Everything Nac

The Nacogdoches Photographic Association will open its 2017 gallery show with a reception at 6 p.m. Friday, July 21, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

Theme for the photo show is “Nacogdoches,” and juror is professional photographer and former Nacogdoches resident Steve Kozak.

Awards will include Best of Show, first, second and third places and honorable mention. The 2017 Best of Show recipient will be announced at the opening reception.

Kozak is an active member of the Texas Professional Photographers Association and the Professional Photographers of America. He has earned the “Master of Photography” and the “Photographic Craftsman” degrees and the “Certified Professional Photographer” degree from PPA. He has also been awarded the “Full Fellowship” degree from TPPA. He has taught at the Texas School of Professional Photography and at Imaging USA.

Kozak’s articles have been published in The Professional Photographer and Texas Professional Photographer magazines. His motivational and informative programs make him a popular speaker and lecturer on the program circuit.

The Nacogdoches Photographic Association was organized in 1992. Monthly meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month (except on field-trip nights) in The Cole Art Center. For more information, contact R.G. Dean at dean@sfasu.edu. The NPA website URL is nacogdochesphotoassoc.org, and their works can be seen on Facebook.

The show will run through Aug. 23. Gallery hours are 12:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main Street. For additional information, call (936) 468-1131.

Members of Stephen F. Austin State University’s Phi Beta Lambda chapter in the Rusche College of Business recently placed among the top 10 in various competitions at the National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, California.

SFA student Mark McLean became the first PBL student from the university to place first in a competition when he won in cost accounting. He also placed fourth in microeconomics. Kristi Clifford placed eighth in information management. Also, Clifford and Daniel Walker received eighth place in human resource management. Michael Kugler won 10th place in the programming concepts competition.

SFA’s chapter also was among the 10 chapters that received diamond status for excellent service.

“SFA students worked hard to be able to compete in this important national event,” said Dr. Laurie Rogers, visiting assistant professor and PBL advisor in SFA’s Department of Business Communication and Legal Studies. “By competing and placing at nationals, the students promoted not only their own education and professional careers, but also the Rusche College of Business and SFA.”

During the conference, more than 1,800 participants from across the U.S. enhanced their business skills, networked and competed in 60 business and business-related events, according to the conference’s press release.

The awards were part of a comprehensive national competitive events program sponsored by Future Business Leaders of America-PBL that recognizes and rewards excellence in a range of business and career-related areas.

In addition to competitions, students immersed themselves in interactive workshops, visited an information-packed exhibit hall and heard from keynote speakers on a range of business topics.

PBL is a non-profit educational association for students preparing for careers in business, entrepreneurial or business-related fields.

Stephen F. Austin State University students traveled to England, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands for a behind-the-scenes look at international media.

Students enrolled in SFA’s Department of Mass Communication’s Meet the Media course toured media organizations while abroad, including TV stations, public relations and advertising agencies, and magazine headquarters.

Dr. John Hendricks, chair of the Department of Mass Communication, expressed the benefits this experience afforded students.

“Students are exposed to vastly different cultures and experiences, which significantly broadens their understanding of and place in a global society,” Hendricks said. “Experiential learning such as an international study abroad trip motivates students to establish larger professional goals.”

During the first week, students explored London, England, and met with industry professionals from diverse media. Students toured VCCP, a creative marketing company; Chime Communications Limited, a marketing services company; Political Lobbying and Media Relations, one of Britain’s fastest-growing communications companies; Leo Burnett Company, an American globally active advertising company that is one of the largest agency networks; and Chartered Institute of Public Relations, one of the largest member organizations for public relations practitioners outside of North America.

For Sarah Fontenot, SFA senior public relations major from China, Texas, touring PLMR and the Leo Burnett Company introduced her to career opportunities.

“This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. At Leo Burnett Company, professionals discussed advertising campaigns they have worked on such as McDonald’s. It was impressive and made me excited for the future because this is what I want to do in my career,” Fontenot said.

Additionally, students visited Time Out magazine, a leading global media and entertainment business that inspires and enables people to experience the best of cities, according to the magazine’s website. SFA students toured the magazine’s editorial and advertising process and engaged in a question-and-answer session with employees.

Although he is a radio/TV major, Bobby Mauro, a senior from The Woodlands, said he enjoyed learning about different media outlets.

“It was interesting to see Time Out magazine and other media options. We learned how staff members create a cover and social media content,” Mauro said.

Broadcast media also was on the agenda. Students had a behind-the-scenes look at Sky News, a 24-hour international multimedia news company based in the United Kingdom that provides news on TV, online and mobile devices.

“Sky News, the equivalent of America’s Fox News or CNN, was most impressive, and our students were able to see firsthand how an international television news network covered the queen’s speech on the opening day of Parliament,” Hendricks said.

No visit to London is complete without sightseeing. In London’s West End, students participated in a walking tour on Fleet Street and viewed the Bride’s Church, known as the journalist’s church, and the Daily Express and the Daily Telegraph buildings. Also, students saw Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Saint Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London and Kensington Palace.

“The trip was exciting and intriguing,” Mauro said. “I have German and English heritage, so it was cool to walk where my ancestors walked. I was really excited about the historical aspects of the trip.”

During their second week abroad, students traveled to Belgium, Germany and Amsterdam. In Belgium, students took a walking tour of Brussels, the country’s capital and administrative center of the European Union, and Bruges, a historic location known for its architecture and arts.

Students walked Cologne, Germany, where they viewed Kölner Dom, Germany’s largest cathedral, as well as other historical buildings and picturesque locations. Here, the group also toured the German TV station n-tv, where SFA junior radio/TV major Daniel Mireles from Kingwood said the station’s use of automated cameras impressed him.

“This station is taking TV to the next level; it’s the future of TV,” Mireles said. “This visit made me realize it’s going to take hard work for me to achieve my goals, but it got me excited to move forward with my career.”

“Ivy + Bean the Musical,” with book, music and lyrics by Scott Elmegreen and based on books by Annie Barrows, will conclude its SummerStage Festival run at Stephen F. Austin State University with two final shows this week. The children’s show, featuring Mesquite junior Zaria Harp (left) as Ivy and Chandler senior Jessica Benson as Bean, is at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 13, and at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 14, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus. General admission tickets are $7.50. For tickets or more information, visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.

The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre will present the final shows this week of William Gibson’s “The Miracle Worker” as part of its SummerStage Festival. The play, featuring Frisco sophomore Aubrey Moore (left) as Anne Sullivan and Plano senior Cecily Maucieri as Helen Keller, is at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, July 11, 12 and 13, and at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 15, in the Downstage Theatre on the SFA campus. General admission tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $7.50 for students/youth. For tickets or more information, visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.