PINEthe LOG Wednesday, February 22, 2017 The Independent Voice of Stephen F. Austin State University thepinelog.com Lumberjacks 2-2 in tournament SFA program ranked in top 10 by website By Brielle Thomas Staff Writer SFA has been named one of the top 10 best value colleges in the nation for its online master’s degree in early childhood education by College Value Online. “The ranking validates what we strive for in the program,” Dr. Adam Akerson, assistant professor of elementary education, said. According to Dr. Susan Casey, program coordinator for SFA’s online master’s degree in early childhood education, several years ago, she and faculty members embarked on a journey to rewrite the Early Childhood Master’s program from the ground up. They looked at the standards and created components that led to the end product. “We are extremely proud of the work we accomplished and are grateful for the recognition from outside sources,” Casey said. According to Casey, the affordability of the program, completion rate of the students, comprehensive nature of the program and employability of the students were all considered in the ranking of the online degree. “In today’s world of diverse experiences, there are various challenges in the workplace, and knowledge is the key to unlocking the potential of all of our graduate students,” Casey said. “This degree will open the door for them as they enter the work environment in hospitals, early childhood state intervention programs, childcare centers, day care licensing, lead teacher roles and many other fields. Our world will always have children to educate, and the master’s degree opens endless possibilities.” According to College Value Online, the online Master of Education in Early Photo by Bastian York/ The Pine Log Childhood degree includes 36 credit hours— 12 courses at three credit hours each—and Austin Hagy pitches against Southeast Missouri in SFA baseball’s home opener tournament this weekend at Jaycees Field. The takes 22 months or less to complete. Lumberjacks started off the weekend strong Friday with a win against the Southeast Missouri Redhawks, 3-2. SFA followed it up with a with a 2-1 win Saturday over UT-Arlington after fighting through an extra inning. The Lumberjacks lost both of their games in a double DEGREE, PAGE 2 header Sunday against Southeast Missouri, 3-1, and UT Arlington, 7-4. SFA will play UT-San Antonio Friday at 6 p.m. at Roadrunner Field. Students represent SFA answers financial aid questions Nacogdoches business By Emily Brown that’s pretty much it. We also Copy Editor have little discount cards we can hand out to our friends,” With the popularity increase Grissom said. of Facebook, Twitter and Both Huffman and Grissom Instagram, the world around have backgrounds unrelated to us has shifted tremendously. marketing or fashion, yet they Today, more and more have a love for M&S fashion companies turn to social media that makes their position to advertise their products. exciting for them. Even in Nacogdoches, Grissom said that the best businesses often use local part about this position is people to help spread the word. getting to help out her favorite Sometimes, these people are Nacogdoches boutique. even students. “Over half of my closest is Jaelyn Huffman, an animal from M&S, so it only makes science major, uses her sense to help promote them,” Instagram differently from Grissom said. “Every month we her peers. Instead of simply get a few new clothing items to posting a picture of a cute new add to our closest. Then every outfit, she is encouraged to time I go into the store I get 20 share more and more of the percent off, which only makes clothes she wears. me want to go shop even more.” Huffman is a representative While this job differs from for M&S Gift Shop. With just others in many ways, it is still Photos by Joshua Reid/ The a few posts a week, Huffman a position that requires time Pine Log helps M&S gain more management and creativity. customers. “It sometimes is a challenge SFA’s Financial Aid office “I think it’s important for to remember to post twice a participated in Showcase M&S to have representatives week with the busy-ness of Saturday last weekend to give so we can get the word out nursing school,” Grissom said, prospective students a chance about how awesome their “but I’ve had so much fun to ask questions about financial merchandise is and reach coming up with cute ways to aid and financial literacy. The different people that they show off my clothes so it’s never event coincided with Financial wouldn’t have reached,” been a problem. I’ve learned Aid Awareness Month. “General Huffman said. “It’s changed how to manage my time even knowledge of areas such as budgeting, loan debt, credit card my perspective on how social better, and I’ve learned to set management and interest rates media is used because it really aside specific times a few times are skills that all individuals does reach lots and lots of a week to come up with ideas should possess,” H. Rachele’ possible customers and shows for posts.” Garrett, director of financial aid, them how the clothing can be For Huffman, this gives her said. “Students should begin worn.” the opportunity to step into now with creating a budget and Huffman is not the only the world of marketing. “It will putting savings away, so they representative M&S works help me in the future because will have money in the future with. Paige Grissom, a senior my career will have a lot to do for things such as a home, nursing major, also helps M&S with reaching many people in investments and retirement.” out each week. a quick manner, and I will have Students who registered were “As a representative, we are had experience with marketing entered into a raffle for two $500 asked to post twice a week in scholarships.”Students need to something from M&S, and M&S, PAGE 2 be their own advocate on this topic...” Garrett said. @ThePineLog Pine Log Channel Volume 99 Next Wednesday, March 1, 2017. Look for The Pine Log Submit story ideas via web: your copy every Wednesday morning in Issue 18 a newspaper rack near you. @SFAPineLog ThePineLog.com Publication: CMYK Page 2 THE PINE LOG 2017 OMA hosts panel for Women’s History Month By Shannon Poe politics, religion, body issues, career @thepinelog Staff Writer issues, workplace issues, education, etc.,” Millard said. News The Office of Multicultural Affairs will OMA is known for celebrating diversity be hosting a panel discussing women’s on campus as well throughout the perspectives on current issues in honor community. Showcase Saturday of Women’s History Month at 6:30 p.m. “We have an overarching goal to Courtesy photo Tuesday in the multimedia room, located provide a comfortable environment for all in the BPSC. students, staff and faculty by providing SFA’s Showcase The panel will include Dr. Griselda tools and resources that maximize their Saturday Flores, assistant director of multicultural Lumberjack experience,” according to was held last affairs, Dr. Dana Cooper, associate the OMA website. “We believe that as weekend to professor in the SFA history department, an office, we play a significant role in allow prospective DawnElla Rust, professor in the kinesiology creating a campus climate in which the students a & health science department, Brigette benefits of diversity and social justice can chance to tour Kozash, SFA student majoring in history be realized.” the campus, talk and Latin American studies, and Habiba The panel is a resource for all people to faculty and Awan, Nacogdoches community member. of the SFA community to gain knowledge current students “We usually [come up with events] of different perspectives of women in about majors, based on the months, so since March is society. view dorms and Women’s History Month, we started the find out what “I think you can always gain something SFA has to offer events at the end of February,” Flores said. just seeing the different perspectives for them. The “All of the events for Women’s History and experiences that different women go next Showcase Month are free and open to everyone, through,” Flores said. “Even though we Saturday will be there is no exclusion based on gender.” are all women, we all have a story to share, March 25. Along with specific questions asked by and it’s important that our stories are Alicia A. Millard, secretary of OMA, the heard. Even though women have made audience will be able to participate. so much progress, we’re still not quite “Our panelists will be talking and there. Even how society views us, the way answering questions regarding various that the messages you receive from social subjects and giving a women’s point- media against women, we still have a lot Degree: program ranks top 10 of-view. The subjects include, health, more to go.” From Page 1 “I teach two research courses, ECH 510, Introduction to ECH Research, and ECH The university designed the program 511, Advanced Research in ECH, which for early childhood education and are the last two courses in the program,” M&S: Students promote child development educators seeking Akerson said. “The students complete an advancement in roles as directors of action research project where they think childcare facilities, adjunct faculty at of a topic, think of some way to address Nacogdoches business colleges and universities, master classroom the problem and then use their projects teachers, school district specialists, to propose ways of changing or fixing the From Page 1 educational consultants, researchers and problem.” professional development providers.