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Zoé Smiley, a Corrigan junior pre-veterinary medicine major, and Laken Read, a Chester sophomore agriculture development major at Stephen F. Austin State University, are recipients of the 2016 Future Farmers of America American Degree, recognized as one of the organization’s highest honors.

Less than one percent of FFA members receive the honor, which celebrates members who have demonstrated the highest level of commitment to the organization, as well as significant accomplishments in agricultural education.

To be eligible for consideration, members must fulfill a number of requirements, which include a proven record of leadership and community involvement, submitting records substantiating outstanding supervised agricultural experiences and participation in at least 50 hours of community service.

“It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to get this award, and considering less than one percent of students involved in the program receive it, it is a tremendous honor,” Smiley said.

Smiley has been an FFA member for seven years. In addition to her commitment to FFA, she also is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha and the SFA Livestock Judging Team.

Read has been involved in FFA for 12 years and plans to pursue a career as an agriculture teacher to share her passion with future generations.

Stephen F. Austin State University has been ranked among the top 50 great value colleges for family and consumer sciences degrees in the nation by Great Value Colleges, a website dedicated to helping students discover the best degree and college for them.

SFA’s No. 47 ranking among the almost 400 U.S. colleges identified for comparison distinguishes it as one of the most attractive programs for consumer sciences students.

The ranking was created based on master’s and doctoral degree, research, internship and scholarship opportunities. Data also was collected from payscale.com and university websites.

Dr. Lynda Martin, director of SFA’s School of Human Sciences, said receiving the ranking is an honor.

“This recognition is a testament to how qualified and supportive SFA’s School of Human Sciences faculty members are,” Martin said. “They go the extra mile to make sure our students receive a quality education, and it is nice to see it recognized.”

The family and consumer sciences program at SFA is designed with two tracks. The family and consumer sciences degree track prepares students for broad-based employment in the field of family and consumer sciences and for effective individual and family living.

The second track, family and consumer sciences education with teacher certification, educates students to teach at the high school level.

Martin explained all students within this major must complete an internship, which offers real-world experience and networking opportunities. Additionally, students are encouraged to participate in study abroad opportunities. SFA also offers an online Master of Science in family and consumer sciences.

A packed house greeted former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush this past week as he addressed Stephen F. Austin State University students, faculty and staff, and community members during the inaugural Nelson Rusche Distinguished Lecture Series on the university’s campus.

SFA’s Rusche College of Business established the lecture series this year as a biennial event designed to bring scholars and business leaders to the SFA campus to discuss timely issues.

“The launching of the Nelson Rusche Distinguished Lecture Series is a special event for the college, especially as the series helps us advance our mission,” said Dr. Tim Bisping, dean of the Rusche College of Business. “We are so thankful and appreciative of the generosity and foresight of Mr. Nelson Rusche in helping us make this happen.”

In 2002, the college was named in honor of Nelson Rusche, whose gift endowed the college and provided scholarships for students majoring in business. His gift also supports other educational programs, including the lecture series.

“It was great to see the Grand Ballroom filled with people excited to attend the event,” Bisping said. “There were many takeaways on assorted topics. For instance, the importance of hard work, perseverance and integrity were emphasized throughout. It would be hard to find better advice for future leaders.”

Through a question-and-answer format, interviewer Bob Slovak, SFA alumnus and sports anchor and reporter for Houston’s KTRK-TV, discussed Bush’s ideals regarding leadership qualities, the political climate, career success and more.

Bush, Florida’s first two-term governor, said his interest in politics stemmed from having a servant’s heart and desire to solve problems.

“My interest in politics was to serve, and I was able to do that as governor of a complex state. It was eight years of incredible learning,” Bush said. “I think we need to get back to campaigns being not the end but the means to get to a place where you can solve problems, help people who truly need it, change the direction of the country and unite people around shared values.”

While governor, Bush and his administration focused on education reform and lowered taxes. He founded the nonprofit Foundation for Florida’s Future, which joined forces with the Urban League of Greater Miami to establish one of the state’s first charter schools.

“Try to live a life of virtue and meaning and leadership kind of comes naturally,” Bush said. “Be courageous consistently. Try to show integrity. Be honest. That’s the foundation for a successful life.”

He also stressed having “dogged determination,” being hardworking and having intellectual curiosity to be successful in life.

Earlier in the day, the college also hosted the SFA Leadership Summit, which featured a panel discussion with seven successful SFA alumni about leadership principles and business and corporate issues.

“The leadership summit was a great success. We were fortunate to be able to bring to campus a distinguished panel of accomplished alumni and have them interact with our students,” Bisping said.

Summit panelists included Greg Arnold, chairman and CEO of the Truman Arnold Companies; Chris Bagley, president and chief operating officer for BancorpSouth; Terry Bonno, senior vice president of marketing and contracts for Transocean; Michael Calbert, chairman of the board for Dollar General Corporation; Stacie Shirley, executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of Tuesday Morning Corporation; Steve Stagner, executive chairman and chairman of the board for Mattress Firm; and Michael Taff, executive vice president and CFO for Chicago Bridge & Iron Company.

Panelists discussed their first jobs and mistakes they have made to help lend insight into building a successful career in business; advised students on leadership principles such as hard work, intellectual curiosity, discipline and communication skills; explained how they manage stress and balance their personal and professional lives; and reminisced about their most influential professors at SFA.

“The summit made available to our students, on a first-hand basis, insights from proven leaders regarding effective leadership,” Bisping said. “As students work to develop their leadership skills, the insights provided by our panelists will serve as effective guidance.”

Dr. R. Scott Beasley, professor emeritus of forestry and former dean of Stephen F. Austin State University’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, was inducted into the Texas Forestry Hall of Fame at a reception held Monday, Nov. 7, at the Texas Forestry Museum in Lufkin.

“Scott’s steadfast sense of values and his leadership as dean of the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture influenced the professional development of many students and faculty members and enhanced the reputation of SFA,” said Dr. Hans Williams, interim dean of the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture.

Beasley received his Bachelor of Science in forestry at SFA in 1964. He earned a Master of Science and doctoral degree in forest hydrology from the University of Arizona at Tucson. After seven years with the U.S. Forest Service Forest Hydrology Laboratory in Oxford, Mississippi, he accepted a position at the University of Arkansas at Monticello in 1976 and was appointed as the head of the university’s School of Forestry and Natural Resources in 1988.

In 1992, Beasley was named dean of the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture. During his tenure as dean, Beasley achieved a number of administrative accomplishments that include, but are not limited to, working through the Texas Coordinating Board of Higher Education to change the Doctor of Forestry to a Doctor of Philosophy; initiating a successful effort to officially designate SFA’s College of Forestry as the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and, later, the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture in honor of Arthur Temple’s contributions to forestry and economic development in Texas; developing state-of-the-art geographic information system laboratories for graduate research and undergraduate teaching; increasing the number and value of scholarships awarded annually to students; obtaining the university’s first patent, a cultivar of Camptotheca with enhanced properties for cancer treatment; and working with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the SFA Arboretum to establish the first Native Plants Center in Texas.

Additionally, Beasley serves as chair of the Texas Forestry Association, chair of the Texas Society of American Foresters, co-chair of the Society of American Foresters national convention and is on the task force for SAF forestry program accreditation. He was appointed a Fellow of the SAF and received the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture’s first Distinguished Alumni Award.

“I can think of no finer individual than Scott, who has contributed more to forestry and the professional and personal development of the people who serve forestry,” said Williams.