Astronaut, artist to be guest at Archie McDonald Speaker Series

Former NASA astronaut Alan Bean to speak at SFA
March 22, 2011 - SFA Public Affairs
Alan Bean kneeling in spacesuit, 1969









NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Reserve tickets and general admission passes are now available for the 2011 installment of the Archie McDonald Speaker Series at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean, the fourth man to walk on the moon and an award-winning artist, will be the featured guest at the event titled "Leaving an Impression One Step at a Time." The conversation will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 14, in the Grand Ballroom of the Baker Pattillo Student Center on the SFA campus.

Reserve tickets are $75 and available for purchase at www.sfasu.edu/archie. These tickets include a private reception with Bean starting at 6 p.m. in the Twilight Ballroom and priority seating during the speaking event.

Free passes for general admission seating may be picked up at the SFA Involvement Center located on the first floor of the student center or at the downtown Nacogdoches Visitors Center, 200 E. Main St.

"Alan Bean is a member of a most exclusive group - one of 12 people who have walked on the moon and captured the focus and imagination of the nation and the world during the apex of manned space exploration," Dr. Archie McDonald said. "Our speaker series is delighted to feature a fellow Texan who has viewed our world from a perspective few others have experienced."

SFA's speaker series, which debuted last spring, was created to honor and preserve McDonald's legacy as a distinguished scholar, educator and community commentator. A prominent national figure will be hosted annually at SFA to discuss contemporary cultural issues - from politics to art - in the tradition of McDonald's writings and oral presentations. The annual event is sponsored by SFA's Student Government Association and College of Liberal and Applied Arts.

McDonald has taught history at SFA for 46 years and served as director of the East Texas Historical Association and editor of the association's journal for 37 years. He is a past president of the Texas State Historical Association, past vice chair of the Texas Historical Commission and author/editor of more than 20 books on historical topics. Along with teaching, McDonald currently serves as the SFA university/community liaison and is a weekly commentator on Red River Radio in Shreveport.

For more information, call (936) 468-2385.

SFA new food experience

SFA food production and service class revamps program, opens new dining location
March 10, 2011 - Bria Taack

Photo - Samantha Fuller, a student in SFA's quantity food production and service class, serves guests at a recent Cajun-themed quantity food production and service dinner at SFA.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Nacogdoches community, along with the students, faculty and staff of Stephen F. Austin State University, now has the opportunity to enjoy a fine dining experience on campus.

The quantity food production and service class has revamped its program and opened a new restaurant location next to the Human Sciences Building in the Human Sciences Annex.

The class offers hospitality, nutrition, and family and consumer science students the chance to work hands on with food production and service. Students learn recipe conversion, menu planning, food cost determinations, recipe standardization, safety and sanitation practices, and efficient food service through the experience of running their own restaurant.

"Instead of having an idea of how a restaurant is supposed to be run, these students actually get to do it," said instructor Vanessa Hooper, a registered dietitian who is teaching the course.

In the past, dining took place on the second floor of the Human Sciences Building. The new location offers a larger dining area that can accommodate up to 50 guests and a larger kitchen with commercial cooking equipment for food preparation.

"We are one of the top four programs in the State of Texas," said Dr. Lynda Martin, director of the School of Human Sciences. "It is really important that these labs are giving the students a really quality experience. That's why we're really excited about branding and turning this into a full-scale restaurant."

This semester, the food service and production class will be working with Dr. Marlene Kahla's marketing of services class to assist with branding and naming the restaurant.

"While we aren't a culinary program per se, we just signed an articulation agreement with Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School in Austin," said Dr. Chay Runnels, assistant professor and program coordinator. "The agreement will allow our students to transfer credit into their culinary program after they get their bachelor's degree here at SFA."

Dinners are now being served on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tickets may be purchased with cash or check only by contacting the School of Human Sciences at (936) 468-1022. Tickets will be e-mailed to customers once payment is received. Cost is $8 per meal or $80 for all 12 meals. Dates, times and menus will be posted on SFA Weekly, SFA Today, the Human Sciences Facebook page and the School of Human Sciences Communication Board.