Everything Nac

American Advertising Federation student team members from Stephen F. Austin State University presented their “Trailblazers” collaborative marketing communications design campaign to client sponsor Indeed.com at the AAF District 10 competition held recently in Austin.

SFA art, marketing and mass communications students developed a comprehensive marketing plan to help 18- to 24-year-olds discover job opportunities through the Indeed.com website.

The competition, known as the National Student Advertising Competition and nicknamed “The World Series of Advertising,” is hosted by AAF. SFA was one of 16 universities from four states to present at the regional competition. AAF District 10 includes Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

The original creative idea “Trailblazers” showcases leaders who create new opportunities for others, including motivational celebrities such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Beyoncé, and features streaming video content intended to inspire the audience.

Corporations aren’t the only ones that need strong brands to stand out among the crowd. Individuals need them as well, according to speakers at the College to Career Conference sponsored by Stephen F. Austin State University’s Rusche College of Business.

Held in April, C2C featured 10 sessions that included a keynote presentation by Melanie Northcutt, SFA alumna and owner of Sugar Magnolia Properties, a boutique real estate agency in downtown Longview.

Northcutt offered three steps that helped her establish her personal brand: “get them to know you, get them to like you, and get them to trust you.”

She accomplished her first step in 2012 by establishing the Young Professionals of Longview to help young people in the community connect, share ideas and promote their businesses. The organization had more than 200 members.

“I saw a need, and I worked to fill it,” she said.

Northcutt achieved her second step by “volunteering in my community – saying ‘yes’ to everything. Give, give, give. I was genuinely and authentically me while growing my network and giving back to my community for many years.”

The third step involved opening her own real estate agency in 2017 and earning the trust of her new clients.

“I wanted a company name that evoked a feeling, vibe and emotion,” Northcutt said. “I wanted you to feel the two-story white house with the picket fence enveloped by the white azaleas and the magnolia trees — to feel the steel magnolia, to feel the southern belle, to feel Melanie Northcutt, the brand behind the name.”

Building trust requires hard work, follow-through and consistency over time, she said.

“Trust comes with experience and doing what you say you’re going to do. If you want a strong, consistent brand, you cannot stray. It has to be laser focused and crystal clear.”

Northcutt maintains trust by making sure her brand is consistent across all platforms and aligns with her core values: be strong, courageous, brave and bold; always be kind; you get more flies with honey than vinegar; spontaneity and flexibility are the spice of life; follow through with your commitments; your name and reputation are all you have; know when to be quiet; you can only control what you can control.

“And my final core value, in the words of Dolly Parton, ‘Find out who you are and do it on purpose.’”

Representatives from more than 30 companies also offered their advice on personal branding as well as business ethics and communications, social media, networking and other topics. In addition, they answered students’ job search questions and conducted mock interviews to help students build confidence.

“This conference is designed to help students feel welcomed and seen by the supportive and successful professionals here today as the students learn more about the tools they need to launch their careers,” said Dr. Laurie Rogers, assistant dean for academic and career success in the business college’s Office of Student Services.

To learn more about the Rusche College of Business, visit sfasu.edu/cob.

Story by Johanna Gilmore, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University. Photo by Lizeth Garcia.

Music enthusiasts will have a special opportunity to hear a performance by two of Nacogdoches’ most beloved young pianists, Nio and Oliva Ajero, when the sibling duo performs a concert to benefit the Music Preparatory Division of Stephen F. Austin State University’ School of Music.

The primary goal of the “Harmony for Hope” concert, scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 23, at First Baptist Church, is to collect funds to be used to offer scholarships to Music Prep students who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and talent in their musical pursuits and who have financial need, according to Alba Madrid, director of the Music Prep program.

“By providing these scholarships, we hope to make the gift of music accessible to all students, regardless of their financial circumstances,” Madrid said. “Contributions to this event will help us make a positive impact in the lives of these students.”

The Ajeros have given annual solo piano recitals since the age of 5, but this will be the first program where they will both be featured as soloists – taking turns playing works by great classical composers – and finishing with a duet arrangement by Sergei Rachmaninoff of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Sleeping Beauty Waltz.”

According to Music Prep instructor Linda Parr, a number of Nacogdoches entities and volunteers have worked tirelessly to increase fine arts and cultural opportunities in the area, specifically for children.

“Festivals have been popular downtown, and Nacogdoches Independent School District now presents an annual showcase at Thomas J. Rusk Elementary School,” Parr said. “Many in the community may not be aware of SFA’s Music Preparatory Division and its high quality program, or how the faculty has worked successfully since 1980 with children, young adults and seniors. The areas of piano, strings, choir and Kindermusik have been particularly successful. The purpose of ‘Harmony for Hope’ is to raise awareness as well as raise scholarship funds for those needing financial help.

“By featuring the Ajero siblings in this amazing piano performance program, we hope to reach more of our community,” she said. “Both Nio and Olivia have already been ambassadors of Prep by playing in public festivals, fundraisers and church services.”

Each year, Music Prep awards a total of $6,000 to students to help them continue their private lessons year after year.

“Many of our most gifted students need help to cover the tuition costs of music instruction,” Parr said. “Our students have gone on to become successful musicians or have continued to find satisfaction with accompanying, church or community music involvement. Many are great supporters of the arts.”

Dr. Mario Ajero, professor of piano pedagogy at SFA and Nio and Oliva’s father, said Music Prep has played a “crucial role” in his children’s musical development.

“The special attention and care that Linda Parr has devoted in nurturing their musical growth along with her other piano students has been wonderful and is unique to Music Prep.,” Ajero said. “The opportunities to perform on the same stages – SFA’s Music Recital Hall and Cole Concert Hall – that they grew up watching our music school faculty, college students and guest artists perform on, has inspired them and shown them that performing is something they want to do for the rest of their lives.”

Music has the power to enrich communities in a multitude of ways, Madrid said. “It can bring people together, foster a sense of belonging and shared identity, and provide a means of expression and communication that transcends cultural, linguistic and social barriers.”

The Music Prep Division of the School of Music views itself as “a strong outreach extension of the collegiate experience,” Parr said.

“When a university like SFA can provide high quality instruction and provide live world-class performances, the entire community benefits,” she said.

First Baptist Church is locate at 411 North St. Donations to support Music Prep scholarships will be accepted at the door. For more information about Music Prep, contact Madrid at (936) 468-1291 or madrida@sfasu.edu or musicprep@sfasu.edu, or visit sfamusicprep.com. Registration forms for summer programs, including detailed schedules and private lesson tuition, can be accessed at sfamusicprep.com/summer-23/.