Everything Nac

Area middle and high school students spent the fall semester at Stephen F. Austin State University engaging in exploration of science, technology, engineering and math.

SFA students and faculty members worked with the students as they completed a series of STEM-related events and activities organized by the STEM Research and Learning Center.

“These outreach events provide public, private and home-schooled students the opportunity to come to campus, work with SFA faculty and staff, and experience hands-on activities not available on many school campuses,” said Adrienne Aul, STEM Research and Learning Center programs coordinator.

To learn more about iSTEM or other STEM Research and Learning Center events, visit stem.sfasu.edu, or call (936) 468-5814.

By Joanna Armstrong, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

The Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents accepted the resignation of Dr. Baker Pattillo during a meeting Friday. Pattillo informed the Board of Regents of his plans to retire from the position effective Jan. 1, 2019.

“Dr. Pattillo would like to rest and enjoy his family as he recovers,” said Brigettee Henderson, chair of the board of regents. “The board has accepted his retirement with gratitude for the 52 years of service he has provided to SFA.”

Dr. Steve Westbrook, who was named acting university president on Oct. 30, has been appointed interim president.

Pattillo served as SFA president from 2006 until October. He earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from SFA and spent more than five decades working at the university beginning in 1966.

Students from Stephen F. Austin State University interested in effecting positive economic and social change have an opportunity to make a difference by participating in the on-campus round of the Hult Prize, a global competition with a $1 million prize.

Working in conjunction with the United Nations, the competition aims to fund projects that change lives, encouraging students to find solutions to a social challenge selected each year by former President Bill Clinton. This year’s theme, “For Us, By Us, Youth Unemployment,” prompts students to pitch start-ups with the goal of creating jobs for youths.

Sabina Adhikari, Hult Prize campus director and sophomore computer science major of Kathmandu, Nepal, decided to organize the event because it exposes students to important issues and encourages creative problem-solving, she said.

“Students will get an opportunity to experience the business world, the service world and, most importantly, the real world,” Adhikari said.

The event will be held at 10 a.m. Jan. 26 in the McGee Business Building, Room 161, and is open to students of any major and classification. Students are required to form teams of three or four to participate and will present their start-ups to a panel of faculty members. Teams are encouraged to present a PowerPoint with their ideas, strategies and overall vision.

The winning team will advance to the regional finals and compete for a chance to become one of the six teams presenting at the global final in New York City, hosted by the U.N.

“The Hult Prize is, perhaps, the most significant prize a college student could win,” said Dr. Paul Henley, event judge and assistant director of the Office of Student Learning and Institutional Assessment. “It’s the primary venue for a bright, thoughtful, innovative group of students to change the world with their ideas.”

For more information, contact Adhikari at adhikaris3@jacks.sfasu.edu.

By Joanna Armstrong, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, Stephen F. Austin State University’s historic downtown gallery, will be open during regular gallery hours for most of the holiday season.

Regular hours are from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Additionally, the art center will be closed Christmas Day, Dec. 25, and Dec. 26. The gallery will be open regular hours Thursday through Sunday, Dec. 27 through 30, which is the last day for both current art shows. The gallery will be closed after Dec. 30 through Jan. 23 while new exhibitions, including “Caddo Contemporary: Present and Relevant,” are installed. The shows open on Jan. 24. Also opening that day is an exhibition of photographs by Frank Dituri.

Exhibitions currently showing feature artwork by Kymia Nawabi and the SFA School of Art’s biennial exhibition of jewelry and metalwork.

“Kymia Nawabi: Not for Long, My Forlorn” features a series of large-scale drawings that “acted as meditations on life and death channeled through ravenous, otherworldly beings and animals that inhabit a purgatory-like space,” according to the artist.

Works selected for inclusion in the 10th annual Art Metals/Jewelry Competition and Exhibition can be seen in the upstairs Reavley Gallery.

A vintage Christmas display, which features antique ornaments, decorations, dolls and toys of bygone eras. shows through Dec. 30.

The exhibitions are free and open to the public and are sponsored in part by the SFA Friends of the Visual Arts, William Arscott, Nacogdoches Junior Forum and The Flower Shop. The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For additional information, call (936) 468-1131.