Fish recently presented "Fostering Career Readiness: Preparing Gen Z for Careers in Family and Consumer Sciences" at the Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers Association of Texas midwinter conference.

She focused on the topic of how Generation Z is adding new perspectives to education. While the generation is known for its creative ability to obtain information instantaneously, employers are noticing a skills gap for those entering the workforce. Therefore, it's important that educators are engaging students in a career-focused curriculum that prepares students for employability.

Taaffe’s book, "Washington’s Revolutionary War Generals," has been nominated for the Journal of the American Revolution’s book of the year award.

The book is an analysis of the selection and performance of the 73 generals who served under George Washington during the Revolutionary War.

The Nacogdoches and campus communities are invited to experience firsthand what it’s like to live in poverty during SFA’s Office of Multicultural Affairs’ third annual Poverty Simulation.

“The Poverty Simulation is designed to help participants begin to comprehend what it might be like to live in poverty and survive from week to week,” said Veronica Beavers, OMA director.

New to this year’s event is the addition of a second session for SFA nursing students only. The first session will be open to the public. Campus and Nacogdoches community members are invited to serve as volunteers at both sessions.

The event is scheduled for Feb. 14 in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Grand Ballroom. It is free to attend.

The public session will run from 9 a.m. to noon. The nursing-only session will take place from 1 to 4 p.m.

Participation for both sessions is limited, so individuals interested in attending are asked to pre-register by Feb. 7.

To sign up as a participant or volunteer, or for more information, visit sfasu.edu/oma.

SFA's planetarium in the Cole STEM Building will offer new shows on Saturdays starting Feb. 1.

The planetarium has public shows every Saturday with group shows available throughout the week upon reservation.

“Molecularium” is a matinee show that takes audiences on an adventure into the world of atoms and molecules. Geared toward children but open to all ages, the show will be presented at 3 p.m. Tickets are $3.

“Secrets of Stars” will be presented at 4:30 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children, students, and faculty and staff with ID.

“Join narrator Patrick Stewart as we explore the inner workings of stars, their life cycles and many other secrets of these distant suns,” said Ed Michaels, planetarium director.

The shows will be offered Feb. 1 through 29 and March 21.

For more information, to make a group reservation or view the schedule, visit planetarium.sfasu.edu.

Applications for the SFA Charter School will be available in the school's office and are due by 5:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31. Lottery notices will be mailed by Feb. 10. There are expected openings in kindergarten and possible openings in first through fifth grades.

Optional information meetings are scheduled for noon Tuesday, Jan. 28, and 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, in the Janice A. Pattillo Early Childhood Research Center, Room 212.

For more information, call (936) 468-5899; visit ECRC, Room 101; or click here.

SFA Gardens and Resilient Nacogdoches welcome gardeners and seed savers to join in Nacogdoches’ fifth annual seed swap beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, at the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center.

“Seed swaps are a fun way to learn about seeds and gardening, build community, and increase food diversity and local resilience. You leave the seed swap with new seeds, new information and new friends,” said Vicki Lunell, a member of Resilient Nacogdoches who helped start the seed swap tradition in Nacogdoches five years ago.

Leftover seeds will be donated to the Judy B. McDonald Public Library’s seed library and shared with school and community gardens.

The seed swap is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Jocelyn Moore at (936) 468-1863 or moorejv@sfasu.edu.

The sixth annual SFA Kick Axe Wellness Challenge will run from Monday, Jan. 27 through March 1. The five-week challenge will focus on the seven dimensions of wellness to promote a healthier lifestyle. Registration is due today.

Teams of four will participate in a friendly competition and earn points by completing weekly activities. Prizes will be awarded weekly, and the top three teams will be announced at the end of the challenge. A party for all participants will take place after the challenge.

Teams may consist of university employees and students. To register, click here.

Find additional employee wellness programming here.

For more information, contact Jessica Waguespack, Employee Wellness assistant director, at (936) 468-6056 or waguespaja@sfasu.edu.

Commercial Bank of Texas will host the 2020 Interact with the Jacks from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Main Banking Center at 215 E. Main St.

Attendees can meet and take photos with the baseball and softball team members and enjoy games, food and fun.

Men's basketball:

SFA - 69 vs. Northwestern State University - 62

Women's basketball:

SFA - 89 vs. Northwestern State University - 40

The second volume of the exhibition “Picturing Books: Illustrations in Print from the 15th to the 20th Centuries” opens today at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches. A reception for Volume II is planned for 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, in The Cole Art Center.

The exhibition, presented in two volumes, offers a series of “chapters” that explore the evolution of the printed illustration, beginning with the Incunabulum (meaning the first 50 years of the printed book), including the Nuremberg Chronicle of 1493 and continuing up to the 20th century.

For more information, call (936) 468-1131.

SFA’s Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band will present a program of music with themes of celebration and praise when the student ensembles perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, in Turner Auditorium.

Directed by Dr. Tamey Anglley, associate director of bands at SFA, the Wind Symphony will perform “Give Us This Day,” which is a short symphony for wind ensemble by American composer David Maslanka.

The Symphonic Band, directed by Christopher Kaatz, assistant director of bands, will perform works by different generations of American composers, including the march “Americans We” by Henry Fillmore; Chorale and Alleluia by Howard Hanson; and “Masque” by Francis McBeth.

Concert tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for senior citizens, and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407, or visit finearts.sfasu.edu.

Soprano Cristina Castaldi will perform works by Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Claude Debussy and Richard Strauss in a guest recital at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 2 in Cole Concert Hall.

Castaldi is an assistant professor of voice at Wichita State University. Her husband, Gene Philley, who is a former member of the music faculty at Angelina College in Lufkin, is her collaborative pianist. Her SFA program includes Vier Lieder des Abschieds, Op. 14 by Korngold; Proses lyriques, L. 84 by Debussy; and Strauss’ Vier letzte Lieder, Op. 31.

Recital tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for senior citizens, and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407, or visit finearts.sfasu.edu.

Artist Chris Toledo’s love of art and history is evident when viewing his 1:12 scale miniatures of historical architecture.

Toledo’s creations of ornate interiors and bathroom remodels are crafted with meticulous detail.

To “take a tour” of Toledo’s miniatures, visit his Instagram page, or click here to read more.