The Student Success Center is hosting First-Generation Celebration Week beginning Monday, Nov. 4, which will offer many activities, free food and reflections for first-generation students. The events will lead up to the First-Gen Celebration set for 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Twilight Ballroom and will feature a resource fair, free headshots, guest speakers, cake and T-shirts for the first 100 attendees.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to attend and inform first-generation students of the come-and-go event. To view a full list of events, visit the event schedule. For more information about resources for first-generation students, visit the first-gen resources website.

The James I. Perkins College of Education’s Access and Opportunity Committee, with support from Dr. Judy Abbott, dean of the college, is excited to announce Gateways, Not Gatekeepers: Empowering Faculty Access and Growth, a two-day event designed to inspire collaborative strategies that dismantle gatekeeping barriers.

Scheduled for Feb. 18-19 in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Regents' Suite A, this virtual and face-to-face event is open to faculty, staff and administrators eager to share insights and foster inclusive practices that empower professional growth and equitable faculty experiences.

The committee invites you to submit your proposals and join this important dialogue. To learn more, visit the Access and Opportunity Committee webpage. To submit your proposal, complete this form.

Faculty, staff and students are invited to attend "Catching Up With Casey: Transitioning From Educational Leadership to Consulting" at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, in McGee Business Building, Room 133.

Hosted by the Economics Reading Group and the Society for Entrepreneurial Advancement in the Rusche College of Business, the event features Casey Watts '05 & '10, an SFA alumna and founder of Casey Watts Coaching & Consulting LLC, who will share her journey from educational leadership to entrepreneurship while focusing on her experience in founding a micro-business and turning a side gig into a successful career.

Multiple departments at SFA collaborated with the Texas Forestry Association to host the annual Wild About Science event Oct. 18 and 25 for fourth and fifth grade students from regional schools.

Faculty and staff from the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, SFA Gardens and the James I. Perkins College of Education’s Department of Education Studies trained 71 SFA students to conduct three Project Learning Tree activities for the event. The preservice student teachers hosted 671 school children at their activity stations during the event at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center.

SFA Makerspace's mad scientists have created some Halloween goodies both for show and to give away.

Need a 3D-printed jack-o'-lantern or a Twiggy ghost squirrel pin? Stop by if you dare.

To learn about upcoming fall events, view the makerspace calendar.

Jacktacular begins at 5:30 p.m. and ends when the candy runs out today at Johnson Coliseum.

Held by the Student Athlete Advisory Council in collaboration with The Big Event, this free indoor Halloween party features student organizations handing out candy to community members while SFA student-athletes host activities on the basketball court.

Weather permitting, a new addition to this year's festivities is the outdoor fun zone provided by Party 'N Things. Costumes are encouraged.

The Center for Career and Professional Development will host the Teacher Career Fair from 10 a.m. to noon tomorrow in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Grand and Twilight ballrooms.

Students interested in working in education can meet with over 100 employers looking for in-classroom educators, special-topic teachers, coaches, IT support, facilities and more. This event is free for all students to attend, but professional dress is required. For more information, visit the CCPD website.

Human Resources is highlighting four job postings this issue:

Assistant Professor - Computer Science

Employee Services Manager

Custodial Supervisor I - Housing Operations

Program Director - AARC

To view more job openings, visit careers.sfasu.edu.

Google Trends has released its annual "Frightgeist" list of the year's top 25 trending costumes. The list features costumes that saw the biggest increase in search interest year over year.

In the top spot is Shrunken Head Bob from "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice," the sequel to the 1988 film "Beetlejuice." In second place is Raygun, the Australian breakdancer who received zero points at the Summer Olympics in Paris. CatNap, a villainous purple cat from the “Poppy Playtime” video game, is in third place.

Check out the top 25 at Google Trends.