News & Media Center

SFA centennial design contest winning merchandise available for purchase

University Marketing Communications
•
September 19, 2023
Emma Villafranco, daughter of Stephen F. Austin State University alumni Enrique Villafranco ’13 and Erika Rangel Villafranco ’13, won the centennial design contest’s child category. She created a design with a multicolored background and lots of purple.

Emma Villafranco, daughter of Stephen F. Austin State University alumni Enrique Villafranco ’13 and Erika Rangel Villafranco ’13, won the centennial design contest’s child category. She created a design with a multicolored background and lots of purple.

Leah Fox, daughter of Stephen F. Austin State University alumni Lt. Col. Matthew Fox ’03 and Gina Fox ’03, won the centennial design contest’s teen category. She said she was inspired by SFA’s mascot and used an axe in her design. 

Leah Fox, daughter of Stephen F. Austin State University alumni Lt. Col. Matthew Fox ’03 and Gina Fox ’03, won the centennial design contest’s teen category. She said she was inspired by SFA’s mascot and used an axe in her design. 

Savannah Walker ’19, Stephen F. Austin State University alumna, won the centennial design contest’s adult category. She said she was inspired by SFA and Nacogdoches iconography for her design. 

Savannah Walker ’19, Stephen F. Austin State University alumna, won the centennial design contest’s adult category. She said she was inspired by SFA and Nacogdoches iconography for her design. 


NACOGDOCHES, Texas — To celebrate Stephen F. Austin State University’s 100 years of higher education, the Division of University Marketing Communications held the SFA centennial design contest to involve all Lumberjacks in celebrating the historic milestone.

UMC asked for artists of all ages to submit an original design using a coloring page of the centennial logo. Winning designs were turned into centennial-themed merchandise and are now available for purchase. 

Emma Villafranco, 10, daughter of alumni Enrique Villafranco ’13 and Erika Rangel Villafranco ’13, won the contest’s child category. Her winning design features a vibrant, multicolored background and lots of purple.

“I chose these colors because I thought it really showed SFA spirit, and if the SFA Lumberjack would have colored this page, he would have picked them, too,” Emma said. “I chose to enter this contest because coloring is one of my favorite hobbies and I want to go to SFA!”

Leah Fox, 16, winner of the teen category, is the daughter of alumni Lt. Col. Matthew Fox ’03 and Gina Fox ’03. Leah’s winning design depicts an axe with a purple background imposed under the centennial logo.

“What a blessing and honor to be chosen to represent the teen division,” Leah said. “I was thrilled that the university I would like to attend to pursue a degree in graphic design chose me as the winner. Thank you, SFA, for giving me this boost of confidence in myself and my work.”

Savannah Walker ’19, winner of the adult category, was inspired by different iconography of SFA and Nacogdoches for her design. 

“My design was inspired by my personal experience on campus and my many fond memories of SFA,” Walker said. “The squirrel, baby ducks, and the baby armadillo I would see at the Art Building pay homage to the East Texas wildlife that I encountered on campus, which always made my day.”

Walker said the inclusion of university traditions was also an important aspect to include in her design.

“Traditions like decorating axe handles and the Big Dip helped create some of my best memories of campus life. I also had to add Steen Hall done up for Christmas. This was my way of preserving those special moments and translating them into a piece that I think captures the heart of SFA,” she said.

Merchandise with the winning centennial designs can be purchased at gosfa.com/jackbackers for the child category or gosfa.com/unlimiteddesigns for the teen and adult categories. 

To view the winning designs and obtain more information on SFA’s centennial, visit sfasu.edu/centennial.


ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY 
Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 36 academic facilities, nine residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering more than 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.