Stephen F. Austin State University

Flying airplane-like drones closely over the blowhole of a dolphin and collecting their breath is a new, innovative way for researchers to monitor the health of whales, dolphins and porpoises. This summer at Dolphin Quest on the Big Island of Hawaii, two Stephen F. Austin State University biology students got to be part of this groundbreaking, first-of-its-kind research. Rachel Moore and Callie Lynn, senior biology majors from Salado and Rusk, respectively, were chosen by Dr. Jason Bruck, associate biology professor at SFA and founder of Bruck Lab, to assist in the project PHASM - Passive Health Assessment in Sea Mammals as well as help conduct a project to understand how noise impacts the transmission of specific dolphin whistles.

The Stephen F. Austin State University chapter of the Society for Advancement of Management brought home awards from the SAM International Business Conference in April in Orlando, Florida. In addition to SFA earning the Campus Chapter Performance award, two of its members won individual awards. Seth Rigby, senior management major from McKinney, was named National Outstanding Student, and Andrew Mares, senior management major from Murphy, received the Regional Outstanding Student award along with first place in the business pitch competition. To learn more SFA's Department of Management and Marketing, visit sfasu.edu/mgtmkt.

Four students were awarded Stephen F. Austin State University Division of Student Affairs' Best of SFA Award to recognize their areas of scholarship, participation and leadership in academic and co-curricular activities as well as service and loyalty to the university.

Many obstacles can stand in the way of being admitted into medical school, but for two Stephen F. Austin State University students, the path to their dreams just got a little clearer. Perla Tovar, junior biochemistry major from Lufkin, and Mckenna Dillard, junior biochemistry major from Stephenville, have been accepted into the Joint Admission Medical Program. This undergraduate pipeline program was created by the Texas Legislature in 2001 to close gaps between participation and success for Texans pursuing their dreams of becoming a doctor, according to the JAMP website, texasjamp.org.

Students at Stephen F. Austin State University studying computer science, chemistry, biochemistry, earth sciences and geologic resources won a number of awards after presenting research at the Texas Academy of Sciences in March. The annual TAS meeting is centered on providing students an outlet to present their research and network with industry professionals. Under the close supervision of faculty members, students spend months refining experiments, testing hypothesis and making sense of their data. Then, working in collaboration with a research advisor, students share updates on their research progress through either an oral or a poster presentation.

At age 16, Nicholas Mobley of Tomball was the youngest employee ever hired by Mattress Firm. Two years later, the company is investing in Mobley's general business degree from Stephen F. Austin State University's Rusche College of Business. "Though the minimum age requirement for the job at Mattress Firm was 18 years old, the manager in the north Houston district, Patricia Bedoya, told me the self-paced video interview I sent was the best out of a hundred applications," said Mobley, now an SFA junior.

Amber Borel, a sophomore forestry major at Stephen F. Austin State University, was awarded the 2022 Tony Houseman Conservation Legacy Award, recognizing her service to others and dedication to advancing the field of conservation. The annual award, presented by Higher Calling Wildlife, a conservation-based publication, celebrates the legacy of Tony Houseman, an East Texas businessman known for his philanthropy and wildlife conservation advocacy.