In an event that happens once in a lifetime, SFA is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a full slate of months-long initiatives that will culminate in a weekend of celebrations in September.

“Since SFA first opened its doors in 1923, it’s been a place of transformation for thousands of students eager to forge a bold path for themselves,” said Gina Oglesbee, SFA interim president. “SFA’s first class totaled just 270 students. Today, more than 115,000 alumni continue to make a difference using the lessons they learned here on our beautiful pine-covered campus. I am excited to welcome them back to celebrate their alma mater alongside our current students, faculty, staff, SFA friends and Nacogdoches and regional community members.”

The start of a new academic year at SFA is only a few short days away. When students arrive on campus to begin classes Monday, Aug. 28, they’ll have a year of special memories ahead of them as SFA celebrates its 100th year.

Among the many reasons for celebration is the opening of the newly renovated and expanded Griffith Fine Arts Building, which will be open when classes begin.

The building’s official “grand opening” will coincide with SFA’s Centennial Celebration taking place Sept. 15 through 18. An open house at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17, includes a ribbon-cutting and unveiling ceremonies in the second-floor lobby. The ceremony will be followed by the 4 p.m. choral and orchestral world premiere performance of an original composition by Dr. Stephen Lias, SFA professor of composition, using the writings of celebrated poet and former SFA faculty member Karle Wilson Baker to inspire a work that honors SFA’s 100 years of educational contributions and service.

Ajero was recently honored by the Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy with an Outstanding Service Recognition Award at the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy.

Ajero has been a frequent presenter at NCKP since 2007, and has published articles in Keyboard Companion, Clavier Companion and Piano Magazine. He also serves on planning committees for the conferences and has presented webinars and other online content as part of the center’s series, “Teaching Piano in the Time of COVID-19: Resources for Online Instruction.”

Join Interim President Gina Oglesbee at the Fall Welcome meeting. Breakfast will be served starting at 7:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 25, in the Griffith Fine Arts Building. The welcome meeting will follow at 8:30 a.m. in Turner Auditorium. Those wanting to attend virtually can visit the president's webpage for access.

SFA, The University of Texas System and various UT benefit partners will be on campus today and tomorrow at the Student Recreation Center. There will be presentations, door prizes, opportunities to visit and ask questions in person, and assistance with any enrollment you may wish to complete. Today's fair will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The schedule is as follows:

• 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. - UT Care Medicare Advantage PPO presentation
• 10:30 to 11 a.m. - UT Care and UT Select Prescription Coverage presentation
• 11 a.m. to noon - UT Select Medical presentation
• Noon to 1 p.m. - UT Benefits overview
• 1:30 to 2 p.m. - UT Benefits Wellness Platform Limeade demonstration

A come-and-go vendor fair will be held from 9 a.m. to noon tomorrow, for employees to ask questions in person and receive assistance with any benefit enrollment they wish to complete.

On Aug. 16, SFA joined seven local colleges and universities to celebrate The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine’s early assurance program signing day.

The early assurance program, known as “Pathways to Medicine,” will prepare 40 students each year from local colleges and universities for a successful career in the medical field by providing clinical exposure and developing necessary study skills for medical school. Up to 15 students will be admitted into the School of Medicine.

Herbert Midgley, a lecturer in SFA’s School of Music, was recently named the inaugural 2023-24 Faculty Fellow for the SFA Makerspace, a new unit housed within the Lumberjack Learning Commons that fosters a collaborative environment with access to technologies to learn, create and explore.

The position of Faculty Fellow is a recognition of a faculty member’s outstanding achievements and contributions. In the role, Midgley’s primary duty will be connecting and collaborating with faculty, staff and students to help them better understand how the Makerspace can contribute to learning inside and out of the classroom.

The Center for Career and Professional Development is hosting several Career Fairs in fall 2023.

The fairs are open to all students and alumni to learn about internship and full-time employment opportunities and gain valuable networking skills. Faculty and staff are encouraged to inform students about the events. If you wish to offer extra credit for your class to attend, contact CCPD at ccpd@sfasu.edu for assistance with attendance records.

Sept. 6 - Part-time Job and Volunteer Fair

Sept. 27 - Accounting Fair

Sept. 28 - Construction Management and Interior Design Fair

Oct. 18 - All Majors Fair

Nov. 3 - Teacher Fair

CCPD also offers class and student organization presentations, class assignments and workshops. To learn more about CCPD’s upcoming events or to schedule a presentation or assignment, visit the CCPD website.

SFA Gardens will host a fruit research field day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 29 featuring kiwifruit, muscadine grapes, blueberries, figs, feijoas and other fruits.

Speakers will include Dr. David Creech, director of SFA Gardens; and Dr. Tim Hartmann and Dr. Justin Scheiner, both faculty members in Texas A&M University’s Department of Horticultural Sciences.

SFA’s Office of Multicultural Affairs is launching the 2023 AXcel Mentoring Program to help incoming first-year Lumberjacks with their transition to student life at SFA. The program, which emphasizes the importance of academic excellence, leadership and personal growth, pairs first-year students with current student leaders who are successful at balancing academics and involvement. In addition, each student is paired with an SFA faculty or staff mentor.

Your only responsibility is to meet with your mentees three times a semester. You will be assigned two to four students, depending on the number of mentees you prefer.

The program begins with the kickoff meeting in September. OMA will send enrolled participants more specific details before that meeting. To volunteer, complete the Axcel Mentoring Program online sign-up sheet by Friday, Aug. 25.

SFA Gardens will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Sept. 14 in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center.

Keith Hansen, a retired extension horticulture agent for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, will present "I Wish I Never Planted That (There), and Other Thoughts after Gardening 30 Years in Tyler.”

Faculty and staff are encouraged to volunteer for a shift to help with Lumberjack move-in planned for Friday through Sunday, Aug. 25-27.

During shifts, volunteers can help students with their belongings, hand out water or serve as a door greeter. Volunteers will receive a free move-in day T-shirt. Complete the volunteer sign up form to select a day and time to be a Welcome Jack.

Beginning Tuesday, Aug. 29, SFA Today will be published Tuesday and Thursday every week the university is in session during the fall and spring terms.

The process for submissions will remain the same — submit news items for inclusion by noon the day before each edition through the "News and Writing" section at sfasu.edu/umc-request.

The SFA email signature generator has been updated with new wording to reflect the change in governance from the SFA board of regents to The University of Texas System. Those needing to update their email signature or create one can do so using the Outlook signature generator.

Soccer

SFA - 0 vs. Oklahoma State University - 4

SFA - 1 vs. University of Tulsa - 0

SFA's annual School of Art Faculty Exhibition will show Tuesday, Aug. 29, through Sept. 29 in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches. An opening reception is planned for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 31.

Each year, the faculty exhibition features a wide variety of artworks in ceramics, sculpture, photography, painting, prints, metals and mixed media, according to Christopher Talbot, director of the SFA School of Art. This year, the School of Art is featuring five of its longest-serving adjunct faculty members, including Julie King, Stina Herrera, Ron King, Russ Havard and Scott Runnels.

SFA's School of Art and the Friends of the Visual Arts will present a free, one-night screening of “The History of Time Travel,” a 2014 fictional documentary written and directed by Ricky Kennedy. The screening is at 7 p.m. Sept. 1 in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House.

The film is about the creation of the world’s first time machine, the men who created it, and the unintended ramifications it has on world events, according to a description at imdb.com. An independent filmmaker and writer/director, Kennedy made "The History of Time Travel" as his final thesis work as a film student at SFA. A selection of the Austin Film Festival in 2014 and winner of several awards, it features a number of SFA faculty members and staff, including Brad Maule, Trey Cartwright and Michael Tubbs.

This is a full- or part-time faculty position responsible for teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses. The instructor works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

This is a skilled craft position responsible for performing work in preventative maintenance, operation and repair of most mechanical equipment on campus. The mechanic is responsible for maintaining and repairing pumps and related piping systems, small package units, reciprocating A/C compressors; maintaining and repairing cooling towers of all types and sizes; maintaining and repairing boilers; and maintaining and repairing controls for boilers, A/C units and air handling units.

This is a professional position responsible for developing and maintaining connections with leaders of high schools, community colleges and other partner institutions to develop, maintain and evaluate intentional academic partnership opportunities that positively impact university enrollment. The chosen candidate coordinates the university’s partnership plan strategy and collaborates with academic and other departments to strengthen and maintain partnerships.

For more career opportunities, visit SFA's career website.

Imagine locking eyes with a leopard in its natural habitat. Is your first instinct to snap a photo?

For wildlife photographer Shaaz Jung, that’s certainly the case. From the calm gaze of a leopard peering around a tree to the little round pupils of a chameleon peeping up from the ground, Jung's images show the beautiful connection between him and the animals he photographs. Check out Jung’s photos on My Modern Met.