Fernando Verver

By: Brooke Maser

For Fernando Verver, Fort Worth senior, music has always held a close place to his heart. His journey with music began as a seventh grader in his junior high band. Finding an instrument to suite him was somewhat of a struggle. He eventually found a mouthpiece on an instrument that fit him, the trumpet.

Hard practice paid off as Verver went on to make the high school concert and marching band. He won many awards throughout his high school career. Award winning was not unusual for Verver. His senior year he received a first place medal at state for his solo and ensemble. He also won a gold medal and the title of best musician/performer in his high school.

Nothing was out of reach for Verver as he made it to SFA to play in the jazz band. Still playing his trumpet, he was a member of the SFA jazz band his freshman through junior year. Verver recently quit the jazz band. He said, “ Practices and stuff really got to me and my time was done, I just needed to concentrate on my fraternity and school.” He said that band is more of a hobby now and not a priority.

Instead of attending practices Verver has more free time. There is more time to study, hang out with the fraternity, play sports, and participate in outdoor activities, says Verver. He enjoys spending his time playing softball, football, golf, and fishing. Just because he is not in the band anymore he still remembers every aspect of it and it will always be a part of him and something that he loves.

Austin Beesley

By: Michael Garcia

Life brought Austin Beesley talent in the game of baseball, but through life’s struggles, he learned life is more than just sports.

Austin Beesley, Lancaster senior, moved to Weatherford, Texas around the age of 10 or 11 because his parents, who were also teachers, did not want him to go to the rough high school. Beesley played every sport in high school but stayed with baseball and tennis. He is passionate about baseball, and is a right- handed pitcher with side arm, and hand-over-hand styles. In High School he loved to hit but kept working on his pitching to hopefully play collegiately.

After high school Beesley was able to go to junior college for tennis and baseball but chose to pitch at Howard Junior College in Big Spring instead. He transferred to Weatherford Junior College and pitched there as well. His Weatherford team made it to Regionals but the team was disqualified for a brawl against New Mexico Junior College. Beesley and the team were involved in the nation’s first team brawl in a junior college and regional game.

When summer came around Beesley played select/collegiate summer ball against professional baseball and collegiate players. After his sophomore year at Weatherford he decided to transfer to a SFA to enjoy the last two years of college. While at junior college there was only baseball and school, and he wanted to experience the full college lifestyle. Beesley’s father played basketball and football collegiately and his sister that played tennis and softball collegiately as well. During his experience of playing baseball Beesley has been able to become friends with professional and collegiate players. With all his experience in baseball, he would make a great coach. With all the pitching Beesley has done over his lifetime his shoulder has been stressed so he has been taking time off baseball to enjoy life’s many opportunities.

Life is full of pain and let downs, and most people find it hard to bounce back up and continue where they left off. Athletes go through the struggle of injuries in their sport careers, but some see that life is full of other outlets. Usually many athletes consider their sport their life, but for athletes like Austin Beesley, they realize life is more than just sports; it’s a chapter in life.

Nikki Barajas

By: Cameron Mebane

Angela "Nikki" Barajas, Humble sophomore, described herself as a hypochondriac. She said that she wakes up nightly thinking that she is going die and that when most people get a pain, they just assume they hurt themselves somehow. Nikki’s “mind immediately goes to the worst possible situations like “Oh, God, I’m going to have a heart attack…”

Nikki thinks that being a hypochondriac started during an incident when she was 13 years old. She said that one night she couldn’t breathe and started having panic attacks weekly. She went to the doctor and they prescribed some anti-anxiety medicine that didn’t seem to help. Nikki never went to therapy for being a hypochondriac and has tried to keep it a secret.

She reads the labels on all medicines and worries about all of the side effects. She is worried that some medicines that she has taken will have latent side effects. One of her past medications has a side effect of a stroke before the age of 20 and Nikki turns 20 in two months. She goes to the doctor “quite frequently, usually up to 5 to 10 times a year.”

She said that being a hypochondriac has “plagued” her for about six years. She has a fear in the back of her mind that one day, something will really be wrong and people will assume that she is just a hypochondriac.

Angela Bradley

By: Tiffany Occhiogrosso

Angela Bradley, Clarkston, MI senior, is a non-traditional student who knows more about life than the majority of SFASU students.

Bradley is a wife, a mother and a full time employee as well as student at SFA. She moved to Gary, TX with husband David Dziesinski Jr. Four years ago, and had son Calix Alva in February 2009.

With a one-hour one-way commute time from home to SFA, Bradley can only take classes Tuesdays and Thursdays this semester. With a husband, a baby, and a house to take care of, extra time is sparse.

To Bradley, school now is not much more difficult than it was as a traditional student. Due to work now and then, “It was always a class here, a class there,” said Bradley. “When you’ve got bills, work is more important.”

In this economy, Bradley’s priority doesn’t look so bad. In Michigan, husband David was laid-off from GM, which filed for bankruptcy and was bailed out by the federal government in late 2008.

This year, Bradley was laid off from her job at an oil field company due to 10 percent pay cuts and a slow environment. In the expert words of Bradley, “The economy sucks right now.”

As a wife, mother, worker and student, Bradley has much to juggle. However, Bradley still appears in classes every Tuesday and Thursday. Perhaps traditional SFASU students may learn a thing or two about priorities and time management from Angela Bradley.

Daphne Taylor

By: Paige Beasley

Daphne Taylor, LaMarque sophomore, has always had a passion for the Lord. This passion, mixed with her passion for singing, makes her a perfect member of the on-campus gospel ministry, Soul II Soul.

Soul II Soul is a group of musically talented students who are interested in sharing God’s Word through music. Taylor, a journalism major, got involved in the group in the fall of 2008, when she was a freshman on campus and was looking for a group that would incorporate her hobbies and interests. “I saw a flyer for the group,” she said, “and I love to sing, so I joined!”

And she has loved it. Not only does she get to sing, but all of her friends are in the group as well. “All of my best friends are in Soul II Soul, and it’s just a really neat environment,” Taylor said. She also loves that the group helps in her spiritual growth. “The group helps me because I am around a lot of people, and I see their faith and it makes me want to be like them,” she said. Taylor believes that being surrounded by strong Christian people makes her strive to live the Christian lifestyle.

If anyone is interested in joining Soul II Soul, the group is always open to new members. “There are not any requirements to joining,” Taylor said, “anyone can come to the meetings and get involved.” Soul II Soul meetings are held at the Baptist Student Ministry on East College from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday nights.

Shelbe Blacklock

By: Taylor Hannum

Shelbe Blacklock, Villeplate, La., freshman, has been playing musical instruments for five years. She first learned how to play during the summer of her freshman year of high school. She was in her school band for four years. “I’ve been playing the flute for five years, piccolo for five years, piano for five years,” said Blacklock. She has played many types of music such as classical, jazz and improvisation. She has also tried many other instruments including the trombone, guitar and trumpet. She is always open to trying new instruments.

Blacklock has also been in three jazz bands, Jazz 1, Jazz 2 and Jazz 3. She has also auditioned for many bands. She advanced to area band when she auditioned for it. Blacklock has shared her musical talents with other people as well. “I’ve taught a friend how to play before,” she said. “She played clarinet and she was transitioning to flute, so I taught her how to play.” Blacklock looks up to Herman Mann, a flute player, as a professional role model. She also enjoys watching YouTube videos online of flute players.
Blacklock was not the only musically inclined member in her family. Her brother also played the trombone and a couple other family members played the flute. They don’t compare to her musicals feats though. She’s “just different”, as she puts it. Blacklock plans to continue her musical career next semester as she tries out for SFA’s band.

Ashley Land

By: Megan Kelley

Ashley Land, Kenefick sophomore, left her hometown to attend Applied Life Christian College in Hot Springs Village, AK where she received more than an education but also a love for radio production.

Land left her hometown for Hot Springs Village in August of 2005. When she got to college she became involved in Christian services. Students could commit a few hours a week to a program on campus. Through the program Land found the college radio station, KALR.

When she was promoted to promotions, director Land became involved in the behind-the-scenes of the radio station. She helped organize activities, write promos and create advertisements. After a month of being behind the scenes Land was given the opportunity to have a radio show with her best friend, Christiana Urban.

For two hours every weekday listeners could tune into Drive at 5 with Chris and Danie. Callers could request songs, give input to subjects brought up or just call in for shot-outs. Land and Urban decided to change the name to Chris for Christiana and Danie for Danielle, Land’s middle name.

After a year of working for the station Land moved back to Kenefick and then decided to start back to school at Stephen F. Austin. she had a hard time finding what she wanted to do for a career.

“I started out in nuclear science, but then found out I’d be in school for too long so changed my major to criminal justice,” she said.

After realizing criminal justice wasn’t what she wanted to do Land was stumped. A friend is reminded her how much she loved the radio business. Land has been in the radio/TV Broadcasting program at SFA for two years and feels right at home there.

“I’m kind of ahead of the game since I’ve already worked for a radio station,” she said.

Land plans to graduate in December, 2011. After graduation she wants to work for a country music station. Having worked behind the scenes in production and in front of the microphone, Land wants to host her own radio program like she did at KALR.

Samantha Emerson

By: Nicole Rolls

Samantha Emerson, Plano, freshman, dreams of becoming a sports writer once she graduates from SFA. Regarding her future career, Samantha said, “No matter what I do in life I always want to work in the sports industry.” She would love to work for either ESPN or the NCAA as a correspondent getting to cover all the games and interview the players. But, if becoming a correspondent doesn’t work out, she said she would like to help sports companies put together ads to help them promote and market their company. As long as Samantha is working for or with a sports company/network she said she would be happy.

Since Samantha was a child she has always been involved in sports, but also had a passion for writing. She always thought “Writing was always something I would be involved in,” but didn’t know how that would come about. Her writing background started in high school where she wrote for her school’s yearbook. Writing for the yearbook, Samantha found this an enjoyable pass time, so her mom suggested to her to combine her two talents of sports and writing into sports journalism.

At SFA Samantha is double majoring in journalism and sports marketing. She is still very active in playing sports and enjoys going to sporting events around campus.
As far as what her friends think about Samantha’s career choice, most don’t understand her motivation. She said that most of her friends are choosing majors that will earn them a lot of money, but aren’t truly passionate about the subject. Samantha said that she is determined to work in the sports industry, even if she doesn’t make a lot of money; it’s something that she is passionate about and would enjoy doing for many years to come.

Maegan Prejean

By:Blake Williams


Maegan Prejean, Lake Charles, LA/Sophomore, opened up her home to family members affected by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. Prejean moved to Austin, TX in her freshmen year in high school after being raised in Lake Charles, LA.

After Hurricane Rita Maegan and some of her family were forced to go back due to a death in the family because of the hurricane. “We went back to Lake Charles after Hurricane Rita because my uncle was trapped and his house and died, so we went back to burry him,” she said. Before the hurricanes hit the gulf coast area some of her family members came to stay with her and her parents in Austin because during that time they had a mandatory evacuation but unfortunately some of her family members stayed to ride out the storm since they were accustomed to them already.

After the Hurricane her uncle was trapped in his home. The next-door neighbors had their generator running inside the house and the generator blew up and Maegan’s uncle inhaled all the fumes from the generator. He later on died due to the chemicals that he took in.

Maegan had 30 of her family members living with her and her family for several weeks after Hurricane Rita because their homes were destroyed. Maegan’s cousin still to this day lives in a F.E.M.A trailer after only getting $2,000 for the disaster. Her cousin is still fighting with F.E.M.A today, trying to get everything situated.

Nicole Rolls

By: Samantha Emerson


What would an average college student say her “dream job” is? A fashion designer, actress, or a CEO of a Fortune 500 company? Nicole Rolls, Lewisville, sophomore has a very different career goal. Nicole dreams of being a police officer.

When asked why she made the decision to go into the criminal justice system, Nicole explained that she has had hands on experience with the police force. “My uncle is a cop and I took a couple courses with the police department in my hometown last year and it was really fun. “

Most people might think that Nicole may be disillusioned by the portrayal of police officers on television shows like Law and Order, but Nicole seems to know exactly what she is getting herself into. “I got to go to the shooting range and work with the SWAT team,” she said, “I want a challenging job, not an easy desk job, but something physical and challenging and different every day.”

For someone so petite and seemingly timid, Nicole doesn’t seem to fit the stereotype of a physical and daring street cop, and her decision surprised many of her closest friends. “My parents were surprised at first, and my friends would say to me, ‘You don’t seem like the girl to be tough enough, you’re kinda small to be a big macho cop.” But it seems that Nicole is determined to prove everyone wrong. She was told in high school that she needed a “back up plan,” so she is majoring in journalism and her minor is criminal justice. Once she turns 21 she plans to apply to the police academy, where she will train rigorously for six months before graduating. She explains that she is more timid but that her training at the police academy will help toughen her up for the day – to –day struggles she will face as a street cop.

When asked if she has any fears about being working in a violent enviroment, Nicole addresses the issue with a cool boldness and a fresh sense of humor. “I kind of like the whole danger aspect, it’s exciting,” she said, “I joke about getting shot on the first day at the Academy because knowing my luck, I would get shot in the arm. But that’s just something that comes with the job.”

Nicole may think she’s timid, but for someone who’s so sure of something so dangerous, she is well on her way to being one of the most daring police officers the Lone Star State has ever produced.

Blake Williams

By: Maegan Prejean


Blake Williams, New Orleans, LA, senior had a near death experience in 2005 when he survived Hurricane Katrina.

On August 26, 2005 Blake, his parents and grandmother took all precautions while waiting on the arrival of Hurricane Katrina. “We did a little grocery shopping before the stores closed down,” Williams said. There had been other hurricane warnings before Katrina, so as their other family members evacuated to Baton Rouge, LA, his family decided to ride this hurricane out. “Hurricanes in the past were not that bad, so we stayed home and boarded everything up,” Williams explained.

“We were all downstairs as the water was coming in. We gathered everything important before the water got too high and ran upstairs,” Williams said. Blake’s grandmother has diabetes and her medicine bag was downstairs. His mother quickly ran downstairs and grabbed the bag. By this time the water was knee level.

Blake and his family waited the storm out over night. When they woke up the next morning they opened up a bedroom window upstairs, and sat on the rooftop to get air. The city was filled with water. New Orleans was in quarantine and no one was allowed to leave.

Blake contacted his godparents in Dallas. They were not allowed to enter the city until four days after the storm. While Blake waited on his godparents his father heard noises coming for the neighbor’s attic. Their elderly neighbor was trapped inside her one story house. Blake and his father kicked the door down and carried their neighbor on their shoulders through the water. The Williams family and their neighbor walked to a nearby high school for shelter because their house had too much water damage and smelled rotten.

After four days Blake’s godparents were finally able to get through the city. Blake and his family left all of their belongings and went to Dallas. “The traffic was backed up for miles and it took us several hours to get to Texas,” Blake explained.

Blake was unable to check the condition of his house right after the storm because another hurricane arrived in Louisiana. “Four weeks later I went back to New Orleans and my house had collapsed,” he said.

The Williams family had no other choice but to move permanently to Dallas. That was Blake’s senior year of high school and he had to transfer to a school in Dallas after being out of school for a month. “It was hard to move to another school because I didn’t know anyone and it was my senior year,” he said.

The Williams family now resides in Dallas. F.E.M.A gave his family money for the damage their house suffered and they used that to start their lives over in Texas. Last year in August his family finally got back on their feet and purchased a new house. Blake and his family still go back to New Orleans every holiday.

Tiffany Occhiogrosso

By: Angela Bradley

Tiffany Occhiogrosso, Dallas sophomore, is not just hunting for a major; she is also hunting for her dog. Dusty, the family Weimaraner, has encouraged Tiffany to participate in hunting trials.

A Hunting Trial is a competition for dogs and their owners in which the owner runs the dog to point for birds. Birds are neck-rung and buried in a field earlier that day. Once the competition has started a judge will fire a gun to let the dogs know the hunt has begun. The dog will then follow owner’s commands and a scent to find the birds. “It’s all about commands and how well the dog listens to you,” Tiffany said.

Tiffany’s dog belongs to the American Kennel Club. “When my family got the dog we decided that we wanted to show him and hunt him, and we just started doing it,” Tiffany explained. The dogs’ previous owners were members of the Trinity Valley Weimaraner Club, a place where Tiffany volunteers.

The hunting trials start at the end of October and generally run until March. Tiffany returns home to Dallas once a month where she competes. Tiffany and Dusty also compete in water retrieving. “We show him also, we just don’t like it as much,” Tiffany added, “it’s not as much fun.”

When Tiffany, 19, is not hunting, she is living on campus in Wisely Hall. Public relations is her major at the moment but she is still technically hunting for her future. She is “trying to figure it out.”

Savannah Sowell

By: Ambreishia Lewis


Savannah Sowell, San Augustine junior, is a queen: literally. She is the current Miss Texas 2009 and a very involved pageant coach. This broadcast news major has been competing in pageants for over 13 years and will be traveling to Detroit, Michigan to compete in the Miss Galaxy pageant in July. Sowell does not just see pageants as a thing to do on the weekends, she said, “It’s a way of life”.

But this small town girl is no Tara Conner or Carrie Prejean. Sowell knows the responsibility that comes along with being a crown holder. “When you decide to compete, you have to make a conscience effort to sustain from all of that” she said. This former Diamond Doll and Jack Camp counselor also hopes to encourage other young girls to be involved in pageants. “I want them to grow up in pageants and enjoy them,” she said.

Even as a queen, Sowell sometimes feels intimidated by competitors from larger cities like Houston or Dallas. But knowing herself and skills she responds with “more of an effort to prepare and be ready to compete”. This aspiring news anchor hopes to take these elements from her pageant days and use them to become a top news anchor after graduating from SFA.

Paige Beasley

By: Daphne Taylor

Paige Beasley, Waco freshman, is a member of Sigma Phi Lambda (Sisters for the Lord). “It’s important to show your faith by example,” said Paige about her faith and her choice to be a part of Sigma Phi Lambda.

This organizational at Stephen F. Austin has a “God focus.” Paige attended the interest meeting with friends and was immediately interested in the organization and what they stand for. As a part of the Sisters for the Lord, they have weekly meetings, devotions and praise and worship. Last week, the organization hosted “Granolas for God” where the women walked along the campus and passed out granolas with Bible scriptures. “I want to be someone who people say is different. I want to live and grow by my faith,” Paige said. Her main focus is on Sigma Phi Lambda, but in due time she wants to be apart of another organization that’s Christian oriented.

Paige is currently majoring in public relations and wants to work in the field when she’s done with college. She wants to work with the media of a big company and be their spokesperson. She knows she wants to work in this field, but isn’t sure about her dream job. For the time being, Paige will continue her education at Stephen F. Austin being a Sigma Phi Lambda lady.

Taylor Hannum

By: Shelbe Blacklock

Taylor Hannum, Montgomery freshmen, has been modeling professionally for nearly two years now. Taylor was discovered only two years ago after she was a finalist in a modeling contest in Dallas. Although she did not win, Hannum was referred to a modeling agency in Houston knonw as the Neal Hamil Agency. This is where she got her big break.

Once she got her modeling contract with the Neal Hamil Agency, Hannum attended Mayo Hill Centre for Modeling where she learned how to walk, pose, and present herself like a model. Since then, Hannum has had numerous jobs such as modeling in ads for Academy sports store in December 2008, and she was also featured on the cover of Gloss Magazine in the fashion section of the Houston Chronicle.

Even as a newcomer in the modeling world, 5 feet 9 inch Hannum has done nearly 15 photo shoots and over 20 shows on the runway for her agency. “Ultimately I would like to be on the cover of Vogue,” said Hannum.

With her composite card in hand, weekly and sometimes monthly, Hannum heads off in search of her next big modeling job. Balancing school and professional modeling, Hannum said, “I do keep my education first because you can always do something with a degree.”

Megan Kelley

By: Ashley Land

Megan Kelley, Garrison, senior, has always loved photography. “I started taking pictures in the eighth grade, and by the time I graduated I knew that photography was what I wanted to do with my life,” she said. In 2005 Kelley left Garrison for Carthage to attend college at Panola Junior College, with a major in photography.

In the fall of 2007 with her associate’s degree in science, Kelley transferred to the University of North Texas. When Kelley began school at UNT she changed her major from photography to photojournalism. “I found out that photography was in the art department and was studio weird photography, which I did not like,” Kelley said. “I chose photojournalism because it better suits my personality and I can have fun with it.”

In January 2009, with 99 credit hours Kelley made the decision to transfer to Stephen F Austin State University. “I was stupid! Never transfer with that many hours!” Kelly exclaimed.

Kelley is working on her senior year at SFA and has what she considers a “small photography business.” Kelley has started taking pictures for different occasions such as weddings, senior pictures, sports etc. “It has really taken off, more than I expected it too,” she said. Kelley said that if she had to choose a favorite type of picture, it would probably be of sports like basketball and track. “It’s fun and there are so many different angles and ways to expand the play.” She said.
When Kelley graduates she wants to move out of state, work for a magazine and travel all over the world. She also wants to have her own photography business and studio one day.

Michael Garcia

By : Austin Beesley


Michael Garcia Royce City, was sophomore, tragically charged down in pursuit of basketball fame and ends up shooting his free throws in a different career.
Garcia at a young age was subject to change. Born on the east side of Dallas, Garland was his home for almost ten years until the atmosphere of his hometown became too dangerous to stay. “ The neighborhood was really bad, too many bad things were happening close to our house,” Michael said. After being robbed on numerous accounts, the Garcia family moved to a nice country house in Royce City hoping for a better life. At the age of 10, Michael started to play basketball in his backyard and became to love the game.

The start of his new and promising career was when Garcia caught his high school basketball coach’s eye. Only in the eighth grade, he was moved to the junior varsity team of his high. With a true love of the game Michael moved up the in the standings on his high school team but took a turn for the worse his senior year.

He was taking a charge in one of his last games his senior year, when the opponent crashed into him and practically finishing Garcia’s basketball career, “ When the guy charged he stepped on my foot and I just felt my ankle roll backwards. It was really rough,” he said. Although, recovering from his injury, playing basketball was just not the same.

Michael soon found a dance crew that filled that void from basketball. Dancing in a crew named the Untouchables, Michael is the newest member and said that the crew is like a family so doesn’t feel like he’s the newest member. Michael’s style is one-of-a-kind on his crew, because he is the only one who has an old school flavor. “I mostly do robotics and all the old school dances but the rest of the crew are into all the new dances like krumpn,” Michael said. The Untouchables will be competing in SFA’s first Best Dance Crew put on by KRumpn SLO Dance Organization.
The contest starts on November 2 and will be held the next two Mondays after that and consists of three dances with the first being a prop dance, the second is a tribute to Michael Jackson and the last dance is a surprise to even the dance crews. The Crew that wins the competition will receive $1,000 and bragging rights to the whole school. Michael and the Untouchables will being going against some stiff competition like fraternity step teams and the actual SFA dance crew the Jack Attack.

Cameron Mebane

By Nikki Barajas

Cameron Mebane, Texarkana junior, has dyed her hair “every color of the rainbow except yellow.” Beginning her senior year of high school she was inspired by her boy friend to start dying her hair an unnatural color. One day, to the surprise of her mother, she came home with fuchsia hair. This happened before her high school graduation. Because it was her first dye job, the color faded quickly and was gone in time for the day of graduation. But as soon as graduation was over, she immediately dyed her hair blue.

Now, three years after her fuchsia hair, she has dyed her hair several different colors and has never returned to her natural red hair. She quotes it has been, “blue, purple, fire engine red… and in between when it would fade I would dye it black.” One year, when it was black, her father got upset with the color and threatened to take back the car he had just gotten her.

In her defense, she is a straight A student who has been on the Dean’s list. This worked in her favor and her parents have mostly stayed off her case concerning her life style choices including piercings and tattoos.

This time, her hair is orange. Now running out of solid colors, she has started to mix and match and experiment with different color combinations such as pink and purple together. Cameron thinks she will remain a colorful person.