SFA's University Marketing Communications office received numerous awards at the 36th Annual Educational Advertising Awards.

UMC earned two gold awards, three bronze awards and three merit awards for a variety of publications, including videos, websites, brochures and a social media campaign.

To see the full list of awards, click here.

The Center for Teaching and Learning's Teaching Showcase has been rescheduled for 2 p.m. March 19 via Zoom.

Presentation topics will range from photo essays and student writing to collaborative documents and tools for asynchronous audio and video discussions. View a full list of topics here.

All are invited to attend the one-hour event in which presenters share best practices and teaching tools in a series of five-minute presentations.

To receive the Zoom link, complete the registration form.

SFA's Organization for Women's Leadership and Equity and the SFA Food Pantry are partnering to host a baby product drive through today.

Items being accepted include diapers, baby bottles, pacifiers, bibs and more. All products will go to SFA students with babies and toddlers. The collection box is at the Student Engagement Desk on the third floor of the Baker Pattillo Student Center.

For more information, email lopezs10@jacks.sfasu.edu.

A wide range of topics concerning women in leadership, health and wellness, and other women’s issues will be discussed during the fourth annual Women’s Empowerment Summit, hosted by SFA’s Office of Multicultural Affairs from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 19 via Zoom.

“During this summit, we want attendees to connect with others who are striving to make an impact, learn professional development skills, discuss the issues women are facing today, learn tips on improving personal wellness and much more,” said Veronica Beavers, OMA director. “Regardless of gender, I believe everyone can benefit from the summit.”

The summit is free and open to the public. To register and obtain the meeting link, visit sfasu.edu/oma. Those who register by today will receive a gift pack that they may pick up from OMA the week of the summit. For more information, contact OMA at (936) 468-1073 or oma@sfasu.edu.

Researchers at SFA’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture are working with the National Park Service and Florida State Parks to ensure the history and stories of African Americans and other people of color are properly represented in interpretive site programming.

Arkansas Post National Memorial, located near Gillet, Arkansas, is situated at the confluence of the Arkansas and White rivers, and is the traditional homeland of the indigenous Quapaw people.

In 1686, French explorer Henri de Tonti established a trading post at a Quapaw village known as Osotouy. The trading post, Poste de Arkansea, is noted as being the first semi-permanent European settlement in the lower Mississippi Valley. Due to its location, the site served as a strategic resource for the French, Spanish, American and Confederate militaries.

“Site managers have information on the French, Spanish and Quapaw connection to the site, but they realized the element of African American history was missing,” said Dr. Rolonda Teal, research associate and adjunct professor at SFA.

To collect these missing pieces, Teal and Dr. Pat Stephens Williams, SFA professor of human dimensions in natural resources, are conducting an ethnographic overview and assessment of African American history at the Arkansas Post National Memorial.

How prepared are you for retirement? SFA's Employee Wellness program is offering two sessions to anyone who is getting ready for retirement.

"Securing Your Financial Future" is slated for 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. March 18, and "Solving the Retirement Income Puzzle" is scheduled for 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. March 19. Both sessions will be held in the Student Recreation Center Meeting Room. Speakers include Amanda Daugherty, financial advisor of Harbor Financial, and Luke Britt of Level Four Financial.

Sessions are offered in-person and via Zoom, and registration is required for both. Lunch will be provided for both in-person sessions. For event information, visit the SFA Employee Wellness calendar of events.

To stay informed on upcoming events, “like” the Employee Wellness Facebook page or complete an Employee Wellness participant profile. For more information, contact Jessica Waguespack, Employee Wellness assistant director, at (936) 468-6056 or waguespaja@sfasu.edu.

Nacogdoches community members and SFA students, faculty and staff are invited to attend the fifth annual International Women’s Teach-In from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 24 virtually on Zoom or in person in Room 201 of the Human Sciences Building North on the SFA campus.

Sponsored by SFA’s Organization for Women’s Leadership and Equity, or OWLE, the teach-in will kick off with a session by Judy McDonald, former Nacogdoches mayor and the namesake of the city’s public library.

“From teaching during the pandemic, to gender and sexual policing, to inherited perfectionism, to reprioritizing, the 15 30-minute sessions offer good information and strategies for everyone, including men,” said Jamaica Ethington, a graduate student in student affairs and higher education from Las Cruces, New Mexico

To register to attend the teach-in virtually via Zoom, click here.

For more information, view OWLE’s Facebook page at sfasu.edu/teach-in.

SFA's newest office, the Axe Handle, had an exciting month. From responding to thousands of students and parents to welcoming their newest team member, Jack the lumberjack chatbot, the one-stop shop handled a variety of questions.

To see a recap of the Axe Handle's month, click here.

Men's basketball

SFA - 61 vs. Abilene Christian University - 63

Women's basketball

SFA - 82 vs. Abilene Christian University - 55

This year’s SFA Opera Theater will feature portions of two operas: Act I of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Così fan tutte,” or “School for Lovers,” followed by Act II finale of “Die Fledermaus” by Johann Strauss. These selections were made with COVID-19 social distancing protocols in mind, Dr. Deborah Dalton, associate professor of voice at SFA, said.

“I hope that patrons will enjoy a break from the stresses of this past year and leave smiling and humming the beautiful tunes,” Dalton said. “I also hope they realize all the many hours and hard work that these students have put into their performances in addition to all of their classes, COVID, snow and ice storms, etc."

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. March 25 through 27 in Cole Concert Hall. Seating is limited, and audience members will be required to wear face masks and social distance from others not in their immediate group. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $7.50 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, visit finearts.sfasu.edu or call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407. Free access to online, livestreamed performances will be available at music.sfasu.edu each night. For more information about the School of Music, call (936) 468-4602.

Don't forget to spring forward an hour the Sunday before you return to campus after spring break.

To read the National Sleep Foundation's tips for surviving a time change, click here.