Everything Nac

A limited number of centennial volumes of Stephen F. Austin State University’s Stone Fort yearbook, celebrating a century of Lumberjack history and tradition, are available this fall for purchase by alumni, supporters and community members while supplies last.

The full-color, hardback edition costs $67 and features 312 pages of SFA images and stories pertaining to the past year and all 99 years that came before it. Proceeds from annual yearbook sales are used to help cover the cost of printing and pay for SFA student writers, photographers and editors who work for the award-winning publication.

“The yearbook staff set a goal in summer 2022 to elevate the centennial edition in all aspects, from making it full color to delving deep into the institution’s history for content and perspective to designing a high-quality cover that would look nice on any Lumberjack’s coffee table for years to come,” said Laney Wise, current Stone Fort editor-in-chief.

“Working on the centennial yearbook was such an honor,” said Wise, a junior graphic design major from Keller. “I feel incredibly lucky to have been a part of such an important piece of SFA history, and I had an amazing time getting to talk to so many of my peers to help tell the story of SFA.”

Many historical photos and references from past SFA yearbooks made their way into the special centennial edition, said SFA Department of Student Publications Coordinator and Stone Fort advisor Rachel Clark.

“The students and staff have had a lot of fun during the last year reviewing past yearbooks and seeing how the campus has changed over the decades, not to mention students’ outfits and hairstyles,” she said. “But just as remarkable to us was the realization that a lot of aspects of student life at SFA, in particular Lumberjacks’ school spirit and reverence for tradition, haven’t really changed that much in the past 100 years.”

The first volume of the Stone Fort yearbook was produced in 1924 and chronicled the first academic year of SFA’s history. Except for two years during the Great Depression, the yearbook has recorded each intervening year of the unique SFA student experience.

Just a handful of Texas universities and only four public institutions in the state are still producing a traditional, printed yearbook each year, according to Amy Roquemore, director of student publications and divisional media at SFA. The Stone Fort routinely wins writing, photography and design awards from the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association and earned two national awards from the College Media Association in 2022.

“Changes in the student staffs’ interests and preferences, as well as publication design trends and cultural and societal institutions, have resulted in each Stone Fort yearbook’s uniqueness, yet the volumes share a throughline of Lumberjack history, spirit and tradition,” Roquemore said. “For the centennial edition, the staff doubled down on SFA history, and the students did an outstanding job of encapsulating highlights of the 2022-23 academic year while also paying homage to the history and alumni behind a lot of the traditions and activities Lumberjacks take part in today.”

Roquemore said the professional and student staffs decided early on in the centennial yearbook’s production to make the special edition available to alumni and community members in addition to current student yearbook subscribers.

“We knew this would be a one-of-a-kind piece of SFA history that Lumberjacks would want to have, whether they attended classes last week or many decades ago,” she added.

To purchase a centennial Stone Fort yearbook, call the SFA Department of Student Publications at (936) 468-4703, email clarkr1@sfasu.edu or stop by the office located in Room 2.308 of the Baker Pattillo Student Center.

Stone Fort yearbook

Preserving one of the oldest traditions at SFA, Stone Fort staff members strive to create a yearbook that accurately captures the essence of the university and what it means to be a Lumberjack. Through compelling storytelling, captivating images and imaginative design, the staff works to foster a sense of community while developing talented students who share passions for journalism and art. Each volume is intended to portray the SFA student experience with accuracy and integrity, serving as one of the university’s primary sources of recorded history.

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 36 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.

“Yes, We Deliver,” a play written by Dr. Kenneth Untiedt, professor in the Department of English and Creative Writing at Stephen F. Austin State University, will open Friday, Sept. 15, at the Lamp-Lite Theatre.

The showings will take place at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Sept 15-16 and 22-23. Sunday matinees begin at 2 p.m. Sept. 17 and 24.

“Yes, We Deliver” debuted in 2018 and was the first play Untiedt ever wrote. It tells the story of protagonist Jack Stephens, who has taken a job delivering pizzas at Pizza Rena’s while he attempts to “find himself.” Stephens has no interest in going to law school and following in his father’s footsteps at the law firm his grandfather started. Voluntarily displaced from his wealthy family and privileged station in life, Stephens begins to discover what is truly important to him as he interacts with fellow employees and some of the restaurant’s most interesting customers as he visits their homes.

According to Untiedt, who gained inspiration for the play from working at a pizza delivery restaurant in his youth, some of the characters and situations are loosely based on his experiences.

“The audience can expect to laugh a lot and, hopefully, to share the lessons the main character learns about what’s important in life,” Untiedt said. “The play is unique because it takes place in the restaurant and at a variety of different delivery locations, which change with each scene.”

Lamp-Lite Theatre is located at 4210 Lamp-Lite Lane, or near the intersection of U.S. Highway 59 and Old Tyler Road. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for senior citizens and $8 for students with a valid ID. An audience dress rehearsal will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, and tickets are $5.

For more information about the theatre, visit lamplitetheatre.com or email lamplitetheatre@gmail.com.

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 36 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

Stephen F. Austin State University’s League of United Latin American Citizens was honored with the National Membership Award and the title of the Young Women of the Year for the state of Texas while attending the 2023 LULAC National Convention and Exposition from Aug. 1-5 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The LULAC National Convention draws approximately 15,000 participants each year, including leaders in government, business and the Latino community. The nationwide organization was founded to advance opportunities for all Hispanic nationality groups.

“This award was earned in part because of the council’s dedication and commitment to addressing social injustice and raising awareness for Latinos and other people of color with their work within the SFA campus community,” said Ja’von Long, assistant director in SFA’s Office of Multicultural Affairs.

SFA’s chapter of LULAC had not attended the national convention since 2019, when they won the honor of National Council of the Year. This year, they raised funds and applied for scholarships from the national convention to send members to the event. While several members applied, two members — Launa Castañeda, LULAC president, and Ivy Cortez, vice president of civil rights — received full scholarships, covering lodging and transportation.

“I honestly was not sure what to expect as the other conventions our members have attended had different areas of focus, and the national convention is a mix of not only educational panels but a time to prep for LULAC’s goals for the next year,” said Cortez, senior English major with a concentration in secondary education from Galena Park. “As for the award, that was a complete surprise. There was some miscommunication about which ones we might be eligible for, so I was pleasantly shocked when we won the National Membership Award. It was an honor to accept it on behalf of our council.”

According to Castañeda, senior political science major from Garland, LULAC has grown drastically from when she was first president, growing from only nine members a year ago to 50 members today.

The organization is committed to bettering the community. Members volunteer to help Nacogdoches High School students learn English, assist at the Nacogdoches Animal Shelter, and advocate for improved accommodations for SFA custodial staff members.

They also participate in community service events, such as SFA’s Big Event and MLK Day of Service. Additionally, LULAC will host their Collegiate LULAC Conference from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 30 in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Grand Ballroom on the SFA campus. The conference theme is “Empowerment and Individuality!”

“The National Membership Award shows that all our hard work is paying off and is a testament to what we accomplish at SFA and the impact we have within our community and nationally,” Castañeda said. “We would not be where we are now without our members and their dedication to this organization, and I am so proud of that fact.”

To learn more about SFA LULAC, visit their Instagram @sfalulac or email them at pineywoodslulac@gmail.com.

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 36 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