Everything Nac

Members of the Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts Dean’s Circle recently recognized its 2016 award recipients at the annual Spotlight on the Arts and Winners’ Circle reception held in The Old Tobacco Warehouse in downtown Nacogdoches.

This year’s recipients, who were announced and honored in April, were re-introduced at the reception. Recipients included Kaylee J. Bruggeman, Katy art education major, recipient of the Ed and Gwen Cole Dean’s Award in Art; Mikayla E. Stillwell, Desoto music education major, recipient of the Jack and Naioma Ledbetter Dean’s Award in Music; Allison A. Adams, Gladewater music education major, recipient of the Dr. Robert Sidnell Memorial Dean’s Award in Music Education; and Taylor R. Dobbs, Baytown theatre major, recipient of the George and Peggy Schmidbauer Dean’s Award in Theatre.

In addition to recognizing the accomplishments of students, the Dean’s Circle is also focused on recognizing excellence among fine arts faculty. The Dean’s Circle realized the College of Fine Arts’ first ever endowed professorship last year, and its first recipient, Dr. Charles Gavin, professor of horn and chamber music at SFA, was also honored at the event.

Each student recipient was selected by the faculty of their respective schools on the basis of their potential to further develop their artistic goals and serve as role models, according to Dr. A.C. “Buddy” Himes, dean of the College of Fine Arts.

The Dean’s Awards not only recognize the recipients for what they have already accomplished, but the awards are also designed to inspire them to reach deep from within to aspire to a higher level of excellence, Himes explained. The awards were established by the Dean’s Circle, an external support organization of community members founded in 2008 and “dedicated, in part, to nurturing potential young artists within the College of Fine Arts,” Himes said.

This year’s Winners’ Circle also featured the first-ever Fine Arts Faculty Spotlight, which included a camera drone exhibition by Chris Talbot, director of the SFA School of Art; a Sculpture For All exhibition by Jeffie Brewer, School of Art; How To Make a CD Recording exhibition by Dr. Deb Scott, School of Music; and a Dressing the Stars costume exhibition by Angela Bacarisse, School of Theatre.

Student award recipients Bruggeman and Dobbs presented exhibitions of artwork and theatrical scenic design, respectively. Stillwell and Adams performed.

Program sponsors were recognized at the event. Those included Cal-Tex Lumber Company, Nacogdoches Medical Center, Cecil and Gloria Settle, First Bank & Trust East Texas, The Old Tobacco Warehouse, Nacogdoches Memorial Health, Regions Bank, The Daily Sentinel, The Sidnell Family, CBH Insurance Agency and the Nacogdoches Film Festival. The SFA Hospitality Administration Program provided catering.

The annual fall celebration serves as a membership drive and fundraiser for the Dean’s Circle. For information about the Dean’s Circle, contact Himes at (936) 486-2801.

Members of the Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents will host a public groundbreaking of the Ed and Gwen Cole STEM Building at 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7.

The ceremony will follow a regular meeting of the board.

“Construction of the state-of-the-art Ed and Gwen Cole STEM Building will improve the academic and professional lives of SFA students and faculty members for decades to come,” said Regent Barry Nelson, chair of the buildings and grounds committee. “The facility will be yet another educational bridge between the university and the East Texas community and will help SFA continue to produce top-ranking scholars within the STEM fields.”

The SFA Board of Regents approved naming the building in April 2016 for Ed Cole and his wife, the late Gwen Cole, who have supported a number of SFA programs in fine arts, audiology, nursing and athletics, as well as student scholarships.

“Through all their giving, and most recently through a gift dedicated to the STEM initiative, the Coles have shown their pure passion for student success,” said Jill Still, SFA vice president for advancement.

In addition to serving as a showcase for STEM learning and teaching anywhere in the United States, Nelson said the very unique and stunning architecture of the building makes a statement that will serve as an icon for the university.

“Wherever it appears, the building’s likeness will be widely recognized as a landmark of the SFA campus and a beacon attracting students to pursue our various STEM degree courses in a learning environment second to none,” Nelson said.

The 84th Texas Legislature granted SFA approximately $46.4 million in tuition revenue bond funding in 2015 to construct the new science, technology, engineering and mathematics building, which will house the Department of Physics and Astronomy, the Department of Computer Science, a new SFA planetarium with a 52-foot dome, and makerspaces — areas that allow students to collaborate and create prototypes or other manufactured works.

The facility also will feature a machine shop, research laboratories, multipurpose labs, computer labs, collaborative classrooms and a terrace equipped with telescopes.

Stephen F. Austin State University students were among the first-, second- and third-place winning teams at the American Advertising Federation-Houston Student Conference held Oct. 21 and 22 in Houston.

The federation is an association of advertising professionals encompassing all disciplines in the advertising, marketing and communications industries.

Twenty-three SFA students in the School of Art, Department of Management, Marketing and International Business, and Department of Mass Communication competed during the conference.

Amy Keyser, Kingwood art senior, placed first. Brooke Alverson, Nacogdoches mass communication senior; and Theresa Vinh, Houston marketing senior; placed second. Mackenna Cotten, Wimberly art senior; Jordyn Palluth, Keller mass communication senior; and Caitlin Whittington, Corrigan art senior; placed third.

More than 90 students from 13 universities competed during the competition, which tasked students with developing advertising campaign plans designed to increase registration for the city’s AlertHouston emergency alert program.

“The broader goals of this competition included connecting students to industry professionals and local media organizations,” said Dr. Seth Bradshaw, assistant professor in SFA’s Department of Mass Communication.

During the competition, students were placed in groups and visited local advertising agencies, firms, and publishing and media companies to work toward developing an advertising campaign. Students worked within a deadline to create a campaign for their clients and prepare it for judging.

“It’s a great opportunity for students to connect with local professionals and get their contact information,” said Daniel Anguiano, assistant professor in SFA’s School of Art. “Students learn cooperation and teamwork while developing their creative skills.”

The conference also featured a panel discussion from recent college graduates about how to enter the advertising industry, and professionals offered one-on-one feedback to students regarding portfolios and résumés.

“This conference gives students the opportunity to experience what the industry wants and to prepare them to meet industry needs,” said Dr. Marlene Kahla, professor in SFA’s Department of Management, Marketing and International Business.

Stephen F. Austin State University interior design students will host their fifth annual “Silent Night Auction” from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 1 and 2 at the Nacogdoches Convention and Visitors Bureau downtown.

SFA’s American Society of Interior Design and International Interior Design Association student chapters joined forces to orchestrate the fundraiser, which is open to the SFA and Nacogdoches communities.

SFA design students and faculty members created the auction items, which include holiday-themed home décor, high-quality wreaths, signage, gift baskets, art and ornaments. Some items are not holiday-themed.

Funds raised will help send SFA students to the ASID and IIDA Career Days, as well as on an educational trip to Shreveport, Louisiana, to meet with designers and go behind-the-scenes at a casino. During career days, professionals give lectures on the industry, communication techniques and what to expect on the job. Students also have the opportunity to participate in mock interviews and have their portfolios reviewed.

“The field trip and career days give students an opportunity to network and gain exposure in real time. All of the career days have tours to interior design and architectural firms and to construction sites,” said Sally Ann Swearingen, associate professor in SFA’s School of Human Sciences.

For more information, contact Swearingen at sswearingen@sfasu.edu.