Everything Nac

Ask Paige Vadnais, the new student regent for Stephen F. Austin State University’s Board of Regents, to list the things in life most important to her, and she will quickly respond, “My family and my dogs, whom I also consider family.”

They factored greatly in her decision to attend SFA. Vadnais’ sister, Skyler ’19, earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the university and provided “a little bit of home away from home” when Vadnais left Forney for Nacogdoches.

Vadnais’ three childhood dogs — Bella, Jake and Bear — engendered a love of animals that led to a Bachelor of Science in agriculture she received in December 2021 and an agriculture student teaching stint for Central Heights Independent School District.

“My sister was the family who got me here, but the faculty, staff and students at SFA were the family that made me stay,” she said. “The professors are so personable. They gave us their phone numbers and said, ‘If you need anything academic-related or you get yourself in a pickle somewhere, call us.’”

Her Lumberjack family expanded a bit when she joined the Traditions Council, now known as AXEperience, as a first-year student and held offices for the next three years, including president. Lacey Folsom, SFA’s director of Student Engagement, was the advisor for the council.

“Lacey was there every step of the way,” Vadnais said. “She gave me advice. She always put students’ thoughts forward and encouraged us.”

Her time in Traditions Council led Vadnais to pursue a Master of Arts in student affairs and higher education at SFA.

“Honestly, I’m working on this master’s degree because of Lacey,” Vadnais said. “Just seeing her impact on me and other students was so positive and helpful. And I thought, ‘I want to do that, too. I want to help students.’”

Appointed as student regent by Gov. Greg Abbott for a term that expires at the end of May, Vadnais plans to apply the lessons she learned from Folsom when helping students communicate their concerns to the board.

“I hope to be a positive and productive voice for SFA students when working with the board,” she said. “I want to listen to students’ concerns and build them up in a way that turns negatives into positives and helps us take some action, even if it’s small.”

Folsom believes Vadnais will serve students well.

“It was clear from the beginning of Paige’s student leader experience that she had a deep love for SFA,” Folsom said. “I am excited to see how she uses this position to not only advocate for student needs and engage with the campus community, but also provide a true Lumberjack perspective to the issues that the board faces in the coming year.”

While pursuing her master’s degree and serving as student regent, Vadnais is working as a graduate assistant in Student Life, which oversees the Center for Career and Professional Development, Orientation and Transition Programs, Student Publications, and Student Engagement.

“Every student who walks into Student Life sees me right there, so I get to talk to so many people throughout my day — students from all the different colleges,” Vadnais said. “I get to hear what they’re mad about and what they’re happy about even if I’m just standing in the background watching their body language. That gives me an advantage when advocating for students.”

She is especially looking forward to working with first-year and transfer students during the involvement fair SFA holds at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters.

“I tell students who can’t find where they fit in to email me,” Vadnais said. “When I meet with them, they’re nervous and scared and want to leave SFA. But we talk about their hobbies, and I connect them with different organizations.”

When she has time for fun, Vadnais, of course, spends time with her family, both two- and four-legged. She enjoys fishing with her grandparents in Oklahoma and learning from them about her Choctaw heritage.

Lumberjacks near and far as well as friends of Stephen F. Austin State University are encouraged to participate in the university’s second-annual Giving Day scheduled for Sept. 15.

The fundraising event falls three days before the university’s 99th anniversary — SFA welcomed its inaugural class of students on Sept. 18, 1923. Therefore, the theme #LogYourLegacy encourages Lumberjacks to celebrate that nearly century-long legacy by giving in support of the university’s future.

“Coinciding with the university’s anniversary, Giving Day provides a perfect opportunity to celebrate SFA while simultaneously investing in its future,” said Trey Turner, executive director of SFA’s Office of Development. “The donated funds received on Giving Day will be directed to immediate projects and initiatives, as well as help fund endowments that will serve future students for years to come.”

Some areas donors may consider helping include colleges or departments from which they graduated, student organizations of which they were a part, athletics, scholarships and more.

“As we look back at everything that has made SFA a leader in higher education, we know our alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students are who make this institution so incredible,” said Kathleen Thompson, coordinator for annual giving.

A Facebook event page will go live in the upcoming weeks, and everyone interested can follow Giving Day announcements and updates on SFASU Foundation’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts. Campaign progress will be actively updated for the @SFASUfoundation on these pages. Athletics will also be sharing content, as will SFA’s main social media accounts.

The goal for Giving Day is to raise $125,000. Donations can be made online during the day through Giving Day platforms, and links will be provided through emails and shared on social media. All donations are tax deductible.

For more information about SFA’s Giving Day, contact Turner at turnertrey@sfasu.edu.

Progress continues on the much-anticipated renovation and expansion of the Griffith Fine Arts Building on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus with an estimated mid-2023 completion date just under a year away.

University and construction officials remain optimistic that current deadlines can be met, and that the building will be ready for occupancy prior to the start of the 2023-24 academic year, as planned.

As the project moves forward, spaces within the outwardly visible exterior walls are becoming more defined as the state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories, offices, studios and theatres that designers and fine arts faculty and staff had envisioned, according to Dr. Gary Wurtz, dean of the Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts.

“Not that long ago, I would look out my window at the deep, muddy pool that had been placed between the Griffith Fine Arts Building and College Street, and all I could think was ‘what a mess,'” Wurtz said. “Now, I walk through the building, and the progress is stunning. Most of the spaces are framed out, and you get a true perspective of the scope of the project, and you realize that SFA is fully committed to supporting the fine arts and fine arts education. That is a spectacular feeling.”

The Fine Arts Expansion Initiative is extending the Griffith building along North Street. The project includes renovations to W.M. Turner Auditorium, and the building will also feature two dance studios, two new theatres, recording studio, sound stage, audio and video editing rooms, an art gallery, multiple classrooms, rehearsal facilities, faculty offices and the offices of the College of Fine Arts dean. The facilities will house the ECFA’s sound recording technology, filmmaking, theatre, dance and musical theatre programs.

Jessica DeWitt, assistant director of construction for the SFA Physical Plant and Griffith project manager, said that despite initial delays pertaining to weather and supply chain issues, the project remains on course.

“To everyone’s credit, the project is still on track for its original completion dates and is expected to deliver all of the exciting new spaces as originally intended,” DeWitt said. “We are looking at a March 2023 construction completion date followed by an extensive move-in period. Following a summer move-in, the building is expected to open for classes in Fall 2023.”

DeWitt credited project management teams – KDW, Kirksey Architecture, Project Control, Physical Plant, SFA Design Center and ECFA staff – for working tirelessly over the last year to stay on top of schedule milestones and ahead of potential risks to maintain momentum.

“However, I believe the toughest challenges are in front of us,” she said. “Last year was about specifications and selections that avoided hard-to-get materials. This year, there are pieces of equipment that are not available or manufacturers simply will not commit to making available by building opening. We are leaning hard on the flexibility I referenced last year, putting our heads together, reaching out to our sources, and tackling these issues every day.”

Over the next year, the project management team will be “busy as ever,” but the results will be hard to see from the outside, DeWitt said.

“Passersby now see an almost fully constructed new building and exterior improvements underway,” she said. “The visual presence of large equipment and workers onsite is waning. However, this is not cause for concern, because more work than ever is ongoing inside the building.”