Everything Nac

A proclamation event will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 1, at Stephen F. Austin State University’s School of Social Work Building to kick off a number of events honoring Social Work Month.

Nacogdoches County Commissioner Robin Dawley will deliver the proclamation to the SFA School of Social Work’s leadership team, with social work students, faculty, field instructors and staff in attendance.

“Social workers are committed to enhancing the well-being of their communities. There is an increasing need for social workers across the world,” Oliphant said. “This event will officially proclaim March as social work month in Nacogdoches County and honor all our professional and student social workers do to assist the health of our East Texas community.”

The school’s leadership team includes Dr. Freddie Avant, associate dean of social work and interim dean of the Office of Research and Graduate Studies; Dr. Steve Cooper, interim Bachelor of Social Work coordinator and professor; Wilma Córdova, interim Master of Social Work coordinator and professor; Dr. Emmerentie Oliphant, interim chair; Linda Harris, field director and clinical instructor; Diane Sizemore, Child Welfare Professional Development Project director; Dr. Carrie Butler, Lone Star College liaison and professor; and Christy Collins, Tyler Junior College liaison and professor.

Themed, “The Time is Right for Social Work,” this installment marks the 38th year since the United States government officially recognized March as Social Work Month in 1984 under President Ronald Regan. The month is a chance to inform the public about the services social workers provide in an array of sectors, including hospitals, mental health centers, schools, social service agencies, community centers and politics.

The school also will host the “March in March” event where faculty members, social work students and social workers from Nacogdoches Independent School District will march to bring awareness to the social work field. The event will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 2, in front of the SFA Social Work Building and continue to North Street.

The school will host several celebratory activities throughout the month with guest speakers who will discuss the importance of social work in today’s world. Other celebrations include Social Work Advocacy Day on March 4 and World Social Work Day on March 16.

For more information about the SFA School of Social Work, visit sfasu.edu/socialwork.

By Nathan Wicker, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Stephen F. Austin State University hospitality program students will host the Kentucky Derby fundraising event at 6 p.m. April 1 at the Fredonia Hotel.

Themed “The Winner’s Circle,” the event will feature a four-course dining experience inspired by traditional Kentucky Derby dishes. A cocktail reception with a cash bar will open an hour prior to the meal, and silent and live auctions will take place throughout the evening.

The event benefits the School of Human Sciences through student scholarships, student travel funds to conferences and industry events, and faculty development programs.

Students enrolled in the special events production course — along with help from students in the Introduction to Hospitality course — will plan and execute the event. The students’ responsibilities include deciding the theme, menu, décor and other aspects of the event.

“This event is significant because it raises funds to enhance student learning, all of which is done while providing a transformative learning experience for the students in the class,” said Carlie Allen, adjunct professor in the School of Human Sciences. “Students are able to show their knowledge of event management, catering, customer service and culinary arts. This opportunity is vital for students to understand all the components of event planning. For many, this is the first hands-on experience they will have in their chosen career.”

Guests are encouraged to wear traditional derby attire, which include big hats, bow ties and colorful dresses. Tickets are $60 per person and $100 per couple, or $400 for a table of eight. Tickets need to be purchased in advance at sfasu.edu/give/hmsevent.

For more information, contact Allen at carlie.allen@sfasu.edu.

By Nathan Wicker, marketing communication specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s Campus Recreation recently hosted the regional basketball tournament featuring 12 total teams in both men’s and women’s competitions.

The National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association’s South Division had its Club Basketball Conference Tournament at the Student Recreation Center on Feb. 19 and 20. The event brought as many as 150 student-athletes to town.

Based on the “round robin” format, teams vied for as many wins as possible. They will compete in another tournament in March at Texas A&M University. The wins from both competitions will determine the conference champions and a free entry into the national tournament in April at Wichita State University in Kansas.

This was the first ever NIRSA conference tournament hosted at SFA. Jasmine Randolph and Jacie Klose, competitive sports and camps coordinators for SFA’s Campus Rec, organized the event.

“Throughout my graduate studies here at SFA, I was provided an experiential education. My goal was to reflect those same opportunities through our programs at Campus Rec,” said Randolph. “I look forward to working collaboratively with students, faculty and staff to create a holistic experience for all students.”

Klose shared in that sentiment, adding that she looks forward to making students’ college experiences more memorable through that collaboration.

SFA teams played in both the men’s and women’s sides of the NIRSA tournament. The women finished with a 3-2 record while the men finished with a record of 1-4.

On the men’s side, the six-team field included Louisiana State University, Texas A&M University and the University of North Texas. On the women’s side, the six-team field included Sam Houston State University and Texas Christian University.

While NIRSA contains the word intramural, the teams competing in the tournament are actually sport clubs, Randolph said. The key difference is that intramural teams compete on their given campuses, whereas sport clubs compete against teams from other universities.

Randolph is working on an upcoming women’s soccer tournament at SFA in April and is currently in the process of getting a racquetball club established. There are 17 sport clubs on campus, including rodeo, fishing, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, rugby, tennis and jiujitsu.

By Richard Massey, marketing communications senior specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Theatre patrons have through Saturday, Feb. 26, to attend a performance of Thornton’s Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Our Town” at 7:30 nightly in Kennedy Auditorium on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University. Presented by the SFA School of Theatre, “Our Town” tells the story of the fictional American community of Grover’s Corners in the early 1900s through the everyday lives of its townspeople. General ticket prices are: $15, adult; $10, senior (62+); $7.50, SFA faculty/staff; $7.50, youth; $5, student. Purchase tickets at boxoffice.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-6407. For questions about the play, contact the School of Theatre at (936) 468-4003.

Dr. James Vilseck, adjunct professor of percussion at Stephen F. Austin State University, will present a recital featuring a variety of styles and energy levels when he performs at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

Composers whose works will be included on the program are Alejandro Viñao, Andy Akiho, Ella Macens, John Psathas, Javier Alvarez, Robert Oetomo and Elliott Carter.

“There is no specific theme for the recital, other than great percussion music,” Vilseck said. “For all of my recitals, I try to find a wide variety of music that will entertain an audience. This means a variety of styles and energy levels. Luckily for percussion recitals, this also means a variety of instruments. From one piece to the next will be a completely different sound, meaning there is more variety than your typical music recital.”

Vilseck also programmed works from a variety of composers representing diverse and varied backgrounds. Additionally, the program features a mix of works he has performed in the past alongside newer works he’s never performed.

“The goal was to present a challenging program that will push myself without sacrificing audience entertainment,” he said.

The program features “Koolish Zein” by John Psathas. It was originally written for percussion soloist, percussion quartet and electronics, but Vilseck will perform the first movement titled “Her Alchemy” as a solo version with electronics.

“The piece is highly energetic with blazing fast runs up and down the keyboard instruments and a heavy groove from the electronics,” he said. “I have greatly studied Psathas’ works in my career and always look forward to sharing the music.”

Another work that includes electronics is the snare drum solo “Stop Speaking” by Andy Akiho that uses an electronic voice from a voice-to-text software program on Mac computers.

“The voice talks of its own creation and existence on top of Akiho’s unique writing style, making this a unique snare solo,” Vilseck explained. “I will also perform a second of Akiho’s works, ‘Murasaki.’ Part of his Synesthesia Suite and representing the color “purple” (quite appropriate for SFA), the work presents a relaxing reggae on lead steel pan reminiscent of the music of Bob Marley.”

Concert tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. To purchase tickets, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit finearts.sfasu.edu. For additional information, contact the SFA School of Music at (936) 468-4602.

The Singin’ Axes and Kantorei choirs at Stephen F. Austin State University will present “Wide Open Spaces: A Concert of Living Composers” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

Dr. Tod Fish, associate director of choral activities at SFA and conductor of the choirs, chose the theme because of “the endless possibilities for creativity that contemporary composers have at their disposal.”

“Performing the music of a diverse group of composers affords our students the opportunity to tackle styles ranging from lyrical melodies, cluster chord harmonies, pop-like driving rhythms, African rhythmic styles, and even some aleatoric techniques, accompanied by instruments such as the cello, oboe, horn, djembe and electric keyboard,” Fish said.

Collaborative pianists for the concert are Dr. Maria Lyapkova and Dr. Thomas Nixon. Also performing are Graham Mackenzie, Dr. Andrea Denis, Dr. Evgeni Raychev, Nadya Pramono and Martha De Luna.

Among the program selections is SFA alumnus Reginal Wright’s setting of a contemporary motet entitled “Hosanna,” to be performed by the Singin’ Axes.

“We are very proud of Reginal and the fantastic work that he does with both his choirs at Mansfield High School and the outstanding music that he composes.,” Fish said. “It only seemed right to feature him on this concert.”

The Kantorei treble choir will sing Rupert Lang’s setting of “Cantate Domino,” which is the oldest composition on the concert (composed in 1994) and features a wide variety of techniques such as glissandos, aleatoric singing and the use of an electric organ/synthesizer.

The combined Kantorei/Singin’ Axes choirs will perform Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo’s setting of the Latin sacred text “Ubi caritas.” The selection will feature new choral conducting graduate student Martha De Luna playing a transcription of a piano improvisation under the choir.

The combined choirs will also present a world premiere performance of David W. Brewer’s setting of “Ave Regina caelorum.” Brewer is the music teacher at Regents Academy in Nacogdoches.

“David had already established himself as a composer prior to moving to our community,” Fish said. “He studied under the famous choral conductor and composer Dr. Z. Randall Stroope, and this piece bears glimpses of his influence. We are honored to sing the first performance of this piece and appreciate Mr. Brewer’s gift.”

Other program highlights include performances of “There Will Come Soft Rains,” featuring Graham Mackenzie, oboe; “Let the Music Fill Your Soul,” featuring Dr. Andrea Denis, horn; and “God will give orders/Sweet child,” featuring Dr. Evgeni Raychev, cello, and Nadya Pramono, djembe.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. To purchase tickets, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit finearts.sfasu.edu. For additional information, contact the SFA School of Music at (936) 468-4602.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s Stone Fort Museum has named Sheryl and Steve Hartz, and the late Mable Ferguson Hall as the 2021 Cum Concilio Club Heritage Preservation Award recipients.

The museum’s biennial heritage preservation award was established in honor of the Cum Concilio Club’s dedication to the preservation of Nacogdoches’ cultural and historical landscape. The award recognizes a group or individual who has made significant contributions to the preservation of East Texas’ history and Nacogdoches’ heritage.

“Preservation projects almost always involve an extraordinary amount of perseverance,” said Carolyn Spears, director of the Stone Fort Museum. “They are rarely singular dramatic events. Saving our shared cultural history takes time and long-term dedication. This year’s recipients exemplify the needed dedication and love of subject to make change.”

Sheryl and Steve Hartz

Local musicians and artists Sheryl and Steve Hartz were recognized by the Stone Fort Museum for significant contributions to the preservation of East Texas’ musical traditions and the rural mercantile experience.

Since 1978, the couple has managed their general store, instrument repair shop and local gathering place for musicians in downtown Nacogdoches. The General Mercantile and Old Time String Shop — with its iconic Coca-Cola mural on the eastern outside wall — celebrates rural traditions and offers residents and visitors to Nacogdoches an opportunity to experience a vanishing business model.

“Steve and Sheryl Hartz have provided a visual anchor for the brick streets of Nacogdoches since Steve opened the Old Time String Shop, now the General Mercantile and Old Time String Shop,” said Charlie Jones, former SFA art professor and the couple’s longtime friend. “The shop has provided a gathering place for a Saturday afternoon ritual of acoustic music and stories. Folks from many walks of life, from a local Baptist preacher to a university dean to a mill worker, come together to share old-time country and bluegrass tunes.”

Steve has authored two books, “By the Muddy Angelina” and “Settlers of the Western Woods,” narrating the musical history of East Texas with essays and recordings. In 1998, he produced “Crooked Steep and Rocky,” an album of original bluegrass songs. Steve manufactures traditional flutes and banjos, and his research has led to reenactments of medicine shows.

Sheryl, an avid broom maker, learned the art as an apprentice to master craftsman Shawn Hoefer of the Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Using a foot-activated broom machine called a kickwinder, Sheryl uses techniques popularized in the 1800s in her craft.

Mable Ferguson Hall

Hall was “one of the ‘quiet leaders’ of the Nacogdoches community,” according to Jeri Mills, author of “African Americans in Nacogdoches County.”

“Mable often was the person who worked behind the scenes, making calls, doing research, gathering information and the data needed for a specific project,” Mills said. “If it meant driving to a nearby community, library or courthouse for needed resources, then Mable would make the journey.”

Hall was born in Chireno and graduated from Chireno Colored High School. She later graduated from SFA and worked for 28 years as a social worker. In 1989, she married the Rev. Earl Hall and served as first lady of Bethlehem Missionary Church for 19 years.

Hall returned to SFA’s School of Social Work for nine years after her retirement and spearheaded the project to restore Sand Hill Cemetery with the assistance of SFA’s 2009 Preserve America grant.

Hall died in January 2021. Throughout her career, she worked with multiple boards, committees, families and friends to preserve local history throughout the area. At the time of her death, she served on the Nacogdoches County Historical Commission.