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Six first-generation students at Stephen F. Austin State University received $5,000 scholarships from Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages to help with their financial needs so they can continue their studies at the university.

The scholarships were awarded through an SFA Student Success Center program called Generation Jacks, an extended learning community for students who are the first in their families to achieve four-year college educations. GenJacks members take classes together, participate in service activities and host social events for the GenJacks community.

“With 42% percent of SFA’s student population being first-generation students, we work hard to make a difference in their lives by helping them earn their degrees and launch successful careers,” said Raquel Skidmore, director of the Student Success Center. “The donation from Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages truly will have a great impact on these students’ lives.”

The six recipients are Josephine Damian, first-year criminal justice major from Friendswood; Roselen Ramirez, first-year social work major from Coppell; Jazmin Eguia, sophomore modern languages major from Houston; MaryAlexa Borrovich Quijano, sophomore business management major from Nacogdoches; Jada Cartwright, junior criminal justice major from Lockhart; and Sabrina Gutierrez, senior interior design major from Austin.

“As a first-generation college student, I am thankful for this support because it means I can continue my college education,” Eguia said. “Your help motivates me to continue doing my best. Thank you very much for this opportunity.”

Participation in the GenJacks learning community has shown to help students earn higher GPAs, receive enhanced faculty and professional academic advisor support, and engage more in student activities, among other benefits.

According to SFA’s Office of Strategic Analytics and Institutional Research, the one-year retention rate of GenJacks students is 87% compared to 72% for other first-gen students at SFA and 81% for students who are not first-generation.

The six-year graduation rate of GenJacks students is 76% compared to 51% for first-generation students not supported by the program and 59% for students who are not first-generation.

For more information about SFA’s Student Success Center and its GenJacks initiatives, visit sfasu.edu/ssc.

ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY

Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 37 academic facilities, nine residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering more than 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.

By University Marketing Communications

The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Human Sciences’ six-week community nutrition program, Cooking Matters, completed its eighth year at a Nacogdoches food pantry’s new resource center earlier this month.

Partnering with the East Texas Food Bank and Nacogdoches HOPE Food Pantry, students in SFA’s community nutrition course provided nutrition education and basic cooking lessons to participants in the community from Oct. 2 through Nov. 6.

“My community nutrition students provided the hands-on learning experience through nutrition education, grocery store tours and cooking classes,” said Justin Pelham, SFA food, nutrition and dietetics clinical instructor. “It’s great watching students step out of their comfort zones and learn to work with a diverse population in the community. Students find this experience enlightening, engaging and practical working with local community members who might have limited nutritional resources in their daily lives.”

This was the first year the course was taught at the new HOPE Resource Center, which officially opened in March 2023.

“This new facility has allowed our students to better meet our participants’ needs,” Pelham said. “We plan to continue our partnerships thanks to our strong relationship with Kinsey Thompson, nutrition education manager at the East Texas Food Bank, and Dr. Sharon Ninness, HOPE Resource Center liaison, who have been excellent assets during this initial year of the center. We look forward to future events taking place at the facility.”

The goal of Cooking Matters is for SFA students in the James I. Perkins College of Education to receive real-world experience by teaching people healthy eating habits and budgeting. Each class has a nutrition education component followed by a cooking segment. To complete the program, participants must have attended four out of the six classes. This year, 13 community members completed the program, celebrating with nutrition jeopardy, a potluck and a graduation ceremony.

Each Cooking Matters class allowed for up to 20 participants. At the conclusion of each lesson, participants received a free bag of groceries to replicate meals at home with their family and friends. The majority of students in the course are dietetics and nutritional sciences majors or food and nutrition majors.

For more information on SFA’s food and nutrition program and dietetics and nutritional sciences program, visit sfasu.edu/hms.

ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY

Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 37 academic facilities, nine residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering more than 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.

By Parastoo Nikravesh, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University