Everything Nac

Ashley Hoyer, a graduate distance learning student in the composition program in the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music, has been accepted into both the Atlantic Music Festival’s highly exclusive Summer Intensive program and also the Iceberg Institute in Vienna, Austria. Based in Santa Paula, California, Hoyer came to SFA already an accomplished professional performer on mandolin, violin and cello. After completing her bachelor’s degree online, she was searching for an online master’s composition program. “SFA is one of the few universities that offers a program like this one,” she said. “Once I learned more about SFA and had an interview, I knew it would be good fit.” During her summer studies, she said she looks forward to writing a new piece for a specific ensemble and learning from its performance, and she looks forward to taking lessons with acclaimed faculty members. She hopes to continue working as a performer and composer in the future. She currently studies with Dr. Stephen Lias, professor of composition at SFA.

The Stephen F. Austin State University Spirit Teams traveled to Daytona Beach, Florida, for the National Cheerleaders Association and National Dance Alliance national championships, where they garnered first-, second- and third-place finishes.

The spirit programs are led by T.J. Maple, an adjunct professor in kinesiology.

“Proud is an understatement for the amount of hard work, sacrifices and selflessness these student athletes put in for our university,” Maple said. “They spend their entire year cheering on every other sport, making appearances and staying involved with the community, so to see them shine on the national’s stage is pure joy.”

This is the 30th year SFA has competed in these events. The teams’ NCA participation resulted in the following wins:

Division I Spirit Rally National Champions

Innovative Choreography Awards in Team Performance, Pom and Spirit Rally

Division I Pom Dance – Second Place

Division I Team Performance Dance – Third Place

Division I Small Coed Cheer – Second Place

The dance team was invited to the Dance Team Union Collegiate National Invitational Competition and had the following placements:

Division I Pom National Champions

Division I Hip Hop Dance National Champions

Division I Spirit Showdown – Second Place

Pom Battle Champions

Stephen F. Austin State University’s James I. Perkins College of Education has partnered with Lufkin Independent School District to staff up to 10 paid, one-semester internships.

Sponsorships of new and attractive programs like these internships are examples of the willingness SFA and its partners have to adapt to changes in education, according to Michelle Miller, SFA clinical experience coordinator.

“Partnerships like this continue to show how the field of education is growing and changing,” Miller said. “Incentives like the ones offered by Lufkin ISD will continue to grow our educator program here at SFA while building teacher candidate pools for the district. By providing opportunities for paid clinical teaching to our students, they can focus on what is truly important – becoming the best educators they can be. This initiative will show future educators they are valued.”

The partnership with LISD is similar to SFA’s partnership with Huntington Independent School District, where three paid internships begin this fall.

Kurt Stephens, LISD deputy superintendent, sees a big upside for the program.

“When looking at other career options, such as engineering and accounting, paid internships are the norm,” he said. “We want educators to have the same opportunities as other students entering the workforce.

“We not only place our student teachers at the top of our applicant pool when filling vacancies, but we also believe we have an obligation to encourage future educators to pursue student teaching in completing their degree,” he added. “Another bonus is this internship includes benefits, meaning interns will start contributing to the Teacher Retirement System prior to graduation.”

The 10 new internships will be paid for by LISD and are set to begin this fall.