Everything Nac

It all started with a simple purple paperclip. Now, it has evolved into a charitable silent auction.

This semester, Stephen F. Austin State University students involved in an honors project in the Rusche College of Business have enhanced their business communication skills in a unique way.

Based on a childhood barter game and the One Red Paperclip project by Kyle MacDonald, SFA students traded a purple paperclip for items of increasing value.

After six trades, each student secured an item to include in a silent auction, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, May 6, in the McGee Business Building, Room 133. Items up for auction include a Keurig coffee maker, Mother’s Day gift basket, Tory Burch bag and SFA wall decor. The auction is open to the public.

Event proceeds will benefit The Helping House, an organization that helps children with autism and developmental delays. Proceeds will help provide supplies and offset the cost of tuition for its students.

“Working both individually and collaboratively, SFA students learned to use a variety of communication methods and to adapt messages to different audiences,” said Dr. Carol Wright, associate professor of business communication and legal studies.

As part of the project, students created social media accounts to promote their activities during the semester. This experience helped students practice critical-thinking skills as they made decisions as the project developed.

To learn more about the project, visit @SFAPurpleClip on Twitter and SFA Purple Paperclip on Facebook and Instagram.

By Kasi Dickerson, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

In recognition of Better Hearing and Speech Month, Stephen F. Austin State University’s Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders is offering guidance on how to recognize communication disorders and ways to treat them.

“Development of strong communication skills is extremely important,” said Deena Petersen, center director. “Yet common misconceptions remain. One misconception is children generally outgrow speech or language difficulties. Unfortunately, this often delays treatment.”

With speech and language disorders ranking among the most common disabilities in children, parents and caregivers are encouraged to learn the signs and seek an evaluation if they have concerns about their child’s ability to communicate, Petersen explained.

“Some children are indeed late bloomers, yet treatment is frequently necessary,” Petersen said. “Good communication skills are critical, helping with behavior, learning, reading, social skills and friendships. It is much easier, more effective and less costly to treat speech and language disorders early.”

SFA graduate students studying speech-language pathology work with and observe clients in the center to practice their skills and offer services to the community.

Petersen said parents with young children should watch for these warning signs: does not babble, only makes a few sounds or gestures, doesn’t understand what others say, produces speech that is unclear. For parents with children in school, the warning signs include trouble following directions, problems reading and writing, doesn’t understand others, is not understood by others, and trouble talking about thoughts or feelings. More warning signs are detailed at identifythesigns.org and asha.org/public.

SFA’s Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders offers these tips to encourage a child’s communication development: talking, reading and playing with your child, using many different words, using longer sentences as your child gets older, having your child retell stories, talking with your child about your daily activities, and giving him/her opportunities to write.

Nacogdoches residents who want to schedule an assessment with SFA’s Stanley Center for Speech and Language Disorders should call (936) 468-7109.

To learn more about SFA’s speech-language pathology program, visit sfasu.edu/humanservices/69.asp. For more information about the center, visit sfasu.edu/humanservices/145.asp.

By Kasi Dickerson, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Only a few more opportunities remain to see the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre’s presentation of Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” The show runs nightly at 7:30 through Saturday, May 4, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus. Pictured are Frisco senior Aubrey Moore as Maggie and Waxahachie freshman Adam Lamb as Brick. Single tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $7.50 for youth. Tickets for SFA students are $5. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.theatre.sfasu.edu.

Members of Stephen F. Austin State University’s American Marketing Association’s student chapter won second place in best communication of chapter events at the recent International AMA Conference in New Orleans.

The conference brought together more than 1,700 students to compete and network. Attendees enhanced their professional development skills and gained inspiration through marketing and sales practices.

Pictured from left are SFA Rusche College of Business students and award winners Brianna Baird, Jared Upham, Clayton Howard, Edward Salinas, Reece Albert and Francia Olivares.

By Kasi Dickerson, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.