Alumni Association announces award winners

Peggy Wright

Class: 1944

Dr. Peggy Wedgeworth Wright’s devotion to SFA began decades ago as a student. Peggy attended the SFA Demonstration School and graduated from Stephen F. Austin State Teachers College in 1944 with a bachelor’s degree in music. She married Tom Wright, her late husband, in 1942 while Tom was serving in World War II. Later, the couple reared two daughters while Tom served as an executive in the Wright’s family business, Texas Farm Products Company. Her work on behalf of SFA includes her service as president of the SFA Alumni Association Board of Directors from 1974-75; member of the SFA Board of Regents from 1973-83 and 1987-93, serving as chairman of the board for four years; member of the SFASU Foundation Board of Trustees, serving as secretary/treasurer from 1987-2006 and chairman from 1985-87; and member of Friends of Music and the Dean’s Circle. Peggy was named the SFA Distinguished Alumna in 1985 and Nacogdoches Woman of the Year in 1989. In 1997, the SFA Board of Regents selected her as the second recipient of an honorary university doctorate.

The Wrights’ philanthropy to SFA has been extensive, including the creation of the Wedgeworth-Wright Endowment for the Arts. In recognition of their longstanding commitment and love for SFA, the music building was named the Tom and Peggy Wright Music Building in 1999. Peggy also has been highly involved in the Nacogdoches community, serving in numerous leadership roles, including president of the Cum Concilio Club, regent for the Nacogdoches Chapter Daughters of the Republic, and member of the Texas Council of Economic Education Board of Directors, Citizens 1st Bank Board of Directors, Heritage Club, Dallas Woman’s Club and National Society of Colonial Dames of America. In 2004, the Wrights shared the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce’s Citizens of the Year award.

Dana Cooper

Although she’s only been an SFA faculty member for eight years, Dr. Dana Cooper, associate professor of history and executive director of the Student Success Center, is making a lasting impact on the university and its students. The 2010 recipient of the Teaching Excellence Award for the SFA College of Liberal and Applied Arts and recognized in 2015 for the national teaching award “40 Under 40: Professors Who Inspire,” Cooper also serves as president of the Texas Council of Faculty Senates and co-chaired SFA’s strategic planning team. Cooper is a prolific researcher and author, publishing numerous scholarly articles and three manuscripts. She also was a featured scholar on a Smithsonian Channel television documentary. In the classroom, Cooper captures the attention of her students through engaging lectures. Her students consistently comment in their evaluations that, although her classes require hard work and dedication, Cooper inspires them to work hard, and she creates a classroom atmosphere in which topics can be freely discussed. It is through her dedication to her profession and students that she brings history to life and shows its relevance to current situations.

Alan Sowards

Class: 1973

As a professor of elementary education, Dr. Alan Sowards ’73 has taught at SFA for 20 years and has received numerous accolades and awards, including the 2015 Project Learning Tree Outstanding Educator Award, which recognizes educators who successfully establish a positive environmental education philosophy in their classroom and community. Sowards is a tireless advocate for students — developing programs that integrate field-based elementary science and social studies learning experiences, courses and programs. He was instrumental in the establishment of SFA Gardens’ environmental education program and created “Bugs, Butterflies and Blossoms,” an annual weeklong event that attracts thousands of school-age children in a station-by-station learning adventure. Sowards is an active researcher and has presented his findings at multiple international, national and state conferences. He has co-authored several journal articles and provided educational consulting for various school districts.

Dorris Fortson

Class: 1992

Dorris Fortson is co-founder of Neema House/Neema Village, a rescue center for abandoned, orphaned and at-risk babies in Tanzania, Africa. Neema Village can accommodate about 60 babies and also houses a mothering center where prenatal and child care classes are offered. Neema employs approximately 40 full-time workers, and volunteers from around the world visit annually to assist. Fortson also is the author of six children’s books and has served as a motivational speaker. She was employed at SFA from 1985-96 and retired as coordinator of reservations and conferences. She received the SFA President’s Achievement Award for outstanding service in 1994.

Mike Karns

Class: 1986

Mike Karns is the owner and CEO of the Dallas-based Firebird Restaurant Group, which comprises four award-winning brands: El Fenix, Meso Maya, Taqueria La Ventana and Snuffer’s Restaurant & Bar. Firebird Restaurant Group operates in 35 locations and employs more than 2,000 people. Karns also operates a commercial real estate firm and owns Sunrise Mexican Foods, a restaurant supply company that produces the chips for which El Fenix is famous, along with tortillas and other food items for retail and food-service operations.

Juliamaria Calvo

Class: 2008

A first-generation college student, Juliamaria Calvo ’08 graduated from SFA with a bachelor’s degree in biology. She then enrolled at The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, where she received her Bachelor of Science in respiratory care. Calvo works for Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. She is a member of the Kangaroo Crew, an elite neonatal and pediatric intensive care team that travels the world to help save infants and children in critical need of medical care by transporting them to hospitals and providing medical care while en route. In addition to her role with the Kangaroo Crew, Calvo assists in the hospital’s pediatric intensive care unit and is a respiratory therapy clinical instructor at UTMB-Galveston. Calvo was elected SFA’s Homecoming queen in 2007.

Matt Adkins

Class: 2006

A die-hard Lumberjack fan and university supporter, Matt Adkins ’06 bleeds purple. Creator of the fan forum LumberjackFans.com, the athletic, event and information site has significantly grown and is utilized by many passionate SFA alumni and students. Adkins also runs multiple LumberjackFans social media accounts, which have thousands of followers. Although Adkins now lives in Seattle, he still proudly supports the university. During March Madness 2016, Adkins made the trip to New York to watch the Lumberjacks play in the NCAA tournament. Always eager to showcase school spirit, he travels to Nacogdoches annually for football, basketball and baseball weekends, where he sponsors tailgate parties at his own expense for all fans to enjoy. As a student member of the SFA “Hecklers,” an athletic fan group, Adkins was named “Heckler of the Year” for his enthusiasm and support. He continues to pay his Lumberjack pride forward by helping organize alumni watch parties and providing support and assistance to his fellow Lumberjacks whenever possible.

Alex Ranc

Class: 2011 and '13

Alex Ranc has worn many hats at SFA. Ranc is a former Orientation and Weeks of Welcome leader. She also served as an involvement adviser, worked the SFA information desk and was a graduate assistant. Most recently, she has served as an SFA faculty member and on the Alumni Association Board. An avid fan of SFA athletics, Ranc helped host an official SFA Alumni Association watch party during the 2016 NCAA basketball tournament. She proudly engages in social media to help generate excitement and support for the university.