Everything Nac

Reservations are still being accepted to attend the “Oklahoma!” preview and fundraiser presented by the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre and SFA Culinary Café from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, at the café on the SFA campus.

“What a great way to support the cast and crew of ‘Oklahoma!’ while enjoying a delicious lunch at the Culinary Café,” said Angela Bacarisse, professor of theatre and director of “Oklahoma!”

The School of Theatre will present Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical “Oklahoma!” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, Nov. 6 through 10, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus. Another performance is at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 8.

Based on Lynn Riggs’ 1931 play, “Green Grow the Lilacs,” “Oklahoma!” is the first musical written by the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. The musical, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, features choreography by Agnes de Mille.

Patrons attending the fundraiser will have the opportunity to meet the student stars of the show and hear a preview of the familiar songs from “Oklahoma!” Guest host will be Brad Maule.

Only 50 seats are available for the event, which costs $25 per person. Reservations: https://payment.sfasu.edu/C20200_ustores/web/classic/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=722

The Culinary Café is located in the College of Education Annex (former Early Childhood Lab), 1620 Raguet St. For additional information, contact Bacarisse at (936) 468-1126.

For the first time in the chapter’s decades-long history, the Stephen F. Austin State University student chapter of the Society of American Foresters clinched the national title of Society of American Foresters Quiz Bowl Champions, defeating 32 collegiate teams from across the U.S. during this year’s national convention held in Portland, Oregon.

“It’s very rewarding to see the early morning practices, as well as the hard work and persistence finally pay off,” said Dr. Rebecca Kidd, assistant professor of forestry at SFA and SAF faculty advisor.

The competition, held annually at the SAF National Convention, is a quiz-based competition challenging student chapters to answer a broad range of technical and academic questions that span the discipline of forest resource management. Kidd said student chapters must sign up months in advance to be organized into a tournament bracket.

“The range of topics includes forest resources, which encompasses wildlife, habitat management, hydrology, soil science, silviculture, ecology, spatial science, agro-forestry, recreation management, policy and economics,” Kidd said.

Christopher Longman, forest management senior and president of the SFA student chapter, said when forming a quiz bowl team, the chapter makes sure to include students from a range of forestry majors offered through the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture.

“One of the questions we answered correctly was something we just learned in forest hydrology two weeks ago,” Longman said.

Although the team displayed a strong showing throughout the competition, besting universities such as Pennsylvania State University and the University of California at Berkley, Longman admits there were a few nerve-wracking moments.

“In our quarterfinal match, we went into overtime in sudden-death format,” Longman said. “That was probably the most nervous moment we experienced.”

Longman added that the team’s victory is a definite reflection on the quality academics offered at SFA.

To learn more about the majors offered through SFA’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, visit atcofa.sfasu.edu.

The East Texas Restaurant Association is donating $12,000 in scholarship funds to Stephen F. Austin State University students enrolled in the hospitality administration program.

These funds will supplement two scholarships, which are annually awarded to SFA hospitality administration students.

“We value the support of the East Texas Restaurant Association. The impact these scholarships have on our students is huge,” said Dr. Chay Runnels, professor and hospitality administration coordinator. “When students receive an academic scholarship from key leaders in the restaurant industry, it validates their career pathway and sends a messages that hospitality is important.”

ETRA representatives will present the scholarship funds during a mixer from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, at the Fredonia Brewery. This event is open to the public, especially restaurateurs and hospitality industry professionals.

Red Tulip Food Truck will provide food for the event, and guests will have the opportunity to meet ETRA members and learn more about the organization. SFA hospitality administration students and faculty members also will be in attendance.

“Through educational funding, extensive networking and local advocacy, ETRA seeks to fuel the community to make a better food and beverage industry and a better tomorrow,” according to the ETRA website. The ETRA is a partnering organization with SFA’s hospitality administration program.

For more information, contact Runnels at (936) 468-2060 or runnelsc@sfasu.edu.

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

Folding a piece of paper, Samantha Lindsey, a Stephen F. Austin State University junior, looks downward to avoid watching the two dancers in front of her as they interpret each action and bring her choreography to life.

During the summer, Lindsey participated in the Exchange Choreography Festival in Tulsa, Oklahoma — a program of curated dance performances of choreographed works, workshops and networking events designed to foster dialogue.

While in a master class taught by Doug Varone, an award-winning choreographer and director who works in dance, theatre, opera, film and fashion, Lindsey and other participants choreographed a dance by merely folding or playing with paper.

“When I was done choreographing, I watched my creation, and it was honestly the coolest thing I have ever experienced,” Lindsey said. “I remember I couldn’t stop smiling because I had just created this piece of movement without using words or sight. It was this raw, intricate and unique work that I would have never imagined doing.”

Each day during the festival, Lindsey attended sessions where different groups performed. She also performed in a piece of contemporary ballet that was choreographed by Heather Samuelson, an assistant professor of kinesiology and health science at SFA.

A Brenham, Texas, native, Lindsey said dancing has always been a part of her life. She has been trained in various art styles, including ballet, tap, jazz and Broadway.

Currently, she is pursuing a degree in dance and performance at SFA. Participating in the festival was one way for her to extend her knowledge and network with professionals in the field.

“I knew there was nothing else in this world I wanted to do more than dance. The love and support of my dance teachers is what has kept me in class and stopped me from giving up on myself,” Lindsey said. “Dance has impacted my life in so many ways, and I hope that one day I can share my passion with the world.”

To learn more about SFA’s dance program, visit sfasu.edu/kinesiology/104.asp.

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

On a recent trip to Arizona, Dr. Flora Farago, assistant professor in Stephen F. Austin State University’s human development and family studies program, officially began an organization that will help girls thousands of miles away in Kenya.

Farago and her colleagues Mercy Musomi, executive director of the Girl Child Network; Drs. Beth Swadener and Heather Switzer, professors at Arizona State University; and Sarah Davis, volunteer and former intern for the GCN, launched the U.S.-based nonprofit organization Friends of the Girl Child Network. This organization provides resources to the GCN in Kenya to support and expand its operations and work on issues of gender justice.

The GCN is an organization advocating for the education and rights of women and girls in Kenya. GCN deals with social issues, such as child marriage and female education.

“Women and girls, both within the U.S. and across the world, still face significant disadvantages and sexism,” Farago said. “GCN works on many fronts to eliminate child marriage and female genital cutting and ensure that girls stay in school. Our organization will allow GCN to expand its programming and support a larger number of girls across initiatives.”

According to the organization’s website, Friends of the Girl Child Network members provide sponsorships for girls to attend school and promote community education to address the issues keeping girls from becoming successful adults. Sponsorship helps combat abusive homes, harmful cultural practices, poverty and discrimination.

“I feel it is critical to do what we can in our own spheres of influence to spread and allocate resources in an unfair world,” Farago said. “With Friends of the Girl Child Network, I have an opportunity to pay things forward, to spread the wealth and to assist channeling resources to GCN in Kenya that directly lift up women and girls.”

For three weeks this summer Farago worked in Kenya to help lay the groundwork for launching Friends of the Girl Child Network. This is her second trip to Kenya.

Farago and her colleagues delivered donations, including children’s books, toys, and adult and children’s clothing to GCN. SFA faculty and staff, Nacogdoches community members, the NAACP Nacogdoches Chapter, members of the Organization of Faith, Education and Community, local churches, and the Nacogdoches Public Library supplied many of the donations.

Learn more about how you can become involved with Friends of the Girl Child Network by contacting Farago at faragof@sfasu.edu, or visit friendsofthegirl.org.

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