation while the Oculus Rift experience requires users to remain seated.
“We are doing something new and trying to create a compelling experience and toolset for students,” Mosier said. “The thing that makes me the proudest is the small ecosystem that has developed. A student can create something in 3-D on the computer, view it in virtual reality and then print it in 3-D, which is something I thought was science fiction as a kid.”
Users can create items in programs such as Tilt Brush and Oculus Medium and then print their creations in 3-D using the lab’s two 3-D printers. During a class visit and lesson, Emily Schneider, SFA senior advertising major from Dallas, did just that and was enthusiastic about her experience.
“This is an amazing experience for students especially since it’s free,” Schneider said. “I think it’s fun for students because they get to try something that is usually not available to them.”
SFA students, faculty and staff members are welcome to use the lab, which is located behind the circulation desk on the first floor of the library. Mosier and Iglesias said they are willing to work with faculty and staff members to maximize the lab’s academic potential.
For more information, contact Mosier at kmosier@sfasu.edu or Iglesias at igelsiase@sfasu.edu.
A limited number of free admission tickets are available at Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce
February 23, 2017 Nacogdoches – The SFA Ladyjack and Lumberjack basketball teams are ready for Cram the Coliseum when they take on Northwestern State on Thursday, March 2. The women's game begins at 5:30 p.m., and the men's game will start at 8 p.m. in the William R. Johnson Coliseum at the intersection of E. College St. and University Dr.
"Cram the Coliseum is the perfect opportunity for the community to support the partnership the Nacogdoches County Chamber has with SFA Athletics," said Ted Smith, chamber of commerce Vice Chairman Community Development. "Plus, we are looking at a high-level of rivalry with Northwestern State, so no one would want to miss these games."
All Nacogdoches County Chamber members received 10 tickets in the February mail packet.
"The tickets can be shared with anyone, including employees and coworkers, clients and customers, family and friends," Smith said. "A limited number of tickets are also available and ready for pick up at the chamber."
Cram the Coliseum tickets are compliments of SFA Athletics Department. For all SFA athletic event schedules, please visit www.sfajacks.com. Go to www.nacogdoches.org for more information about this and other Nacogdoches County Chamber events or call 936-560-5533.
February 20, 2017 - Stephen F. Austin State University administrators, Nacogdoches city and county government leaders, and members of the 2016-17 Leadership Nacogdoches class give a Lumberjack salute on the steps of the Texas Capitol Thursday morning. The group traveled from East Texas to join Rep. Travis Clardy of Nacogdoches and Sen. Robert Nichols of Jacksonville for Nacogdoches - SFA Days, held Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 15-16, during the 85th Texas Legislative Session.
Members of Stephen F. Austin State University’s Student Government Association visited with Rep. Jason Isaac of Dripping Springs at the Texas Capitol Wednesday. Isaac is a 1996 graduate of SFA and the only Lumberjack currently serving in the Texas House of Representatives.
East Texas lawmakers presented a resolution in the Texas House of Representatives Thursday recognizing Feb. 16, 2017, as Nacogdoches - SFA Day at the Capitol. Standing on the house speaker’s platform, from left, Dr. Steve Westbrook, SFA vice president for university affairs; David Alders, SFA Board of Regents member; Chad Huckaby, SFA student regent; Roger Van Horn, Nacogdoches city mayor; and Mike Perry, Nacogdoches County judge; listen as Rep. Travis Clardy discusses HR 290 and the positive impact of Nacogdoches and the university. Pictured, bottom row, from left, are Rep. Trent Ashby of Lufkin, Clardy, and 1996 SFA graduate Rep. Jason Isaac of Dripping Springs.
February 17, 2017 NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Point by point, the image of a cannon slowly materializes on the computer screen. Fine grooves in the handcrafted bronze handles shaped like dolphins prove difficult for the scanner to visualize, but eventually, with enough manipulation, a 3-D rendering of a long-submerged French cannon comes into focus.
“The idea of reverse-engineering the cannon so that the French can cast a duplicate has been floating around for a while,” said Dr. Robert Z. Selden Jr., research associate at Stephen F. Austin State University’s Center for Regional Heritage Research. “We always enjoy working with the Texas Historical Commission and have really been looking forward to beginning work on this project.”
A storied past
The cannon in question isn’t just any cannon. Its story began centuries ago in 1684 when the weapon was first loaded onto La Belle, the ship of legendary French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, the Sieur de La Salle.
La Salle planned to cross the ocean with four ships and 400 people and land at the mouth of the Mississippi River. There, he was to establish a colony and forge trade routes in the name of French King Louis XIV, according to the Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin where the cannon from La Belle is currently housed. The plan was never realized after La Salle lost ships to pirates and disaster, sailed past his destination and was killed by his own men.
In 1686, La Belle wrecked in a storm and sank to the bottom of Matagorda Bay. It remained there undisturbed for 300 years. In 1995, it was discovered by Texas Historical Commission archaeologists, who then fully excavated the wreck in 1996-97. The bronze cannon was one of three found among the ship’s cargo.
“The photos of the excavation and preservation efforts are incredible,” Selden said. “The scale of that excavation, which was surrounded by a coffer dam in the middle of Matagorda Bay, was remarkable. However, it is important to remember that the cannon is only one component of a much larger story; you really have to see the exhibit that the staff at the THC and the Bullock have put together to appreciate the magnitude of that undertaking.”
The cannon is on display on the ground floor of the Bullock Texas State History Museum in the current La Belle exhibit. It has been a central feature of the exhibit since the museum opened in 2001.
Scanning history
The idea of scanning the cannon arose during discussions held by staffers at the THC, the Musée national de la Marine in Paris and the Bullock Museum for a La Belle exhibit in France.
“Because the recovery of one of the three bronze cannons aboard the ship was key in identifying the wreck in 1995 as La Salle’s lost ship, the cannons are iconic and significant artifacts,” said Bradford M. Jones, collections manager of the THC’s archaeology division. “At the time, however, the cost and complexity of shipping an 800-pound bronze cannon back and forth across the Atlantic was recognized as a potential limiting factor on the exhibit, and the decision was made to explore having it reproduced in either the United States or France.
“Because high-resolution, 3-D scanning had the potential to relatively quickly and efficiently produce a (computer-aided design) model that could be shared and reproduced in a number of media, we contacted Dr. Selden,” Jones said. “Selden had previously scanned artifacts for the THC’s historic sites division and participated in 3-D technology training sessions with our archaeology division’s Texas Archeological Stewardship Network.”
Selden traveled to Austin in November to generate the 3-D surface scan of the cannon using a handheld scanner. Once scanned, the digital image can be resized for reproduction and a number of other purposes.
“The CRHR has a reputation for accuracy, and for producing open-access 3-D meshes and solid models that can be used for additional analyses, reproductions and 3-D puzzles,” Selden said. “This also is a great opportunity for SFA to solidify its leadership role in digitizing and reverse-engineering the material culture associated with Texas archaeology and history.
“We have the tools. We have the expertise. We have everything that we need to generate this kind of deliverable while educating our students along the way — helping them to understand theory and process while also gaining practical experience. This is just one small part of the transformative learning experience that the CRHR provides to the graduate and undergraduate students who work with us.”
The Austin museum is planning for a final La Belle exhibit to open in 2018, where the cannon will be displayed alongside the now-reconstructed hull of the ship.
“Dr. Selden has been a welcome partner with the THC in the past, and this time was no different,” Jones said. “He and the two CRHR interns assisting him not only conducted the work in a professional manner, but also openly shared an enthusiasm for the history and significance of the work that made it feel like a true collaboration.”
For more information regarding ongoing work with La Belle, visit the Bullock Museums’ website at www.thestoryoftexas.com/la-belle/the-exhibit.
February 10, 2017 NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University interior design students honed their professional skills while collaborating with staff members at the Nacogdoches Treatment Center to create site and floor plans for a proposed assisted living facility for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
The floor plans feature a community kitchen, family-style dining, private resident rooms with baths, a quiet space, in-house laundry and a multipurpose community/activity area, all housed within a community-oriented, home-like atmosphere.
Dr. Mitzi Perritt, professor in SFA’s School of Human Sciences, explained this project introduces students to designing for special populations.
“The building’s purpose is to house Alzheimer’s patients who can no longer live with their caregivers due to advancement of the disease,” Perritt said.
During the fall semester, five teams of SFA students studied the Texas Accessibility Standards guidelines and researched city and county records for property description, lot size, restrictions and utility placement. Students also reviewed state regulations outlined by the Department of Aging and Disability Services.
Additionally, the students engaged in a Dementia Live simulation to help them understand what it is like to live with dementia, a disease similar to Alzheimer’s disease that affects memory loss.
“This being our first assisted living facility to design, our team researched a great deal and considered many restrictions that apply to this type of facility,” said Remy Follmar, Colmesneil junior interior design major. “This project taught me research is a very important part of design and that gaining knowledge outside of the classroom is equally important. I thoroughly enjoyed this project and the research needed to understand how and why we design a specific way for these patients.”
Students also interviewed Kathy Strong, Nacogdoches Treatment Center executive director, to help understand the center’s needs and desires for their “dream facility.”
“It was interesting to see the concepts the students came up with,” Strong said. “We were amazed at how quickly and efficiently they took our concerns and thoughts and created a design. It’s a great opportunity for us to tap into the knowledge at SFA and working with the students is so important. Nacogdoches is unique in that we are able to work together with the university. It’s a win-win for all of us.”
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