Leadership SFA recently held its graduation for the 2023-24 cohort, which consisted of 24 faculty and staff members from various departments at SFA.

Cohort members participated in discussions and activities with campus leaders, as well as leaders in East Texas and the Nacogdoches community. They also had the opportunity to gain insight into different departments, units and campus resources. In addition, cohort members conducted a service project to restock the Lumberjack Pantry.

The Leadership SFA program was established in 2018 to identify individuals at SFA with leadership potential. The program helps build their leadership skills and knowledge of the SFA community to better prepare them for leadership opportunities now and in the future.

Barnes was recently featured in the New York Times article "Where Do the Gardeners You Admire Turn for Advice? To These Newsletters."

The article describes Barnes' experiences as a gardener and an educator.

Reed is the first SFA cadet to graduate from The University of Texas System Police Academy, a six-month program in Austin that covered classroom, firearms and hands-on scenario-based training.

"The academy not only prepared me for the Texas peace officer exam but also equipped me with broad knowledge and skills to serve the needs of our SFA community,” Reed said.

Seven SFA faculty members recently were selected to receive Teaching Excellence Awards.

Recipients are Dr. Pat Stephens-Williams, Lacy H. Hunt Distinguished Professor of human dimensions of natural resources and forest recreation in the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture; Dr. Cassandra Hayes, assistant professor of broadcast journalism in the College of Liberal and Applied Arts; Dr. Angela Jones, associate professor of nursing in the College of Sciences and Mathematics; Dr. Amber Wagnon, associate professor of education studies in the James I. Perkins College of Education; Shaun Roberts, associate professor of art in the Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts; Dr. Gina Harden, associate professor of management and marketing in the Nelson Rusche College of Business; and Jamie Derrick, lecturer of management and human resources management in the Rusche College of Business, who was chosen by the Faculty Senate.

Learn about changes in the student hiring process, discuss best practices and get your questions answered.

In-person training will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, April 25, in the Student Recreation Center meeting room, and Zoom training will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday, April 25. Email hr@sfasu.edu for the Zoom link.

A newly formed partnership between global bedding manufacturer Temper Sealy International and SFA’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture promises to make progress toward the company’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality in its global operations by 2040 while giving SFA students access to hundreds of acres of living labs to reforest and manage.

Partnership in the initiative also sets the college up to fund future scholarships, assistantships and professional development for faculty members.

A new webpage at sfasu.edu/parenting featuring resources for parents and expectant parents has launched.

It contains rights, protections and resources for SFA students and employees who are parents or expectant parents (pregnancy, adoption, surrogacy). It also promotes the various family-friendly entertainment available on campus.

The Division of University Marketing Communications has extra copies of two previous Sawdust magazine editions:

Fall 2023 Centennial edition, with features on the university’s 100 years of traditions, memories, objects and more

Spring 2022 edition, with a cover story on game warden Jamal Allen '16, among other alumni features

Campus community members interested in having extra free copies of either edition are invited to stop by the Ferguson Building, Room G75, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to pick those up by May 3. To view online versions of previous Sawdust editions, including the most recent edition, spring 2024, visit sfasu.edu/sawdust.

The Rusche College of Business is hosting its annual College to Career Conference from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 25, in the McGee Business Building. This year's keynote speaker is Kevin Carr '92, founder and president of Community Beer Co.

This event brings together students, business professionals, alumni and corporate partners to share experiences and advice as well as to assist students in transitioning to their full-time careers. Students and community members are welcome to attend.

The Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture will host Drone Day 2024 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 26, in the Forestry Building conference room.

The event, presented by ATCFA and the Center for Applied Research and Rural Innovation, will feature multiple presentations and demonstrations on real-world drone applications from different entities including the U.S. Forest Service, Weyerhaeuser, LeTourneau University, Arch Aerial, Hydrex Drone Division and AllTerra Central. The Student Association of Spatial Scientists is organizing the day’s activities under the guidance of Dr. David Kulhavy, Dr. I-Kuai Hung, Dr. Daniel Unger and Dr. Yanli Zhang.

To register, complete the Drone Day 2024 form. There is no cost to register. The event is primarily for geospatial science professionals and students in geospatial science fields. Lunch will be provided.

Tennis

SFA - 0 vs. Tarleton State University - 4

Women's golf

The Ladyjacks tied for ninth out of 11 teams at the Western Athletic Conference Championship in Payson, Arizona.

Baseball

SFA - 6 vs. Seattle University – 12

SFA - 4 vs. Seattle University – 12

SFA - 2 vs. Seattle University – 17

Softball

SFA - 2 vs. Utah Valley University – 3

SFA - 4 vs. Utah Valley University – 2

SFA - 1 vs. Utah Valley University – 0

For more athletics news, visit sfajacks.com.

SFA bands will present the annual Concert in the Park at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 28, in the wooded area along Vista Drive and in front of the Wright Music Building.

All four of the concert bands will perform. The SFA Bands also will induct retired Director of Bands Fred J. Allen as an honorary member of the SFA Band Directors Hall of Fame.

SFA's Sound Recording Technology groups, the Popular Music Ensemble and Commercial Music Ensemble, will perform concerts starting at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 26, in Turner Auditorium.

Both directed by James Taylor, SRT lecturer in the School of Music, the Popular Ensemble will perform “Rocket Man” by Elton John, “Game of Love” by Santana and “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele, while the Commercial Ensemble will perform “Adore You” by Harry Styles, “I Knew You Were Trouble” by Taylor Swift and “Break My Heart” by Dua Lipa.

The SFA Percussion Ensemble will present its annual spring concert, which will include the world premiere of SFA percussionist Carson Chlup’s “Shattered Hearts,” when the student music group performs at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 26, in Cole Concert Hall.

Directed by Dr. Brad Meyer, the Percussion Ensemble’s concert will also feature student soloists Micah York, junior music education major from Texarkana, performing on Joe Green’s “Xylophonia,” arranged by Bob Becker; and Riley Selman, sophomore music education major from Frankston, performing on Zequinha de Abreu’s “Tico-Tico no Fubá,” arranged by Micah York.

The Symphonic Band and the University Band will present “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue” featuring music faculty members and student and community ensemble performances at 7:30 p.m. today in Turner Auditorium.

The Stone Fort Wind Quintet will present a recital of programmatic works featuring a varied collection of musical depictions when the faculty ensemble performs at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in Cole Concert Hall.

In honor of composer and performer Peter Schickele, also known through his bizarre alter ego as P.D.Q. Bach, who passed away this year, the first half of the program will consist of his “A Year in the Catskills.”

Celebrating the immigrant experience, body positivity and the wisdom and strength of Latinas, “Real Women Have Curves” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, April 25 through 27, and at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 27 and 28, in the Black Box Theatre.

This is a paraprofessional position responsible for supporting the operations of the Early Childhood Laboratory inside and outside the classroom, including providing instructional/classroom support and clerical/administrative support by assisting lead teachers in daily duties and responsibilities.

This is an administrative position responsible for assisting the Office of Development in daily operations by performing administrative support duties combined with entry-level development work, including coordinating special events and researching prospective donors.

This is a full-time, nine-month or semester faculty appointment responsible for teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses.

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

Would you let AI make your coffee?

An artisan roastery in Helsinki is serving AI-conic, a coffee blend developed using artificial intelligence, to ease its workload.

Associated Press will top off this story for you.