Everything Nac

Several Stephen F. Austin State University students from the Rusche College of Business were among the top award winners during the recent Phi Beta Lambda Texas State Leadership Conference.

During the conference, students compete in events that test their business knowledge and skills. These competitive events include objective tests and/or performance-based activities on a variety of topics, such as computer and entrepreneurship concepts, forensic accounting, strategic and statistical analysis, sales, website design, and more.

SFA students placed in 18 categories, with some students receiving multiple awards. The awards included 10 first-place finishes, eight second-place wins and five third-place awards. The students who placed first and second will compete in the National Leadership Conference in June in San Antonio.

“This is a huge success for all the members who competed and for our chapter overall,” said Manuel Guerrero, lecturer in SFA’s Department of Business Communication and Legal Studies and advisor of the professional business student organization PBL.

First-place winners include Bailey Garner in contemporary sports issues and sales presentation; Michael Kugler in forensic accounting, sports management and marketing, and strategic analysis and decision-making; Johanna Bruhn and Brittney Upstill in website design; Max Reynolds in future business executive; Miguel Silva in statistical analysis; Clay Cyr in macroeconomics; and Regan Humphreys in business communication.

Second-place winners include Nicholas Law in business presentation; Cyr, Victoria Garza and Leah Salazar in business ethics; Salazar in microeconomics; Laci Logan in sports management and marketing; Fil Escobedo in retail management; Christopher Weir in entrepreneurship concepts; William Gervasi in macroeconomics; and Aaron Lee in contemporary sports issues.

Third-place winners were Scott Moore in computer concepts; Sergio Jaimes in job interview; Gervasi in microeconomics; Lauren Garcia in organizational behavior and leadership; and Matheus Carneiro in business presentation.

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

When one door closes, another often opens. This is true for Stephen F. Austin State University senior Catherine Lard, who discovered her true calling after changing her major from nursing to orientation and mobility.

A Baytown native, Lard has been a member and now president of the Braille and Cane Club and SFA Adaptive Sports Club. Members in both organizations utilize various events and outreach projects to advocate for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.

“I’m so glad I found this major,” Lard said. “One of my biggest fears was to sit in an office all day, and with this degree I’m outside all the time moving.”

Lard’s efforts were recently recognized during SFA’s Annual Leadership and Service Awards hosted by the Office of Student Affairs. Lard was named the Baker Pattillo Student Leader of the Year, an award honoring a student who demonstrates outstanding commitment to his or her academic endeavors and peers as shown through the student’s activities and significant contributions to the university and community.

“It is a huge honor to receive this award. I really have worked hard, and it’s an amazing feeling to be recognized,” Lard said. “Being in these clubs has pushed me to do what I never thought I could. It’s been a huge blessing to see the clubs grow and accomplish so much this year.”

DJ Dean, clinical instructor and advisor for the orientation and mobility program, explained Lard is an active participant in all transformational experiences offered through SFA’s orientation and mobility program, such as assisting or leading in the new employee blind mobility training at the Lufkin State Supported Living Center, participating in area events for students with visual impairments, and attending state and regional conferences.

“Catherine is an exceptional student who goes above and beyond inside and outside the classroom,” Dean said.

To learn more about SFA’s orientation and mobility program, visit sfasu.edu/humanservices/122.asp.

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

The Men’s Choir and Women’s Choir at Stephen F. Austin State University will present a concert featuring a variety of performers, including high school choirs from Nacogdoches and Lufkin, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 3, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

“Songs My Mother Taught Me” is a collection of folk songs, game songs and hymns from around the world, according to Dr. Tod Fish, associate director of choral activities at SFA and conductor of the choirs.

The Women’s Choir will perform Stephen Hatfield’s popular arrangement of the Brazilian folk song “O sapo” (The Toad). Dr. Kristin Lyman, assistant professor of music education at SFA, will play percussion on the song.

“This piece is highly rhythmic with lots of Portuguese that has served as a challenge for the choir,” Fish said. “There are many cool uses of alliteration from the lower three voices to serve as examples of the Tico Tico tradition.”

Herbert Midgley, music technology lecturer, will also join the Women’s Choir on the guitar for their performance of “Shady Grove.”

The Men’s Choir will perform Brian Tate’s arrangement of “Ehara,” which is a Maori folk song from the indigenous Polynesian culture of New Zealand.

“The song speaks to the ideals that love, life, faith and hope are nothing new, and they are handed down from our ancestors,” Fish explained.

The concert will conclude with SFA Men’s and Women’s choirs combining with the varsity mixed choirs from Lufkin and Nacogdoches high schools to perform Peter Wilhousky’s stirring arrangement of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

“We are excited to have these two choirs, directed by SFA alumnae Nicole Stewart and Jennifer Weems, respectively, joining us,” Fish said.

String students from the studios of Dr. Jennifer Dalmas, professor of violin and viola, and Dr. Evgeni Raychev, cello adjunct faculty, will accompany the choirs on various selections.

“I am also thankful for suggestions from Dr. Brad Meyer and members of his percussion studio for their stylistic suggestions,” Fish said.

The concert is a presentation of the College of Fine Arts and School of Music. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.