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Five Stephen F. Austin State University vocal music education students have been awarded scholarships from the Texas Choral Directors Association for the 2022-23 academic year.

“Congratulations to SFA vocal music education majors Frankie Barraza, Deanna Fitz, Madison Montague, Andrea Sanchez and Jay Teamer for being selected to receive Texas Choral Directors Association scholarships,” said Dr. Michael Murphy, director of choral activities for the SFA School of Music. “Students go through a competitive application process in which they submit an application, listing qualifications and honors and achievements, transcripts, and two letters of recommendation. Having one or two students annually receive this award is a great honor. However, having five SFA students selected from 12 across the state is an incredible achievement.”

Barraza, Borger senior; Fitz, Houston junior; Montague, Liberty Hill junior; Sanchez, Kingwood senior; and Teamer, Lewisville senior, each expressed gratitude to TCDA in being selected for the awards.

“Earning this scholarship means the world to me,” Montague said. “I am fortunate enough for this to be the second scholarship that I have received from TCDA. Scholarships like these allow me to focus on school rather than having to worry about the cost of attending school, which I am also very thankful for.”

“This is a big honor, because a committee of established choir directors from all over the state select the recipients,” Teamer said. “I’m very thankful and humbled to have been selected because the committee of choir directors saw something in me that was worthy enough of investing money into my education here at SFA. We have some of the best music professors that I’m so grateful to have learned from. The experiences I’ve had in their classrooms have helped in making amazing opportunities like this happen for me.”

“Earning this scholarship brings me much needed tuition relief,” Barraza said, “which in turn will relax my financial situation over the course of this semester, thus allowing me to focus on practicing my craft and my academic studies.”

Upon learning of her scholarship award, Fitz said it was “encouraging to have the support of an amazing organization,” like TCDA. “By being a recipient, I felt empowered that the organization shared the same values and beliefs that I have, like safety in community and passion for music,” she said. “This is just another stepping stone towards the future of students I would be blessed to help mold.”

Sanchez was selected for TCDA’s Jackie Cocke scholarship. “Earning this scholarship felt very rewarding, and I am honored to have been chosen,” she said. “When reading through Jackie’s accomplishments, I appreciated the scholarship even more. Her contributions to music education will surely not be forgotten. Receiving this scholarship will help pay my tuition for my last year at SFA.”

Sanchez hopes to student teach in the Dallas area during the spring semester of 2023. After graduation, she will either attend graduate school or become a choral educator in Texas. During her college career, she has been involved with Sigma Alpha Iota, an international music fraternity, holding various officer positions, including editor, sergeant-at-arms and president. She has been a research and interview assistant for choral conducting and was a student conductor for this year’s TCDA convention. She received a voice scholarship from the voice faculty at SFA for the 2021-22 school year.

Teamer plans to attend graduate school “to broaden my horizons” and, following that, he’s looking forward to teaching choir at the middle school or high school level. Among his accomplishments at SFA are as an Undergraduate Research Conference College of Fine Arts presenter (spring 2021), president’s list, dean’s list, Gammill Voice Scholarship recipient, School of Music Scholarship recipient, Orientation Leader of the Year (2021) and Jack Walker Rookie of the Year (2021).

Before coming to SFA, Barraza made the Texas All-State Choir for four consecutive years. After auditioning at SFA, she was offered a top choral scholarship and enrolled as a music education major. The accomplishment of which she is most proud is her success as an academician, having been on the dean’s list since her freshman year and on the president’s list last spring. “None of this would’ve been possible if I would not have come to a university that fostered and nurtured my growth as a musician,” she said. “I am eternally grateful to all of the faculty here at SFA for giving me a home away from home.”

Fitz hopes to teach music in high school and eventually on a collegiate level. While in high school, she was selected to District Choir for two years, was a member of the Houston’s Girl Chorus, held educative positions in choir council, and was president of the voice club.

Montague looks forward to becoming a high school or college choral director, and she said she is proud of being a first-generation college student.

For information about the choral program at SFA, contact the SFA School of Music at (936) 468-4602.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s Rusche College of Business has partnered with Smith Sawmill Service to provide SFA students with a direct path to business careers in wood processing, an industry that’s integral to East Texas’ economy.

Smith Sawmill Service is one of the largest suppliers and service providers of saws, cutting tools, filing room equipment and critical consumable products. With locations in Texas, Louisiana and North Carolina, Smith is owned by BID Group, a private company established in 1924 that is now the leading supplier to the wood-processing industry in North America.

“We are thrilled to work with Smith Sawmill Service to better serve our students and our region,” said Dr. Jason Reese, associate dean of SFA’s College of Business. “Smith Sawmill Service is a first-class organization that truly cares about the success of our students and the East Texas region.

“Their support will help us achieve our mission of providing a quality learning environment and helping our students launch their careers and become effective leaders,” Reese continued.

Smith Sawmill Service is one of a growing number of corporations that SFA’s College of Business works with to help students explore their career options before graduation.

“We see a tremendous opportunity in our partnership with SFA’s College of Business,” said Dustin T. Norris, vice president of Smith Sawmill Service. “SFA has consistently produced leaders and creative thinkers that bring value to our organization, and I am proud to reinforce our commitment to higher education here in the piney woods of East Texas.”

These partnerships are a win-win for corporations and students, said Dr. Tim Bisping, dean of the College of Business.

“Engaging with an excellent partner such as Smith Sawmill Service is a great example of how a quality corporate partner program works to the benefit of all,” he added. “I’m excited to see this partnership grow in the years to come.”

To learn more about SFA’s College of Business, visit sfasu.edu/cob.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host a fruit research field day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 30 featuring kiwifruit, muscadine grapes, blueberries, figs, feijoas and other fruits.

Speakers will include Dr. David Creech, director of SFA Gardens, and Dr. Tim Hartmann and Dr. Justin Scheiner, both of Texas A&M University’s Department of Horticultural Sciences.

“We are proud to show off our ever-increasing collection of fruits,” Creech said. “We have the two top fruit specialists from Texas A&M to help us do just that.”

The day will start with presentations at 9 a.m. at the Brundrett Conservation Education Building in the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, located at 2900 Raguet St. in Nacogdoches. Participants will then go to the fruit research plots at SFA Gardens around 11 a.m. Lunch will not be provided.

The cost of the field day is $15 per person. Register on-site the day of the event or in advance online at sfasu.edu/sfagardens.

For more information, call (936) 468-4129 or email sfagardens@sfasu.edu