Everything Nac

The College of Fine Arts at Stephen F. Austin State University has canceled all public performances scheduled for the remainder of the spring semester in response to SFA’s decision to cancel or postpone all on-campus programs, gatherings and events until further notice due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19.

This includes all plays, concerts, recitals and art exhibitions and the final University Series and Children’s Performing Arts Series events for this season – the University Series presentation of “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” originally scheduled for April 16, and the children’s show “Cinderella,” scheduled for April 28.

On Thursday, SFA President Dr. Scott Gordon announced the remainder of spring semester classes and all summer session classes will be offered online or in distance-education formats. Additionally, until further notice, all on-campus programs, gatherings and events will be canceled, postponed or moved online to a virtual setting. These include office or faculty meetings, student programs and community events, in addition to all athletic events and public performances.

“We are still dying to present the marvelous cast of ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’,’ and they are eager to perform for the SFA and Nacogdoches communities,” said Scott Shattuck, associate dean of the College of Fine Arts and director of the University Series, “but obviously this spring isn’t the time. We’re in discussions about the possibility of a fall performance, but until we’re able to set a date certain, unfortunately we need to cancel the final series event of this season.”

Diane Peterson, Fine Arts Box Office manager and director of SFA’s children’s series, said, “‘Cinderella’ has been added to next season’s children’s series and will be presented in spring 2021. We are excited that East Texas school children will have the opportunity to see this fun-filled production.”

Refunds for advance purchase tickets are available on request through the event date printed on the ticket. Any ticket money not refunded will be used by the College of Fine Arts to defray expenses already incurred by the event. For details about advance ticket refunds, contact the Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For official information about SFA’s cancellation of on-campus activities and the university’s response to the COVID-19 public health crisis, go to http://www.sfasu.edu/life-at-sfa/health-safety/health-clinic/coronavirus.

Dr. Jennifer Newquist, assistant professor in Stephen F. Austin State University’s School of Human Sciences, received the Lane Powell Mentorship Award at the Texas Council on Family Relations annual conference on March 5 in Houston.

Newquist was nominated by Jaycie Case, a graduate student from Aledo in SFA’s human development and family studies program in the James I. Perkins College of Education.

“She has poured so much of her time and energy into mentoring me and so many others outside SFA, as well,” Case said of Newquist. “You can be an excellent professional in this field, but being dedicated to students in their professional and personal endeavors makes that individual so much more special.”

Established in 2016, the Lane Powell Mentorship Award recognizes professionals who have made a significant contribution in family life education and practice, marriage and family therapy, and/or family-related research through mentoring students and new professionals.

Named for Lane Powell, an outstanding teacher, scholar and mentor, the award is presented at TXCFR’s annual conference in the years a worthy recipient is selected.

“The in-depth nomination process allows you to prove exactly why your nominee deserves the award,” Case said.

Newquist is only the second person to be honored with this award since its inception.

“One of my greatest joys is being able to provide professional development and mentoring to future professionals,” Newquist said. “I am truly honored to be nominated by one of my students, and receiving this award further motivates me to continue providing mentorship not only to the students here at SFA but family studies students throughout the U.S.”

Newquist is serving as the advisor for TXCFR’s Student/New Professional Program this year. This program provides support, resources and opportunities for students and new professionals whose careers focus on family well-being in Texas.

The SNPP meeting Newquist planned at TXCFR’s annual conference helped students and new professionals learn about the soft skills they need to be successful in the workplace.

To learn more about SFA’s human development and family studies program, email newquistjl@sfasu.edu.

By Jo Gilmore, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

For the first time since 2006, the Stephen F. Austin State University Bass Fishing Club has won the Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship.

The competition was held Feb. 26 through 28 on the Harris Chain of Lakes, part of the Ocklawaha River basin in Central Florida. This is the third national championship victory in the club’s history.

On Feb. 28, marketing sophomore Ethan LeGare of Dallas and marketing junior Hank Harrison of South Padre Island weighed in the biggest bag of the day at 20 pounds, 8 ounces, giving them a total weight of 56 pounds, 5 ounces. They beat the Sam Houston State University team by an ounce.

In addition to the trophy, LeGare and Harrison won a $33,500 prize package, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Suzuki outboard.

The SFA team members also qualify as professionals for the 2020 Toyota Series Championship Nov. 5 through 7 on Lake Cumberland in Burnside, Kentucky. The championship awards $235,000 for first place.

LeGare and Harrison caught their fish by targeting grassy flats on points next to spawning pockets in Lake Beauclair, Lake Dora and Lake Eustis.

“The key to winning was adapting to the changing weather conditions and being versatile with our bait selection,” LeGare said.

On the first day of the competition, the SFA team took advantage of the barometric pressure being at its lowest point of the week due to a cold front moving in that night.

“The conditions on days two and three were tougher, but we slowed down our approach to the fish we were catching,” LeGare said. “With the barometric pressure being high on days two and three, slowing down and changing up our baits were key strategies to getting our fish to bite.”

The reservoirs and lakes near SFA helped the team gain the experience they needed to be flexible during the competition. Harrison added that the main reason he chose to attend SFA was to fish.

“I’ve always loved East Texas, but to have Sam Rayburn Reservoir and Toledo Bend Reservoir both within an hour from campus, I was sold,” he said. “Both of these lakes are consistently rated as some of the best in the country, and Sam Rayburn is in the running for the best lake in the world by Bassmaster Magazine.”

Because of these two reservoirs, as well as the numerous small lakes nearby, “There’s no better place to go to school and expand your skills as a fisherman than SFA,” Harrison said.

For more information on the SFA Bass Fishing Club, email Dr. Eric Jones, professor in SFA’s Department of Kinesiology and Health Science and the club’s faculty sponsor, at jonesej@sfasu.edu.

By Jo Gilmore, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Due to Stephen F. Austin State University suspending all student activities until April 6th, 2020 due to COVID-19. SFASU Department of Military Science is postponing the LT. Kile G. West Memorial Race. Rescheduled race day will be determined at a later date based on university and local authority safety guidance.