We have heard concerns and want to make things better.

As part of their promise to work with students and families through the transition to official commencement regalia, SFA’s Enrollment Management team announced that official regalia will not be required, but is strongly encouraged, for the December 2021 ceremonies.

Official regalia will, however, be required beginning with the May 2022 commencement ceremonies.

Barnes & Noble Bookstore, the chosen supplier of official regalia, will provide assistance with returns for December candidates who purchased prior to the announcement and wish to wear official regalia.

For more information, visit our Preparing for Commencement webpage.

The SFA Alumni Association’s Homecoming auction kickoff celebration is planned for 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, at the Pearman Alumni Center. The event will take place under a big top with circus-themed eats and treats, photo booth, live music and giveaways. There will be a cash bar, but Alumni Association life members will receive two free drink tickets

Faculty and staff can support Alumni Association programs while promoting their departments by donating auction items. To donate, complete the online auction form.

The Organization for Women's Leadership and Equity is hosting a baby pantry drive, located at the HPE Complex front office or at designated drop-off boxes across campus.

The pantry drive is open to all SFA students, faculty and staff. Its focus is to collect the most requested items to re-stock a pantry — wipes, diapers, lotion, shampoo, ointments, creams, bibs and burp clothes.

Pick up also can be arranged by emailing Amanda Moore at amanda.moore@sfasu.edu.

The public is invited to join the College of Sciences and Mathematics and Bruce McCandless III for an evening of space stories about his father, astronaut Bruce McCandless II, at 6 p.m. tomorrow, in the SFA planetarium.

The book, “Wonders All Around: The Incredible True story of Astronaut Bruce McCandless II and the First Untethered Flight in Space,” was written by McCandless III and details pivotal moments in his father’s career, which spanned the Apollo era and the Skylab and shuttle programs. An Amazon best seller, the book was recently listed by Men’s Journal as a Top 20 Book to Read in 2021.

The Center for Career and Professional Development will host the 2021 Fall Teacher Job Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15, in the HPE Complex gymnasium at 1817 Wilson Dr.

Students will need to bring their student ID for check-in, and copies of their résumé to distribute to employers. Professional dress is encouraged at all career fairs. For professional attire, students can stop by the Career Closet in the Baker Pattillo Student Center, Room 3.302.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to inform their students about the event, especially those who are pursuing a career in education. View a list of 90-plus participating employers.

For more information, contact the Center for Career and Professional Development, at (936) 468-3305 or ccpd@sfasu.edu.

The SFA Faculty Senate’s regularly scheduled monthly meeting is planned for 2:30 p.m. today via Zoom.

Invited speakers include Dr. Lorenzo Smith, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs; Mickey Diez, registrar; and Dr. Jason Reese, associate professor in the Department of Management and Marketing.

For more information, contact your senator or Faculty Senate Chair Dr. Brian Uriegas at uriegasb@sfasu.edu.

Crystal Adams, who joined the SFA Early Childhood Laboratory as director in June, is no stranger to Nacogdoches, the university or the ECHL.

Adams is a lifelong Nacogdoches resident and received her bachelor’s degree from SFA in interdisciplinary studies in 2010. She earned her master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Texas at Tyler in 2012 and a master’s degree in school counseling in 2013.

Adams previously worked at the ECHL as assistant to the director from 2007 through 2010, and she has spent years with Nacogdoches ISD in a number of roles, including teacher, counselor and assistant principal in middle and elementary schools.

For more information about the ECHL, click here.

Women's Golf

The team finished 15th with a mark of 927 (+63) at the Lady Redwolf Classic in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

The School of Theatre’s presentation of “Bootycandy” continues at 7:30 p.m. nightly through Saturday, Oct. 16 in Kennedy Auditorium.

The School of Music will host its annual Brass Day Sunday, Oct. 17, on campus.

Brass Day is devoted to high school students of all ages who play a brass instrument, including trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium and tuba, and who are interested in learning more about how to perform the prescribed audition etudes for all-region and all-state bands.

Information about the School of Music and its audition requirements for prospective music majors will also be presented. Music faculty will also discuss practice tips and audition preparation and strategy.

For more information and to register, visit music.sfasu.edu/brassday, or contact Dr. J.D. Salas, tuba and euphonium associate professor, at salasjd@sfasu.edu or (936) 468-4107.

The Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band will perform at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, in the Grand Ballroom of the Baker Pattillo Student Center.

The student ensembles’ performances are part of Brass Day at SFA.

A photographer traveled the world capturing images of native peoples in their traditional dress.

Jimmy Nelson spent months immersing himself in communities, learning more about the residents and putting their cultural traditions front and center in his photographs.

View Nelsons' photos taken from places like Papua New Guinea, Siberia and Mongolia.