Axe ’Em, Jacks!
Greetings, Lumberjacks!
What an exciting time to be a Lumberjack! Fall brings so many opportunities to come back to Nac for football games, tailgating, volleyball and soccer games, Alumni Awards, Homecoming, and the SFA Big Dip, to name a few. Look for these events on our social media pages. We look forward to welcoming you back to campus.
Recipients of the 2022 Alumni Awards are featured in this issue as outstanding Lumberjacks recognized by the Alumni Association. These recipients are leaders in their chosen fields and in their communities. They are loyal Lumberjacks dedicated to the goals of SFA.
During the summer, Lumberjack pride could be found at various locations across Texas, including an alumni event in Tyler along with the SFA Road Show, which traveled to baseball games in Houston, Dallas, Round Rock and San Antonio. The events gave us opportunities to engage with alumni where they live. What a statement we made as the SFA sections turned purple with Lumberjack pride!
We have an official SFA wine. Wes Jensen '94 co-owns Sage's Vintage, a custom crush winery, whose team created SFA's new alumni reserve wine named Bûcheron — the French word for Lumberjack. A malbec (red) and a marsanne (white) were introduced in June at a wine tasting. If you are interested in ordering one or both of these wines, visit SFAwines.com to get limited-edition, Texas-grown, Lumberjack-made fine wines.
This year marked the 20th anniversary of SFA's Big Dip tradition. We had more than 400 participants at our spring ceremonies. If you haven't had a chance to dip your SFA ring, consider participating in the Big Dip. We host two events per year — one in the fall and another in the spring. Our next Big Dip ceremony is set for Dec. 2. If you did not purchase a ring when you were a student, you can order one through the Alumni Association and join the fun.
Get ready to celebrate SFA's centennial in 2023, which will be filled with events to highlight 100 years of SFA! Watch for exciting events as we move closer to 2023, including the installation and dedication of the “Big SFA Ring” to be located outside the Pearman Alumni Center. SFA Alumni Association Board Member Brian Dawson '03 is leading this charge, tirelessly working to ensure every detail is covered and planning events to accompany the arrival and dedication of the ring.
If you are not a member of the Alumni Association, I invite you to join. Your involvement is vital to maintaining SFA's excellence and helps keep our valued traditions alive for future generations of Lumberjacks. You can join online at sfaalumni.com/join or call 936.468.3407 to speak with an Alumni Association representative. There are levels for annual or lifetime memberships.
This is my last letter as president of the SFA Alumni Association, and I cannot express how much I have enjoyed working with our wonderful board of directors and our awesome staff. Your Alumni Association staff members work to keep all Lumberjacks engaged through social media and at sporting and other events throughout the year. Executive Director Craig Turnage leads with tremendous Lumberjack pride. He, along with Derek Snyder, Amber Lindsay, Samantha Mora, Amie Ford, Travis Turner and Alicia Chatman, make a fantastic team.
Get ready, Lumberjacks, because incoming President Erika Tolar '02 is primed and ready to lead the organization for the next two years, and I could not be more pleased. She bleeds purple and will lead with enthusiasm and determination. She and past President Bob Francis '78 have been by my side the past two years, and for that I am grateful.
It is a great time to be a Lumberjack.
As always, axe 'em, Jacks!
Charlotte Ashcraft '80
Nacogdoches
President, SFA Alumni Association