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SFA to graduate largest class in university history

As Stephen F. Austin State University prepares to celebrate its 95th anniversary, it will graduate the largest class in university history with more than 1,500 candidates. Approximately 1,190 students will receive their bachelor’s degrees, and 335 students will receive their graduate degrees during this historic occasion.

Two ceremonies are scheduled for Saturday, May 12, in Johnson Coliseum with U.S. Sen. John Cornyn offering the commencement address.

Cornyn has served the people of Texas for the past three decades, first as a district judge and later as a member of the Texas Supreme Court before being elected as Texas attorney general. He received his undergraduate degree from Trinity University, his law degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law and his Master of Laws from the University of Virginia School of Law.

In 2014, Cornyn was re-elected for his third term in the U.S. Senate. Since he was first elected in 2002, Cornyn has earned a national reputation as a powerful voice for Texas and conservative values in Washington. A San Antonio native, he has been an advocate for Texas military personnel, veterans and their families, and he has fought to provide them with the best possible support, care and benefits. He also has been a consistent leader in promoting innovation, research and education initiatives at all levels.

In addition to serving on the Senate Finance, Intelligence and Judiciary Committees, Cornyn serves as the majority whip, a position that gives Texas a powerful seat at Congress’ leadership table. In this role, he serves as an assistant to the floor leaders and as chief vote counter for Senate Republicans.

Candidates from SFA’s James I. Perkins College of Education and the College of Fine Arts will participate in a 9:30 a.m. ceremony. Candidates from the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, the Rusche College of Business, the College of Liberal and Applied Arts, and the College of Sciences and Mathematics will participate in a 2 p.m. ceremony.

An estimated 1,528 degrees will be awarded, including 1,193 bachelor’s, 328 master’s and seven doctoral degrees. Almost 400 students will graduate with honors, including 139 cum laude, 135 magna cum laude and 109 summa cum laude. Sixty-three students will graduate with the university scholar designation. One degree will be awarded posthumously.

Master’s and doctoral candidates will graduate with their respective colleges.

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

Giang Nguyen, a Stephen F. Austin State University graduate student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry explains her research on Ellis van Creveld syndrome to Dr. Xiaozhen Han, professor in the department, at the recent chemistry and biochemistry research symposium. The annual event highlights student research, giving students the opportunity to present their work.

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

It began as a lofty goal: raise $23,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network. Many told them this couldn’t be done. Many suggested lowering their goal to a more feasible number. But after a year of fundraising, Stephen F. Austin State University students raised more than $33,000 through the annual Dance Marathon — surpassing their initial goal by more than $10,000.

“Our students seriously considered lowering the goal this year, but they decided The SFA Way, an honor code grounded by five principles for personal excellence, compelled them to strive for excellence in everything they did and kept the goal,” said Dr. Adam Peck, dean of student affairs. “The fact that our students surpassed their goal shows them the value of their hard work and passion. I truly believe this experience will be something they remember for the rest of their lives.”

Dance Marathon is a national movement encouraging students to engage in peer-to-peer fundraising with proceeds benefiting Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. SFA’s proceeds will go to Christus Trinity Mother Frances Health Systems in Tyler, the only designated Children’s Miracle Network hospital in Northeast Texas, and will support its pediatric programs, including the neonatal intensive care unit and special needs clinic.

More than 670 students participated in fundraising, which included selling concessions at basketball games, partnering with local businesses for profit sharing, hosting events on campus and encouraging a fundraising competition among SFA’s Greek organizations.

Each person who registered as a dancer had an online fundraising page. Molly Moody, assistant director of leadership and service who helped oversee the Dance Marathon, said 70 percent of the funds raised came from peer-to-peer fundraising.

“The primary goal of the Dance Marathon is to raise awareness and then to celebrate, in unity, our success and impact as Lumberjacks,” Moody said.

At the end of the campaign, SFA held a celebration on campus to reveal the final total and celebrate with the Nacogdoches and university communities with games, food and dancing.

“I have been watching the number rise all year, and the last the students knew before the final reveal was that they had raised a little more than $17,000,” Moody said. “Watching them learn they completely superseded their goal was a magical moment.”

More than 300 students danced at this event with many dancing for lost loved ones or to make a difference in the world.

“I didn’t know why I danced really until the day of the event. It was one of the most fulfilling days of my life,” said Carly Nichols, psychology major from Belton, Texas. “Being able to raise this much money for so many kids is amazing.”

Camarin Guillory, mass communication major from The Woodlands, said dancing inspired her and it was a “a privilege to dance for such a great cause.”

Three years ago, SFA held its first Dance Marathon and raised about $8,300. The second year students raised around $7,400.

For more information about SFA leadership programs, visit sfasu.edu/studentaffairs.

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

Senior students enrolled in Stephen F. Austin State University’s DeWitt School of Nursing put the skills learned in the classroom to use during a recent disaster simulation drill, evaluating and treating ‘patients’ and transporting them to safety.

The School of Nursing conducts the drills each fall and spring semester. Student leaders are elected by their classmates to organize the event.

“It prepares us to really think on our feet,” said Joshua Bliss, an SFA simulation team leader from Austin. “As nurses, we have to be prepared for everything.”

Participants acted as both nurses and patients during two different scenarios – an active shooter situation and a simulated bomb incident. For each drill, the nurses triaged patients, denoting the condition of their injuries before carrying them on backboards to treatment areas for medical attention.

The Nacogdoches Fire Department assisted in both simulations, helping the nurses and acting as a hazmat team and law enforcement during the drill.

Bliss and fellow team leader Shannon Morris of Cypress have been preparing for the drill since the beginning of the semester, working with student committees to plan, gather supplies and coordinate the simulations.

The drill helps better equip the students to work in high-stress situations, Bliss said.

“It’s going to help us if a disaster actually happens because we will be able to put our skills as nurses to work,” Bliss said.

For more information about the SFA nursing program, visit www.sfasu.edu/nursing.

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