Everything Nac

The Texas Tribune will host a free event featuring a conversation with Sen. Robert Nichols and Rep. Travis Clardy from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. May 7 at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Evan Smith, Texas Tribune CEO and editor-in-chief, will moderate the discussion, which will be followed by an audience question-and-answer session.

Nichols, R-Jacksonville, represents District 3 in the Senate and serves as the chair of the Transportation Committee and as a member of the finance, administration, and business and commerce committees. He is a member of the Legislative Audit Committee and is serving a third term on the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission.

Nichols has a degree in industrial engineering from Lamar University and served for eight years as Texas transportation commissioner.

Clardy, R-Nacogdoches, represents District 11 in the Texas House where he serves as vice chair of the Local and Consent Calendars Committee and as a member of the higher education and energy resources committees. Clardy graduated from Abilene Christian University with a business administration degree in 1984 and received his law degree from Pepperdine University in 1998. He leads the East Texas office of the Kelly Hart & Hallman law firm.

Guests are asked register for the event in advance at www.sfasu.edu/texastribune. Held in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Grand Ballroom, doors will open at 11:30 a.m., and the conversation will begin at noon. A light lunch will be provided.

The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that promotes civic engagement and discourse on public policy, politics, government and other matters of statewide concern. To learn more, visit texastribune.org.

For more information, call (936) 468-2605.

Stephen F. Austin State University senior Bailey Freeman of Lufkin received the Olds Family Outstanding Student Teacher Award, which honors an exemplary student teacher each semester from SFA’s Department of Elementary Education.

University field supervisor MaryAnn Bentley nominated Freeman for this honor, and a committee of five SFA elementary education faculty members, who reviewed teaching videos and additional materials, selected her to receive the award.

Freeman will graduate SFA this month with a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies. Her specialization is teaching fourth through eighth grade. She completed her student teaching at Central Heights Middle School in the Central Heights Independent School District with eighth-grade teacher Brenda Trantham serving as her mentor.

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

Not only was Kaitlin Stewart, Stephen F. Austin State University history and geography freshman, the youngest presenter at the 2018 American Association of Geographers annual conference, but she also earned one of only two awards presented by the Supporting Women in Geography organization.

“I felt a little intimidated and under qualified. However, I was received warmly, and many people were impressed with how young I was,” Stewart said.

SFA’s Department of Anthropology, Geography and Sociology sponsored Stewart at the conference, held in New Orleans. Stewart presented research about the Chin, a group of immigrants living in North Texas. She presented alongside graduate students and advanced undergraduates from around the nation.

Stewart’s presentation received an honorable mention from Supporting Women in Geography, a group of accomplished geography professionals.

“I submitted my paper with no expectations. When I talked to women at the conference — women who have been studying geography for years — and they told me my paper had promise and potential, it blew me away,” Stewart said. “This experience has encouraged me to keep working hard in my studies.”

Originally a history major, Stewart decided to double major in history and geography after completing a course with Dr. Jeffery Roth, SFA associate professor of geography. Roth encouraged Stewart to pursue geography and to conduct research.

“The entire geography department has been my biggest support moving through my research process,” Stewart said. “My professors are encouraging, and I feel like I can always go to them if I need help.”

For more information on SFA’s Department of Anthropology, Geography and Sociology, visit sfasu.edu/anthrogeosoc/ or call (936) 468-4405.

By Emily Brown, marketing communications specialist for Stephen F. Austin State University.

Members of Stephen F. Austin State University’s professional business student organization Phi Beta Lambda made history and won nine awards at the recent Texas State Leadership Conference.

John Cohen, organization president and senior accounting major from Mesquite, was named Who’s Who for PBL and became the first SFA student to receive this honor.

“I’ve been a member of this amazing organization since my freshman year, and I’ve been in leadership roles from the get-go,” Cohen said. “Having a physical object to memorialize my accomplishments, the friends I’ve made and the mentors I’ve learned from is something I’ll always treasure.”

During the conference, students from the Rusche College of Business competed against universities from all over Texas in events that tested their business knowledge and skills. These competitive events included objective tests and/or performance-based activities. SFA students brought home wins in various categories.

First-place winners include Christopher Weir in contemporary sports issues; Mia Branch in desktop publishing; and Mark McLean in macroeconomics, who also placed second in financial concepts. Second-place winners include Miguel Leeroy Silva in microeconomics and Bertha Bailey in retail management. Shaye Smith placed second in job interview and third in public speaking. Aaron Lee placed third in sports management and marketing.

“I’m proud of all the students for their hard work and dedication. They are great students, and these accomplishments not only reflect highly upon them, but also on the college and university,” said Manuel Guerrero, lecturer in the Department of Business Communication and Legal Studies and PBL advisor.

Students attended workshops to help them better understand business and to network with industry professionals.

This summer SFA students who placed either first or second at the state conference will compete in the national conference in Baltimore, Maryland.

PBL is a nonprofit educational association for students preparing for careers in business, entrepreneurial or business-related fields. It is open to all business majors.

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