members of SFA's Phi Upsilon Omicron Beta Upsilon Chapter

Pictured are members of Stephen F. Austin State University's Phi Upsilon Omicron Beta Upsilon Chapter, from left, Dr. Mitzi Perritt, SFA professor of human sciences and chapter co-adviser; Jessalyn Welch, co-vice president; Mara Ingersol, secretary; Taylor Sieling, historian; Jennifer Urbina, president; Stephanie Sims, co-vice president; Chloe Palacios, treasurer; Shauna Dykowski, initiation chair; Dr. Jennifer Newquist, SFA visiting assistant professor of human sciences and chapter co-adviser. Not pictured is Dr. Natalie Hensarling, SFA assistant professor of human sciences and chapter co-adviser.


NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin State University James I. Perkins College of Education's Phi Upsilon Omicron Beta Upsilon Chapter received the 2015 Professional Project Region III Award, which includes universities in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma.

Members of the Beta Upsilon Chapter, in partnership with the Nacogdoches Treatment Center, worked throughout the year offering assistance to the treatment center's clients, staff members and caregivers.

Last fall, SFA students volunteered their time to craft items to sale at the treatment center's annual Christmas bazaar. The group utilized recycled plastic bottles to make vases and candy containers and decorated the items with ribbon, bells, tinsel and greenery.

This semester, members helped facilitate and accompany clients from the treatment center to see Guy Penrod, Grammy and GMA Dove Award-winning artist, in concert at the First Baptist Church in Nacogdoches. Members also created handmade appreciation cards for each caregiver that included a restaurant gift card donated by the chapter.

"Our chapter members are always eager to help others," said Dr. Mitzi Perritt, SFA professor of human sciences and Phi Upsilon Omicron co-adviser. "The first-place recognition our chapter received is an acknowledgment of the hard work and deep concern for others these SFA students possess, and I'm very proud of their accomplishment."

The Nacogdoches Treatment Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals who are physically or mentally challenged, as well as those with Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

For more information about SFA's Phi Upsilon Omicron Beta Upsilon Chapter or their service projects, contact the School of Human Sciences at (936) 468-4502.